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Neal Francis w/ Salty Dog and Danny Frank & The Smoky Gold
September 12, 2025 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
The spirit of the Lake Effect Music Festival will live on through a special community show on Friday, September 12 under the tent at Big Top Chautauqua. The evening will feature Neal Francis, Danny Frank & the Smoky Gold, and Saltydog—three incredible artists originally slated for the 2025 lineup.
Neal Francis
Neal Francis isn’t just a pianist, he’s a full blown sonic renaissance man. Hailing from Chicago, he started tinkering on piano at age four, absorbing everything from Dr. John grooves to the soul of Allen Toussaint. By 18, he was already touring Europe with Muddy Waters’ son, weaving blues and boogie into his musical fabric.
He’s no studio myth: Neal crushed nearly 400 live shows from 2021 to 2024, supporting acts like Wilco and My Morning Jacket, and headlining corners of Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Fuji Rock. His 2023 live album and concert film Francis Comes Alive captured this energy in peak form.
Saltydog
Saltydog is a Funk-Jam Cowboy Psychedelia group from the Mid-West. A funk-jam, improvisational exploration that takes the audience & band on a journey through their playfully crafted folk-driven tunes inspired by the likes of everyone from The Talking Heads, The Band, to those classic country and jam band staples along with everyone in between. The band was spawned on the banks of Duluth’s ice-covered stones by brothers Jacob and Owen Mahon. This mid-western psychedelic-cowboy review features Calvin (Calzone) Lund, Lefty Johnson, Gavin St. Clair, and Sam Deters.
Danny Frank & The Smoky Gold
Danny Frank & The Smoky Gold’s unique sound blends soulful lead vocals with rich harmonies and virtuosic instrumentalism. Steeped in musical traditions of folk, bluegrass, country, classic rock, and blues, Danny Frank & The Smoky Gold offers a genre-blending Americana sound that is captivating, invigorating, and sure to get your toe tapping. Based in Duluth, MN, the band is comprised of songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist Danny Frank, banjo player Harrison Olk (Tin Can Gin, Cascade Crescendo, Kind Country Band), bassist Joe Scarpellino (Smokin’ Joe, Dead Larry), and fiddle savant Erin Aldridge (Concert Master – Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra).
Purchase Tickets Here: https://purchase.bigtop.org/EventAvailability?EventId=23401
The Lake Effect team looks forward to welcoming fans back in 2026 with an unforgettable lineup.
Thank you for your continued support of independent music.
We can’t wait to dance with you soon.
