Free open mic competition to feature 30 artists in memory of Erie musician Jason Heberle

Voodoo Brewing Co., 101 Boston Store Place, is hosting an open mic night Friday, including 30 musical acts. The second annual event is called the Jason Heberle Memorial Open Mic Competition, in honor of Erie open mic musician Jason Heberle, who died in 2021.

The competition runs from 6 to 11 p.m. and will take place inside the brewery, with seating available on the patio and on West Eighth Street, which will be closed between Peach and State streets from 4 p.m. to midnight.

Cash prizes will go to five acts, with first place winning $1,000. Also, the audience will vote on the most passionate artist. The competition is designed to support local artists supportive of all music genres and is free to attend.

"Jason was a local musician really well-known on the open mic scene," said organizer Jeff Chiaramonte. "He really encouraged people to get on stage and he was the reason a lot of these people playing are doing it."

Heberle died Feb. 10, 2021 at 37. He was a firefighter and played a mix of classic rock covers and original music as well, Chiaramonte said. Chiaramonte, a founder of Heartstrings, described the organization as a lending library for musical instruments. The open mic event is a benefit for the organization.

Matthew Crays, lead singer for Crays & Co., who won the first such competition in 2023, will be the guest host for the 2024 event, in which up to 30 artists will be performing original works that will be judged by three local musicians. All artists must register to compete at Heberlesheartstrings.org/events or send email jeffc@heberlesheartstrings.org.

For more information about the event, visit the Facebook event page.

Contact Jennie Geisler at jgeisler@timesnews.com or at 814-870-1885.