Adding to my growing list of new experiences in 2017 was my visit to and participation in the annual Light Fest in Westfield this past weekend.

I made brief mention in last week’s column that Cold Lazarus had been booked to perform at the minimally publicized event this year. It turns out there’s a reason that I only recently became aware of the annual music-centric get together, in spite of the fact that this was the sixth consecutive year it’s been up and running: its organizers like to keep the whole thing fairly low key.

Having said that, those who are aware of Light Fest and the premise behind it (I can now include myself among them) know that they can expect a relaxing, family-friendly weekend of fun, friends and fine musicianship. My inaugural visit to the festival Saturday included as much, and I’m grateful for the experience.

Upon my arrival in the mid-afternoon, I found myself among several acquaintances garnered from the local music scene scattered across a wide expanse of tents and open field. Situated adjacent to the railroad tracks that hug the Lake Erie coastline, Light Fest presented me instantaneously with a unique set of visual and aural components that I’ve not beheld at any of my previous festival excursions.

Things only got better from there, as the music would begin a couple hours later and more people began arriving. The festivities officially kicked off when a band out of Youngstown, Ohio, took the stage. The Bees Trees got things started just right, with impeccable instrumental grooves and tight vocal harmonies that I personally found very impressive.

We then took the stage to play our hour-long set, which I feel went well in spite of a few early technical difficulties (it just seems to be one thing after another with my stupid pedal board). We were followed in suit by our friends from Warren, Pa., Slow Motion Breakdown; the Derek Davis Band; and an amazing power trio out of Washington, D.C., called JP3. Music for the night was concluded by a solid set from the always excellent Smackdab.

Light Fest was also notable for its networking opportunities. Although I had already been acquainted with a majority of the musicians on site, it was great meeting and conversing with the out-of-area acts.

The Bees Trees were super friendly and expressed an interest in putting together some shows in the future, whether it be in Western New York or over in their neck of woods in eastern Ohio. I was also approached by Justin Pietrowski — a mind-blowingly talented guitarist-singer who fronts JP3, which stands for the Justin Pietrowski Trio — who told me that, of all the bands to play Saturday night, he was most impressed by Cold Lazarus. Coming from an extremely talented musician who traveled all the way from Washington, D.C., his comments and opinions meant quite a lot to me.

I feel blessed to be doing what I love with a band that I love, and the momentum we’ve built for ourselves in such a short time is actually kind of impressive — at least from my perspective. Six months ago I wouldn’t have foreseen playing festivals like Light Fest or the prestigious Night Lights Music Festival at the Heron Grounds later this month.

The trap that I have a tendency to fall into is that I sometimes will take these kind of things for granted. When you clear some hurdles early on and with much less effort than you were expecting to put out, it’s easy to take your foot off the gas or, on the other end of the spectrum, start shooting above your sphere because it seems like every achievement should be just as easy.

In either case, sometimes it takes something like writing this weekly column for me to take a step back, catch my breath and simply be appreciative for all that’s transpired this year. There is undoubtedly so much more I’d like to accomplish with this band (I don’t know if I’ll ever be truly satisfied) but it’s helpful to be reminded that the journey, and every little success along the way, is just as important as the destination.

So, here in this moment, I’ll proclaim that I’m grateful for every day and every experience I have to grow myself as a musician and, more importantly, as a person.

And now, here’s some of what you can expect to find in the area this week.

2017 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival Is This Week: The 26th annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival returns to downtown Jamestown and the immediate area beginning today. The annual festival itself will take place Thursday through Sunday, during which time several of comedy’s A-list performers will make an appearance. Headlining this year’s festival will be Jim Gaffigan, Kevin James, Lisa Lampanelli and Robert Klein. All four headlining acts will make their first visit to Jamestown to be a part of this year’s Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. Gaffigan’s performance will be Thursday at Northwest Arena at 8 p.m. James will perform at Northwest Arena on Friday at 8:30 p.m. Klein will perform Saturday at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts at 6 p.m. Also on Saturday will be Lampanelli’s performance at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts at 9 p.m.

Additional programming for this year’s festival includes four comedy showcases featuring comedians who have appeared on “Conan,” “Colbert” and “Last Comic Standing,” National Comedy Center dialogues, block parties, two free kids comedy shows featuring the critically-acclaimed Story Pirates, and more than 40 artists. Tribute events also include a celebration of Desi Arnaz’s 100th birthday, hometown tours, Lucy tribute dinner shows, and an appearance by Wanda Clark, Ball’s former personal secretary.

For a complete listing of events to be held during the 2017 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, or to purchase individual tickets to an event, call 484-0800, visit lucycomedyfest.com or stop by the Lucy-Desi Museum and Center for Comedy at 2 W. Third St. in Jamestown.

Infinity To Host Kaleidoscope Night Friday: Students from the Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Center will showcase their talents at a Kaleidoscope performance on Friday from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Infinity Arts Cafe. Kaleidoscope nights are an ever-changing but interesting mix, featuring a wide variety of performers, such as: Infinity music, poetry, dance, or theater students, Infinity instructors, or invited guests from the community. Every show is different. Kaleidoscope night events at Infinity are free, family friendly and open to the public.

The Infinity Arts Cafe entrance is located at 300 E. Third St. in Jamestown. For more information, call 664-0991 or visit infinityperformingarts.org.

HAPPENINGS

To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email gpaterniti@post-journal.com or call 487-1111, ext. 243 by Monday.

Tonight

Bob Campbell: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Block party with Smackdab: 6 p.m., Northwest Arena, 319 W. Third St. in Jamestown

Pulse! poetry slam: 6 p.m., Infinity Arts Cafe, 301 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Kokomo Time Band: 7 p.m., Richard O. Hartley Park in Lakewood

Jules-R-Us Karaoke: 8 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Comedy open mic: 8:30 p.m., Labyrinth Press Company, 12 E. Fourth St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with DJ Xcite: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 10 p.m., Forte, 114 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Adwela with The Uprising and Kaleidoscope Sky: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Friday

Greg Ford: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Charity Nuse: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Rustic Ramblers: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Pressure Sensitive: 8 p.m., Vikings Lake Lodge, 4923 Route 430 in Maple Springs

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 9 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Happy Days: 9 p.m., Murdocks, 100 E. Main St. in Sherman

The Punch Brothers: 8:15 p.m., Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater, 1 Ames Ave. in Chautauqua

Black Widow: 10 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Slip Madigan: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

We Speak Canadian: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Saturday

Bill Ward: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Ken Hardley: 7 p.m., Busti Tap House, Busti-Sugar Grove Road in Busti

Pressure Sensitive: 9 p.m., Big Shots, 674 Route 394 in Kennedy

Jules-R-Us Karaoke featuring Tami T: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

DJ Goodrich: 10 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Karate Sleepover comedy showcase: 10 p.m., The Q, 104 W. Second St. in Jamestown

1980 Something: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Sunday

Bob and Liz: 2 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Willie May Blues Band: 2 p.m., The Vegas Pad, 1064 Route 394 in Kennedy

Bill Ward: 4 p.m., Hadley House, 3328 Hadley Bay Road in Stow

Open Jam: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Monday

Bill Ward: 6 p.m., Andriaccio’s, 4837 W. Lake Road in Mayville

Greg Ford: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Wednesday

“The Hero” screening: 7 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Bluegrass Jam: 7 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown