Vexfest has so emphatically established itself as a success that its success need hardly be mentioned. Vexfest 6, the recently celebrated third edition of the second incarnation of the downtown music festival was therefore mostly exceptional in the ways it was even better than the others.

The original co-founder of the festival, Fred Rafidi, is still a principle, now with his dedicated compatriots of Youngstown Local Music. The solid support of 3rd Arm Promotions, Barleys, Downtown 36, the city of Youngstown and growing legions of volunteers virtually guarantees that each year’s show will run a little smoother than the last. There are obviously at least 8,000 people here who are happy to enjoy the food and drink, the camaraderie and the music every year.

Ah, the music. Let’s start there. Each year Vexfest gives some new bands a stage to strut their strum and pluck, but it’s the eagerness of the old hand bands to get back in the next mix — groups which have established themselves as talented troopers and still strive to improve — that draws the crowds. We’ve chosen three examples.

Acoustic Juggernaut was once Bobby Earl picking his acoustic guitar and Joseph Jay singing and playing harmonica. They were good then, even though they seemed to be just goofing off. Now they have grown (to six) and each addition has brought greater depth and detail. Jay is a clearly exceptional singer and they have gotten serious about their music.

Sunday they were killing the crowd. And then they brought out their (not so) secret weapon. Former child prodigy Dennis Drummond, who has added subtlety to his skills, joined them as he has other times this summer. Many of the manic dancers stopped to listen. (Far left in ‘overkill’ pic, above.)

Jones For Revival, whose front man, guitarist and singer Jimmy DeCapua was and is one of the main guys in the rebirth of Vexfest, topped off their weekend with a gutsy jam. They played Waterfest at Nelson Ledges Saturday afternoon, drove to Ohmstead, Ohio for the Ohmstead Music Festival, where they performed the very late set — 2:30 a.m. to sunrise — and then napped in a rest stop on the way back to town for their late night gig, and still managed to wow ‘em.

Another local stalwart, The Zou, whose uniquely original music has earned them a rabid and rising fan base, keeps coming up with surprises. At last year’s Vexfest, they printed cards and flyers to distribute during the day announcing their show that night. This year they one-upped that, with posters hyping famous names as performing at their time slot: Meatloaf, Green Day, Burt Bacharach, Peaches and Herb. Peaches and Herb!

Nobody complained when The Zou, not Burt Bacharach took the stage, and several people were seen with posters of their favorite bands as souvenirs.

JamBrain’s suggestion for Vexfest 7: bus tours for out-of-towners. You shouldn’t have to miss this just because you happen to live in Cleveland or Pittsburgh.