Bobbing for Piranhas, Chris Crown and Lee Kitzman, High Speed, and Rewind will keep audiences of all ages entertained.

Local musicians will be performing all evening. Doors open at 6:30, with music starting at 7:30 p.m. at the APlex, 701 Woodward Ave. Tickets are $15 per adult. Students will be admitted for free with student I.D., and TBArts Season Passes will be accepted.

“We do it every other year,” said Clint Kendziorski, first vice president in charge of programming at Thunder Bay Arts. “It started out, Guitar Summit was just for guitar players, but over the years it’s kind of branched out and it’s bands now, but we’ve kept the name because people recognize it.”

Chris Crown and Lee Kitzman will be opening.

Chris Crown and Lee Kitzman

“They play acoustic blues,” Kendziorski said. “They play both original folk and blues tunes, as well as traditional blues.”

High Speed is up next.

“They also play a variety of music genres,” he noted.

Rewind, consisting of well-known local musicians who recently formed the new group, will play third.

“They play guitar-driven, classic rock,” Kendziorski explained.

High Speed

“Then Bobbing for Piranhas, who are quite popular around Alpena,” will take the stage, he said. “They also play a variety of rock tunes.”

He said Alpena is very fortunate to have so many talented local musicians.

“It’s amazing to me,” Kendziorski said of the talent. “It’s just amazing what’s here. Every time we look at doing a concert, we find more and more musicians or singers that we didn’t even know existed. And again, most of them are born and raised here. We just don’t know them, or some of them are just realizing they can perform, and they’re just getting into bands.”

He said alcohol will be available for adults 21 and up to purchase, but that the concert is appropriate for all ages.

“Bobbing for Piranhas brings in the younger crowd,” Kendziorski said. “That’s why they’re usually the last band, because they bring in the younger group that stays up later than us old people.”

Rewind

There will also be Tony burgers, brats, chips and other concessions at the concert.

Biographical information about each of the bands is provided below.

Bobbing for Piranhas

“James Daoust, Conor Larkin, and Ethan O’Brien have played music together since they were in elementary school,” their bio explains. “But before Bobbing for Piranhas, Ethan and Conor’s band, Badge, performed at the fifth grade talent show, which is where the two boys saw James playing drums for the first time. Months later, Ethan and Conor drafted a letter to be given to James while he was playing soccer at recess, asking him to join their band. All were very nervous during the exchange. When James accepted the invitation, rehearsals began immediately for the sixth grade talent show, and the three boys became bandmates and fast friends.”

Chris Crown

and Lee Kitzman

“Chris Crown and Lee Kitzman perform as an acoustic blues duo when they’re not filling the stage with their full band, Chris Crown and the Get Down Band,” their bio explains. “Their music includes both original folk and blues tunes as well as traditional blues in the style of Robert Johnson, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and Jimmy Reed. They infuse their performances with stories and anecdotes relating to the history of the blues and their many influences. Chris and Lee began playing as a duo five years ago after meeting at a local open mic night. Soon after meeting, Chris and Lee formed the Alpena Street Performers Series ­– a nonprofit organization designed to promote local artists while providing a fun and entertaining atmosphere in downtown Alpena during the summer months.”

High Speed

“High Speed is a band consisting of Alpena natives who grew up together playing music on and off since the mid 1980s,” the band’s bio notes. “They bring a variety of different musical backgrounds, genres and playing styles which assists in their song selection and diversity. Members consist of Ryan West, Kris Yachcik, Charlie Kendziorski and Tim LaFleche.”

Rewind 

“Rewind was formed by friends getting together for a ‘no pressure’ rehearsal,” the band’s bio explains. “Playing guitar-driven classic rock, with an emphasis on vocal harmonies. All five members of the band sing lead and backup vocals. Taking you on a musical ‘Rewind,’ the band consists of Lloyd Douglas and Brandon Szatkowski on guitars, Robin LaCross on keyboard, Kevin Mousseau on bass, and Rick LaCross on drums.”

Details about each band member are included below.

“Kevin Mousseau is a self-taught musician from Alpena. Has been playing bass guitar and singing in local bands since 1973. Some of the bands were Rainbow Express, Windjammer, Nightwing, Donny Hartman and the Hell Cats, Kopy Katz, and now, Rewind. Career highlights were being offered to play with The Rockets in 1981, and through music, being able to meet so many great people and musicians that came to listen to the different groups throughout the years.”

“Lloyd Douglas has played in several national acts, and played with Jim and Jesse numerous times at the Grand Ole Opry. Also, Lloyd has played with Detour, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, and the Warrior River Boys. He has also played with local bands: Trik Ryder, Easy Street, and the DAMM band. His primary instruments are banjo and guitar, but he also plays mandolin, fiddle, trumpet, and bass.”

“Born and raised in Alpena, Brandon Szatkowski started playing guitar at a very young age. With musical influences that start in the 1950s, he developed a strong appreciation for some of the great performers of the past. Although being self-taught, he picked up many things along the way from friends and family.  Playing in several local bands over the past 17 years has given him many great experiences and opportunities and allowed him to meet a lot of great musicians. Some of the past bands Brandon has played in include: Liquid Cooled and Karmakazzi. He is currently in two bands, Rewind and H-Bone Groove. Some of his favorites artists include Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, The Cure and Tool.”

“Rick and Robin LaCross have been a part of the local music scene for many years. Both were members of the band Aurora for two decades. Rick then went on to play with the Kopy Katz, and Easy Street bands. They teamed up again to form the Rewind band.  Rick and Robin are also very involved with their church music at Word of Life.”

Tickets are available online at www.thunderbayarts.org, at Neiman’s Family Market, the APlex, at Thunder Bay Arts Office, or at the door. Thunder Bay Arts Office is open from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, at 127 W. Chisholm St., Alpena. Call 989-356-6678 for more information.