Strap on your dancing shoes for the Third Annual Jingle Bell Jam, December 3rd at 6:30 PM, at the Civic Club on 9th St. in Manistee. Five local bands will rock the halls in coordination with the Holiday Hope Team, FiveCap, WMTE, the Manistee Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Club, and others. All proceeds from the concert will benefit the Toys for Tots / Gifts for Teens program in Manistee County. Click "read more" below for details.
Admission to the concert is one new, unwrapped toy or cash donation. All ages are welcome. There will be a cash bar for the over-21 guests.
New to this year’s concert are the bands Ideal Balance and the Hustlers. Because the fundraiser is aimed at helping young people in Manistee County, the event will feature two bands composed of high school students. Manistee-based Blackhouse Monks join Jingle Bell Jam veterans the Rock Supply and Cherri & the Violators.
Concert Schedule:
7:00 PM Ideal Balance is based out of Bear Lake. Andy Allen, an Onekama High School student, plays guitar and sings backup vocals. Bear Lake student Marty Yaple plays guitar and sings. Mike Bobian, also of Bear Lake, plays drums. Ideal Balance performs original rock, acoustic and alternative music.
7:45 PM The Hustlers - Curtiss Stedman on vocals, harp, and guitar, and Mike Ivinsen on percussion make up the Hustlers. They write their own acoustic rock, folk, and blues. They attend Manistee High School.
8:30 PM The Blackhouse Monks have performed original acoustic rock and Irish Pub music since 2004. The trio's high-energy live performances are enhanced by audience participation. Paul Illig's lively percussion provides a foundation for the complementary guitar and bass playing of Nick Calleson and Shaun Anchak.
9:30 PM Cherri & the Violators’ signature originals blur the line between blues and rock. Their “First Offense” CD, was released in 2004. “Empty Pockets”, was released February 18, 2005. “On their second disc, Northern Michigan based Cherri and the Violators explore the glory days of the mid 70’s where songs that rocked were informed by the blues but were well removed from the Delta. That’s not to say that blues fans won’t find familiar sounds here. Instead, the blues creeps in by way of the band’s self penned lyrics and the terrific guitar work of Tony Burke.” Mark Smith – West Michigan Blues Society. Vocalist/guitarist Cheryl Bendig, bassist/vocalist Paul Bendig and drummer Hank Cupp complete the band.
10:30 PM The Rock Supply: The Rock Supply is a three-piece rock band. All members are Manistee natives. Band members are Todd Virta (bass and lead vocals), Steve Wheeler (guitar and vocals), and Randy Pepera (drums and vocals). All three enjoy playing a wide variety of rock music from the 60s to today’s modern rock. Todd Virta is also the creative force behind the originals the band is introducing to their arsenal of rock. “It has been nothing but fun from the very beginning,” says drummer Randy Pepera, “The band’s playing schedule increases every year and we would like to thank all the people that have supported the band over the past 7 ½ years.” This will be the third year the band has volunteered for the Jingle Bell Jam.
As in the past year’s events, bassists Paul Bendig and Todd Virta will be co-managing the stage.
end
Contact:
Cheryl Bendig, cherri@metalblues.com
13120 Graf Rd.
Brethren, MI 49619
231-510-9675
www.metalblues.com