LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS (Tribune, Jack Spades, And Banned) & The Launch Of Heavy Thursdays!!

We're back with some big LOCAL CONCERT ALERTS today relating to the launch of a new regular concert series that (given it's date and location) will be sure to get your attention if you're in Sault Ontario! We also have some new shows across the river to cap things off, but for now, here's what you need to know!

Have you missed the Roosevelt Hotel metal nights since their last installment in July 2012?  Well, get ready for regular Thursday night action there once again, as local concert promoter J.D. Pearce has launched Heavy Thursdays at The Rosie, a new regular series for Thursday nights there starting next week! Along with numerous other shows, J.D. has put on nine Thursday nighters at this popular Korah Road venue since May 2012, but never on a consistent schedule, so fans of the regularity of the former Rosie metal nights should like this successor series if it takes off! Plans are for Thursday night metal/punk shows at The Rosie on each Thursday next month (except February 20th due to the Late & Loud reunion show at The Rockstar Bar that J.D. is promoting the next day), and bands are currently being sought for both next Thursday and on the 27th, so if you or your band wants to play, message J.D. at this link or above! The plan is to feature up to three bands each night, and out of town headliners are definitely part of the plans for some installments.

This is exciting news, especially for fans and regulars of the old Rosie metal night series, and knowing J.D.'s prolific success as a regional concert promoter, I have faith this will take off similarly to how it's predecessor did in 2011! Expect a very different roster of local performers though, as most of the local bands who played the old metal nights are now defunct. A lineup for February 6th is not out yet, but the second Heavy Thursday at The Rosie is already set, so who's playing then?

On February 13th, all three local openers for the Anvil concert at The Canadian Nightclub on March 15th will (likely) rock The Roosevelt Hotel for the second Heavy Thursday, with local punk/metal quintet Jack Spades featured in their first Rosie appearance of the new year, and just their second live show with new guitarist Jesse Cook! Featuring members of Frightlight, The Bear Hunters, and Winkstinger, their familiar & entertaining blend of covers and originals should be welcomed on Thursday the 13th! Newer local classic metal quintet Project 421 will play just their third live show, second with new singer Curtis McKenzie, and first ever at The Rosie as well that night, and hopefully there's no inclement weather to throw a wrench into their next local date, so prepare for a fun set of metal hits! Local thrash quartet Pillory are also pencilled in for their own Rosie debut (and just their second gig with their current lineup), but the Facebook event page still says their status is to be determined. We'll keep you posted if they're definitely playing or not!

A $5 cover is lined up for this show, but given it's status as a preview of the Anvil concert (and a kick-off for Jack Spades' Northern Ontario tour dates with Anvil), admission is FREE if you present your previously purchased Anvil tickets at the door, or buy one upon entry! A 10:00 PM-ish start time is likely, and you must be 19 to attend. For more details, visit the above links! Sounds like a fun concert so far (especially if Pillory are confirmed), so stay tuned for updates, including on other February installments of Heavy Thursdays!

The only other confirmed Heavy Thursday as of this writing is on April 17th (more proof that the series is in it for the long haul), which will be the 10th installment if no Thursdays beyond February 20th are skipped. That show will be headlined by Vancouver hardcore metal quintet Tribune, who will be making their third local stop that night! You may remember them as the headliners of the 31st Rosie metal night in September 2011, and then from opening for West of Hell at The Canadian in May 2012, so it will be nice to see their diverse metal attack in the Soo again after almost two years! Local opening bands are to be determined, but for reference, Redundant and the now defunct Borderline Divine, Changing Waves, and State of Misery have all opened for Tribune locally, in case that's of note. An admission price is to be announced, but a 10:00 PM-ish start time and 19+ age limit are likely. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page, and stay tuned for updates on this upcoming Heavy Thursday as they roll in, and kudos to J.D. for bringing aggressive regular music back to The Rosie like this!

We'll close today with one more LOCAL CONCERT ALERT concerning two shows at The Rapids Lounge at the Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino on April 11th & 12th (I'm not going in chronological order for the show announcements today just to group the Heavy Thursday shows together.) The shows will see Kinross hard/classic rock trio Banned returning to Kewadin Casino for the first time since their Relentless Tour rally appearance last month (though these will be their first Rapids Lounge shows in almost 5 months), and it'll be nice to see the Traynors and Jim back there this spring! Note that Banned have yet to confirm these dates officially, but they are listed on Kewadin Casino's entertainment page, which has always been a reliable source. There shouldn't be a cover charge on April 11th or 12th, you must be 21 to attend, and a 9:00 PM start time is to be expected. Check the above links for more info, and stay tuned for more as we hear it!

That's all for today, but stay tuned for a bunch of videos soon, along with this weekend's concert previews as we wind down the month! Thanks everyone!