2018: A Preview & What To Watch Out For!!

Happy New Year, everyone! As usual when we start a new year at The Sault Metal Scene, we're starting 2018 with a forecast post where we look at concerts and events that we could (or will) see in the area in the next 12 months, so here's what to look for!

In the realm of concerts, the big current announcements are for next month, as on consecutive days, we'll see Big Wreck rock The Machine Shop in Sault Ontario on February 13th, then Pop Evil, Palaye Royale, and Black Map will hit The Dreammaker's Theater at the Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino on Valentine's Day! You can get tickets for the former at this link for $35, and for the latter at this link for $25, not to mention the in-person box office of both venues. As well, local hard rock quartet Project 906 will be among the openers for the Laith Al-Saadi blues concert at The Dreammaker's Theater on February 10th, which has $30 regular admission tickets available at this link too. Other currently announced hard rock shows this year are of the bar cover variety, including the return of Marquette's Spun to The Satisfied Frog on January 26th & 27th, and the continuation of Tym Morrison's weekly acoustic matinee arrangement at Gliss Steak & Seafood, as next seen this Thursday-Saturday.

In terms of concerts that haven't been announced yet, look for heavier bands to potentially return to both stages of Rotaryfest in July, as well as the presumed returns of such annual events as Toystock, J.D. Pearce's annual Halloween Party, The Northern Vibe Festival, The Guy Thiffault Memorial Concert, The Fishbowl Festival, and The Sky's The Limit mental health fundraiser. Also, we could see year #2 for the Oh!No Music Festival in Leeburn and the NLFB Meltdown audition/battle of the bands, which debuted to solid receptions last year, but the jury is still out. The Eastern Upper Peninsula should see the returns of The Sugar Island Music Festival and Rudyard Musicians Festival, while we could see more benefit shows from Bay Mills Bands Together if a worthy cause comes along. Of course, follow the SMS, social media, SooToday, and other pertinent sources for official and firm word on new area concerts when they come in! For example, could we see annual stops here from K-Man & The 45s and The Ripcordz again in 2018?

As for CDs and albums, the only new local hard rock, metal, or punk album that I've seen get a referenced release date is SweetKenny's tenth score album "Escape of the Desert Rat", which is advertised as being released one week from Wednesday, so fans of the Dafter, Michigan solo artist will want to note that date! Of course, this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post (coming tomorrow) will give you guys the current release whereabouts of upcoming and at least partially recorded albums from SMS-covered bands, so might albums from The Bear Hunters, Electric Church, The Elements, Gates of Winter, Id Iota, Kraken Mara, Mike McCleary, Mike Vincent, Northwest, Redundant, Skeyes of Seven, and Telephone & Address finally get released in 2018? Also, will we see The Din's posthumous live album? Have Shit Liver and Vol. commenced recording sessions for their teased next CDs? Hopefully we'll find out for sure in the ensuing months!

There's a lot of unknowns yet for 2018 at The Sault Metal Scene, but hopefully this year is even bigger and better than 2017, and hopfully you'll follow along once again! I couldn't do it without your support, so thanks again for a great past year (with one major exception), and stay tuned for this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post next! Thanks everyone!