Popular Entertainment

The year was 1976, and rock radio was on fire. “Hotel California.” “More Than a Feeling.” “Carry On Wayward Son.” “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.” And that’s just the beginning. Aerosmith, KISS, Heart, Steve Miller Band, Peter Frampton, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and more—the soundtrack of an extraordinary year in rock music- brought roaring back to the stage. For the Uptown Music Collective’s 84th major performance, the students of its Special Performance Group will turn the Journey Bank Community Arts Center stage into WUMC, a live rock radio broadcast celebrating the music of 1976, with local radio personalities joining them onstage. UMC performances are known for their energy, passion, and excitement. As one audience member put it: “Watching them live, I never think about them being kids. It’s only when I see them after the show that I’m like, ‘That’s impossible.” WUMC: The Spirit of ’76 is scheduled for Friday, November 20, & Saturday, November 21, at 7:30 p.m.

Big Hair. Big Guitars. Even Bigger Songs. There was nothing subtle about the hair band era—and that was the whole point. It was MTV come to life: the guitars screamed, the choruses filled arenas, and rock & roll was larger than life. Now the young musicians of the Uptown Music Collective’s Special Performance Group are stepping into that world over two nights, celebrating the look, the attitude, and the music that made the era unforgettable. Bon Jovi. Def Leppard. Mötley Crüe. Poison. Whitesnake. Twisted Sister. Quiet Riot. Ratt. Cinderella. Skid Row. And songs like “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Kickstart My Heart,” “Nothin’ but a Good Time,” “Here I Go Again,” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” Turn it up. This one isn’t meant to be watched quietly. Smashes, Thrashes & Hits: The Sounds of ‘80s Hair Bands is scheduled for Friday, April 23, & Saturday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m.