This Week at 9Lives: AC/DC and Iron Maiden?

Winter seems to have finally arrived and just in time for spring! Funny how that happens, isn't it? Of course the weather has little to do with what goes on here at 9Lives, where we have another stellar lineup of music going on this week.

Friday night will seem like a throw back to a musical era when the performers had that star appearance and the music was catchy and more upbeat than today. That's right, it's an 80s big hair kind of night.  

Tony Ortiz returns to 9Lives with his band, and will open Friday’s show and get the weekend started right. Songs like "Beyond Tomorrow" and "Stay One More Day" will remind you of a guy named Bon Jovi and the energy is just as good.  

Next up is one of our favorite bands to have performed at 9Lives, Gundacker Project. Fronted by lead singer Timmy J and guitarist Dave Gundacker, this band has got it going on. Their song "Magazine" has huge radio-play ability and the band is as seasoned and professional as you’ll find anywhere.

Gundacker Project is a band you must see, so what do you think that says about the headliner, Johnny Lima?

Lima has been on the local music scene for some time, with five albums to his credit and a sound that mixes Motley Crue with Scorpions, AC/DC and then sprinkles in a dash of Bon Jovi to create a sound that’s exciting and surprisingly fresh. Their performance will also function as a kickoff show for their tour, taking them all the way to Great Britain, that’s set to happen by the end of the year. The songs are solid and the stage show is energetic. Advanced tickets are selling quickly, so don’t wait to get your tickets for the show, which is likely to be sold out by Friday.  

Did I mention AC/DC in that last section? Well, if you're a fan of the Australian power group you are in luck. Saturday we’ll feature two tribute bands in another power-packed show. AC/DZ, a tribute to AC/DC's early days, will co-headline the night. The band is fronted by the legendary thrash metal singer, Steve Souza of Exodus, who will perform all those early hit songs including "Whole Lotta Rosie,” "Highway To Hell,” "Dirty Deeds" and more.  

Also on the bill is Invader, The World's Most Authentic Tribute to Iron Maiden. The band formed in 2009 with the goal of recreating the sights and sounds of an Iron Maiden live show and they will bring that to 9Lives on Saturday. Saturday night will be action packed for sure.

Wait . . . there's more! Sunday we’re bringing bluegrass to 9Lives for the first time. Bluegrass Etc. will be performing an early show with the doors opening at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 7 p.m. John Moore, Bill Bryson and Dennis Caplinger are highly acclaimed musicians who have performed and toured with music sensations like Buck Owens, Glenn Campbell and Emmy-Lou Harris. There’s a strong bluegrass contingent in the region and we hope that this first bluegrass show is just the beginning.     

Tickets for these shows and all of our shows can be purchased through our website.  

There you go, another weekend of live music brought to you by 9Lives.