Buddy Holly Interpreter Makes First Appearance in Poway

If you long for the rock 'n' roll era of artists like Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, you’re in luck. For one night only, Powegians can experience Billy McGuigan, a Buddy Holly interpreter, in Rave On!: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Holly at the Saturday.

Although McGuigan launched his national tour in February 2009, this will be his first appearance in Poway.

McGuigan has been performing Holly’s music for eight years, since he was cast in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story in his hometown Omaha.

When the community theater production closed, there was a waiting list of 1,500 people, he said.

“I sort of knew that I might be onto something, or at least the role was onto something,” he said.

Therefore, McGuigan “sketched an outline for a show,” which has become Rave On!.

McGuigan said he wasn’t too familiar with Holly’s music before he was cast in the show.

“But as I got into, I found his music is really the basis to all the music that I loved,” he explained.

In addition to Holly’s music, the show will also pay tribute to other artists of the era, including Presley, Lewis, Chuck Berry, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper.

“It’s a show that’s labeled as a ‘tribute show,’ but I tend to think it’s a lot more than that,” McGuigan said. “We’re sort of a tribute show without the cheesiness factor that comes along with that.”

McGuigan added that he wants concertgoers to know this tribute show isn’t like a typical Las Vegas tribute show.

“We have serious musicians on stage, and the arrangements of the music are pretty cool and complex,” he said. “So, an age group of somebody who actually listened to the music will love it, but it’s also designed to appeal to people who are much younger and maybe introduced to it for the first time.”

The show will take place this Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $42 for adults, $36 for seniors and $5 for children 18 and younger, with the purchase of an adult ticket.

“I always come back to the stigma of the tribute show,” he said. “If people think it’s another one of these boring tribute shows, it’s anything but. It’s a really exciting show with a lot of music. It’s two hours of high-energy rock 'n' roll that all ages will enjoy and the people on stage enjoy.”

In other happenings at the Poway Center, the Foundation recently launched a fundraiser that car enthusiasts won’t want to miss.

The grand prize winner of the raffle fundraiser will win a 2011 Mercedes Benz C300 sports sedan.

The POW! Foundation, which is responsible for booking professional artists into the city-owned center, is offering 800 raffle tickets. The winning ticket will be drawn on Saturday, April 16 at Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps.  All proceeds will benefit the POW! Foundation.

Tickets cost $100 each and will be on sale until April 16.

The raffle is open to individuals 18 and older who are legal residents of the United States. Tickets may be purchased from a member of the Foundation Board of Directors or staff, by calling 858-668-4798 or by mailing in an entry form found here.

For more information, visit its website.

In other news, the is offering a new art club.

The Afterschool Art Club takes place on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.

Children can draw, paint or create a variety of crafts. Founder Bonnie Stromer allows her young artists to choose what they want to do. Stromer is also available to help children with any they have to do for school.

To reserve a spot, call 858-679-2787 or e-mail bonnie@xpressivearts.com. For more information, visit www.xpressivearts.com.