On Friday, July 10, 2015 at 8 p.m. in the Mead Theatre of the Schuster Center, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, under the leadership of Artistic Director and Conductor Neal Gittleman, will present Guitar Heroes, featuring rock ensemble Jeans ‘n Classics, the first concert in the 2015 Summer in the City Musical Festival. The evening of classic rock will begin with a Summer in the City Street Party in front of the Schuster Center, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Dayton Philharmonic fan favorites Jeans ‘n Classics return to kick off the summer music festival with Guitar Heroes, a salute to a diverse collection of guitar legends. This show will feature some of the best-known rock guitar hits made famous by Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, the Beatles and Carlos Santana as interpreted by guitar virtuosos Dave Dunlop, Peter Brennan and Bob McAlpine, all members of Jeans ‘n Classics. They will be joined on stage by David Blamires on vocals, Don Paulton on keybards, Mitch Tyler on bass, and Jeff Christmas on drums.
Also on stage will be two local Dayton guitarists, Max Mobarry and Mike Craft. Mobarry and Craft were winners of DPO’s Dayton Guitar Heroes Search held in June. Ten finalists were chosen from among 37 online video entries showing each guitarist’s range and talent. The ten selected finalists played live on June 12 at Dayton Beer Company in downtown Dayton in front of a panel of judges, including Peter Brennan of Jeans ‘n Classics, DPO Artistic Director and Conductor Neal Gittleman, local teacher and performer Jim McCutcheon, and local singer, songwriter and educator Denny Wilson. Based on their performances at this live audition, the judges selected these two winners to play with Dayton Philharmonic and Jeans ‘n Classics for this Guitar Heroes Concert.
Born and raised in New Lebanon, Ohio, Mike Craft started playing guitar at the age of 14. Craft became a part of the Dayton music scene through his first band, Royal Guest. He is passionate about music, writing and recording numerous original instrumental pieces. Max Mobarry received his first guitar at the age of 11 but did not start playing seriously until a few years later. He is currently in a band called “Others by No One,” with a passion to create original music that is both an experience to listen to and exciting to perform. Each winner will take the lead role on a classic rock tune – backed by the full Dayton Philharmonic and Jeans ’n Classics – on stage at the Schuster Center during the Guitar Heroes concert. Both Craft and Mobarry are thrilled for the opportunity to play with the full power of the DPO behind them.
The musical line up of the Guitar Heroes concert includes such legendary guitar hits as “All Along the Watchtower,” “White Room,” “Hotel California,” “Sultans of Swing,” “Europa,” “Another Brick in the Wall,” “Sleepwalk,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Crossroads,” “Last Train Home,” “Black Dog,” “Something,” “Hear That Guitar Ring,” “Samba Pa Ti,” and “Layla.”
Prior to the Guitar Heroes concert, Downtown Dayton Partnership, Victoria Theatre Association, and Dayton Performing Arts Alliance have joined forces to throw a Summer In The City Street Party, which kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 10, on Second Street between Main and Ludlow streets in downtown’s Arts District. During the Street Party, Dayton Guitar Heroes Search runners-up Michael Baumann, Blaine Gordon and Kelly Bush will join The Fries Band on stage to show off their guitar chops as well. “It’s been a lot of fun uncovering the phenomenal talent right here in our city,” said Dayton Performing Arts Alliance Director of Marketing and Communications Dave Bukvic.
The Downtown Dayton Partnership is collaborating with the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance to launch its new Summer in the City Concert Series, and the Victoria Theatre Association also will kick off its Cool Films series that same evening. “We’re proud to partner with our performing arts groups to create a unique after-work happy hour experience,” said Downtown Dayton Partnership President Sandra Gudorf. The street party lineup includes food, beer, “Movie Buff Throwdown Trivia” and live entertainment, including some home grown acts.
There’s nothing quite like the sound of those big power chords, backed by the full DPO orchestra—not to mention all the high-quality shredding you’ll hear from Jeans ‘n Classics and Dayton Guitar Heroes Search winners Mike Craft and Max Mobarry. It will be an evening of classic rock not to be missed!
Tickets for Guitar Heroes are available at Ticket Center Stage (937) 228-3630 or online at www.daytonperformingarts.org. Senior, teacher and student discounts are available at the box office. For more information or to order subscriptions to the Summer in the City Music Festival or other flexible subscription types that include performances by Dayton Philharmonic, Dayton Opera and Dayton Ballet, visit www.daytonperformingarts.org
