What started as a way to find the light in the middle of a pandemic has since turned into a lasting concert series. We are making the Local Legends Series at Gallagher Bluedorn a permanent fixture in our programming because of the outpouring of support during our last season. This series is our way of celebrating the vibrant arts scene we're fortunate to have in the Cedar Valley.
This series originally began as a way for local musical artists to continue connecting with their audiences in a safe way throughout 2020 and transformed into a weekly series highlighting the exceptional talent that we normally could not highlight in a normal season.
Now, the Local Legends Series is a monthly concert series where your favorite hometown acts will take to the Great Hall stage and perform concerts for a hybrid audience who attend in-person or virtually.
"What makes this series unique is that it features performers that are all from the Cedar Valley or have a connection to the Cedar Valley. There is a very large pool of good talent right here in our backyard that we sometimes never see because they are always being overshadowed by the national touring acts," explained Shawn Poellet, Assistant Technical Director. "Over this past year we were blown away by the local talent and discovered performers that we have added to our list of people to invite back as part of a larger series in the future!"
This programming is fun, fresh, and bold. The Local Legends Series breaks the traditional mold for programming you might expect to see at the Gallagher Bluedorn. What sweetens the experience even more is that you know you're supporting local by attending a Local Legends show. Every show will feature different artists who bring their own unique craft to the experience, resulting in a variety of programming that has something for everyone to love. While this series is similar to its predecessor, there are a few key differences
"The first change you will see is that we are only going to be hosting Local Legends shows once a month on the second Thursday of each month, instead of weekly as it occurred in 2020. We are also planning on making it a larger night with a couple performers instead of just one band," shared Poellet. "Last year, we found that we focused exclusively on musical performances but this year we are going to try and broaden that pool and host a larger range of talents. For example, we are looking at presenting a more theatrical style performance for one of the evenings later this fall."
This series will kick off next Thursday, September 9 at 7 p.m. with back to back performances by Amz and The Nitpickers. This free performance is open to both in person and virtual audiences and will surely be a celebration of local talent that you won't want to miss!
Opening the show is Amz of Waterloo, who is also known by her alter ego Amie Rivers. "I'm excited to perform as part of Local Legends, even though I'm not at all a legend, and want to thank the Gallagher Bluedorn for the opportunity and for their support of local artists in the community," she shared.
Steven Surles heads The Nitpickers, a blues and rock group that has been delighting the Cedar Valley for decades. "It's a great honor to be selected for this show," he shares. "The Gallagher Bluedorn is the heart of the Cedar Valley progressive art and music scene, and we are proud to be associated with the best of the Cedar Valley."
Performances can be accessed through our website, Facebook page, or YouTube channel.