Fri 8/16 @ 5:30PM
The Akron Civic Theatre’s Rock the Civic Gala is another of its special events supporting its ongoing upgrades in this classic old theater.
Its central event is a concert featuring Pennsylvania’s Donnie Iris and the Cruisers who over the past 40-plus years have built a following in northeast Ohio almost as big as the one they have in western Pennsylvania. The 81-year-old singer first made his mark with the Jaggerz who had a hit in 1970 with “The Rapper” (it had nothing to do with rap as we know it today), before hooking up with Cleveland keyboard player/songwriter Mark Avsec and forming the Cruisers. The Iris/Avsec-penned song “Ah! Leah” in 1981 put them on the map and they’ve performed ever since. In Cleveland, they frequently opened to the Michael Stanley band and Michael Stanley’s Resonators, giving them a built in audience in this area.
They’ll share the stage with Michael Stanley Band alum Jonah Koslen, who played guitar, sang and contributed songs to the band’s first three albums before going on to form Breathless and Jonah Koslen & the Heroes and eventually launch his solo career.
You can snag tickets just for the concert at 7:30 or splurge on the full VIP event starting at 5:30 with drinks, a “strolling dinner,” an auction with everything from signed memorabilia to a Goodyear Blimp ride, drinks and dessert in the mezzanine at intermission and valet parking.
Either way, get tickets here.
Akron, OH 44308