×

‘Rock the School III’ slated for May 17

“Rock the School III” takes place 7 p.m. May 17 at Beaver Local. (Submitted photo)

CALCUTTA — For the third-straight year, local rock and country musicians will grace the Beaver Local Auditorium stage for one night to benefit students in the school district.

The sounds of country and classic rock will fill the auditorium once again as “Rock the School III” takes place 7 p.m. May 17.

This year’s concert will be an all-local affair as the show will be headlined by The Full Circle Band, an East Liverpool-based rock band that performs a variety of classic rock hits.

The seven-piece band consists of lead singer Fred Ludovici, guitarists Jim Sabatini and Dean Zuccaro, bassist Geno Zuccaro, keyboardist Steve Poole, and drummers John Ash and Nate Barnard.

“We cover pretty much every band, from Three Dog Night to Bruce Springsteen to southern rock to Santana, Bachman Turner Overdrive, REO Speedwagon, Kansas,” event organizer Randy Barnard said. “Their set list is phenomenal.”

The set list changes throughout the year as the band plays at various places and festivals

“It was the idea of trying to do something different than what you hear everytime you go out,” Sabatini said. “I guess we’re more of a concert band instead of a regular club band.”

Since holding the first concert in 2016, the shows have seen the inclusion of the Beaver Local Middle School Choir — which has provided backing vocals for classic hits like Kansas’ “Carry On Wayward Son” and Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

The students will be returning for this year’s show.

Under the direction of Alison Hamilton, the choir involvement has been amongst the highlights, receiving strong reviews from the audience and fond memories for the band and from past choir members.

“I just think that kids having the experience of doing a show like that is something they’ve never done before,” Sabatini said. “Some of the ones who did it with us the first time still say something to me about it.”

“The kids have come up to me and said ‘That’s something I’ll never forget the rest of my life,’ and their parents have come up to me and said the same thing to me,” Barnard added. “One of the guys said, ‘You know, I was really bummed out when they told me to do this thing at the school, but man was I glad I went after that night too, and it was awesome.'”

Joining the Full Circle Band this year as special guest will be Buddy Schneider, frontman for the popular band Rumors.

Also gracing the Beaver Local stage will be East Liverpool-based country artist Zach Paxson, who also entertained the crowd at the first benefit concert in 2016.

Paxson, who has recorded four studio albums, has recently recorded new material, and will look to be performing it at the benefit show.

In past years, the band has been joined onstage by members of some of rock’s biggest bands, including Outlaws guitarist Chris Anderson (who performed at the past two shows), Kansas bassist Billy Greer (who performed in 2016) and Charlie Daniels Band keyboardist Shannon Wickline (who performed in 2017).

As part of the event, musical instruments and other memorabilia will be auctioned off.

Proceeds from the concert benefit the Beaver Local Schools Foundation, which provides scholarships to graduating seniors in the district who are looking to continue their education.

“The best part about it, it all benefits the school,” Sabatini said. “We’re doing it for the kids, that’s what it’s all about.”

Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at J. Sabatini Shoes in the Dunham’s Plaza, Campbell Signs, J.P.’s Pizzeria, and the Beaver Local K-12 campus on Bell School Road.

More information on the concert will be announced in the coming weeks.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today