Billy McGuigan, ‘Rock Legends’ kick off GAAC schedule

Published 4:13 pm Friday, September 25, 2015

The Greenville Area Arts Council will kick off its 34th season with a show that’s billed as part rock concert, part rock tribute and all rock ‘n’ roll.

Billy McGuigan will open the season on Oct. 5 with “Rock Legends.”

The show will feature music ranging from 1950s rock ‘n’ roll from Elvis Presley to the sounds of the 1960s with artists like The Rolling Stones and Janis Joplin, all the way to the 1980s with music from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and U2.

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“Billy and the band will bring the nostalgia of many legends to the Ritz stage with hits from Janis Joplin, The Everly Brothers, the Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, The Eagles, Elton John and Billy Joel to name a few,” said Nancy Idland, executive director of the Greenville Area Arts Council. “It’s a great show to kick off season 34!”

Along with the music, “Rock Legends” features a multimedia show.

The band is led by McGuigan, a renowned Buddy Holly impersonator, who has performed with Holly contemporaries such as Tommy Allsup, Holly’s lead guitarist.

McGuigan has emulated Holly more than 1,500 times in his stage show paying homage to the rock ‘n’ roll legend, “Rave On! The Buddy Holly Experience,” including a performance at the Ritz Theatre in 2011. He’s also emulated Holly more than 450 times as part of “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.”

Other band members include Ryan McGuigan, vocal and acoustic guitar; Jay Hanson, lead guitar and vocals; Rich Miller, percussion; and Tara Vaughan, vocals and piano.

The performance will begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and can be purchased at The Pineapple, The Medicine Shoppe and McFerrin’s Jewelry.