Five acts unite for all-ages concert at Arena Building

The Arena Building in Cape Girardeau has long been the site for the SEMO District Fair, gun and knife shows, craft fairs and the occasional concert. But Darren Burgfeld of Tone Def All-Stars said he's bringing something different April 17 with The Show, an all-ages concert featuring five bands in one night.

While most bands book gigs downtown, Burgfeld said he wanted to do the opposite.

"We wanted to show people that not everything has to be downtown or on outdoor stages," he said. "The Arena Building is that venue that kind of got left in the dust when the Show Me Center came around."

Breakaways will be serving refreshments, he said, and a light setup and professional PA system are being brought in to "make it more of a concert experience."

Burgfeld said he and Steve Ewing, co-founder and lead singer of The Urge, co-organized the event to showcase local bands.

Mike Renick Band

"We wanted to show off some of the bigger draw bands in Cape, get them in the same room, the same night and do something different," he said.

Local cover band The Intention will open "with high energy cover band type stuff." Burgfeld's band, the Tone Def All-Stars, will be up next.

"I wanted to include Tone Def in this event, one reason of course, just to get with the guys and have some fun," Burgfeld said. "Another reason is because it's been almost a year since our last show."

The Justin Ross Band, a national touring act from Fort Worth, Texas, will follow the Tone Def All-Stars, which Burgfeld said "will be a real change since Justin is all original."

The Mike Renick Band will play next, with Ewing closing out the night.

The Intention

While Burgfeld said he is "testing the water" with The Show, it is something he would like to see become an annual event. He said he would keep it simple.

"One night, local acts that I know draw good crowds. Maybe it would grow to two nights, but it would always be independent music, unsigned bands, but keep the doors open to anything," he said. "I would like to have at least one band that is a national touring act, such as the Justin Ross Band this year."

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 April 17 at the Arena Building.

Advance tickets are $12. They can be purchased online at myspace.com/theshow2009, and at the Arena Building box office, Burritoville, P-Mac Music and Game Crazy. Real Rock 99.3 will have some ticket giveaways this week.

For more information about The Show, visit www.myspace.com/theshow2009.