A concert series that started as a way to keep live music alive during COVID-19 will return this week to the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

The Local Legends Series is a monthly concert series where favorite hometown acts will take to the Great Hall stage and perform concerts for a hybrid audience who attend in-person or virtually. The series will kick off at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9 with back-to-back performances by Amz and The Nitpickers. This free performance is open to both in person and virtual audiences.

"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," said 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!"

The Local Legends Series breaks the traditional mold for programming you might expect to see at the Gallagher Bluedorn. Every show features different artists who bring their own unique craft to the experience, resulting in a variety of programming that has something for everyone to love.

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 I want to thank the Gallagher Bluedorn for the opportunity and for their support of local artists in the community," she said.

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 said. "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 gbpac.com, the center’s Facebook page, or YouTube channel.