More than 40 local bands and solo artists will perform Saturday night at a dozen downtown venues in support of the Infinity Performing Arts program.
The seventh annual Local Music Showcase brings music of all varieties to downtown Jamestown for one evening, with all proceeds raised benefiting a program that helps aspiring young artists enhance their talents.
''We're doing a lot for the musical and artistic creative kids in the area,'' said Shane Hawkins, Infinity's director. ''Infinity is pretty unique in what it offers - there really aren't many similar programs, even in the bigger cities, that have developed to the point of offering private lessons as well as group ensembles.''
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Shawbucks will feature The Bogarts at 10 p.m. Saturday as part of the Local Music Showcase — a fundraiser for the Infinity Performing Arts Program.
Ms. Hawkins said that 38 instructors currently work for Infinity Performing Arts, forming a network of mentors for the students who take part in the program. Funding is needed to continue to provide the programming for the students, though, which is why events such as the Local Music Showcase become so important.
''All of the money generated (from the Local Music Showcase) goes directly to providing instruction to kids at Infinity,'' Ms. Hawkins said, adding that Infinity has programming that works with students interested in music, dance and art. ''It's very important.''
The Local Music Showcase began in 2004 as a way for established local musicians to lend a helping hand to those youngsters. It was held in Bemus Point for its first two years and moved to Jamestown in 2006 because of its growing size and the number of volunteers and venues willing to participate.
Funds are raised for Infinity through the event by the sale of wristbands at each participating venue. Patrons to the Local Music Showcase can buy single-venue wristbands to enjoy the evening's entertainment there for $5, or they can purchase all-access wristbands for $10 that will allow them to visit as many venues as they would like all evening long.
This year, artists who are scheduled to perform Saturday night for the benefit of Infinity are as follows:
Cooper's Cyber Cafe: The Velvet Cabbies at 7 p.m., and Bill Ward and Amanda Barton at 8 p.m.;
Forte: Rebecca McIlvain at 7 p.m., Gary Peters at 8 p.m., and Teal Weatherly and Sara Rafaloski at 9 p.m.;
Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena: Head of a Poet at 6:30 p.m., Red Light Departure at 7:45 p.m., Solomon Verse at 9 p.m., Pregnancy Is My Phobia at 10:15 p.m., Bleed the Skyline at 11:30 p.m., and Discidium at 12:45 a.m.;
Infinity Performing Arts Cafe: Infinity Drum Project at 7:30 p.m., Old Dawg Bluegrass at 8:45 p.m., Curt and Carol at 10 p.m., and Midas at 11 p.m.;
Labyrinth Press Company: Tara Eastman at 8:30 p.m. and The Cobra Brothers at 9:45 p.m.;
Mojo's: Band Hanna at 7 p.m., Strange Confessions at 8 p.m., Thee Audience at 9 p.m., Blind Society at 10 p.m., Skip Lunch at 11 p.m., Green Genes at midnight, and Smackdab at 1 a.m.;
The Pub: Steve Davis and Amanda Barton at 6 p.m., and Cindy Haight and Marla Harris at 7 p.m.;
The Q: 86 to Nowhere at 10 p.m., Ken Hardley and the Henways at 11 p.m., and Raggedy at midnight;
Reg Studio Theatre: Old Dawg Jazz Trio at 6 p.m., Royal Quality at 7:15 p.m., Blue Horizon at 8:30 p.m., and The Blues Power Trio at 9:45 p.m.;
Shawbucks: The Bogarts at 10 p.m., Charity Nuse and the Drive at 11:15 p.m., and Porcelain Bus Drivers at 12:30 a.m.;
Suburban Blend: Born for Betrayal at 6 p.m., Hot Stenographer at 7 p.m., and Escape Tower at 8 p.m.;
Wine Cellar: Charity Nuse at 10 p.m., Kat Elfman at 11:15 p.m., and Jamie Haight at 12:30 a.m.
For more information about the opportunities provided by the Infinity Performing Arts program, visit its website at www.infinityperformingarts.com or call 664-0991.