LOCALS ROCK THE MONARCH: A NEW CONCERT SERIES IN OGDEN KICKS OFF WEDNESDAY
The all-ages concert series created by a local music supporter helps up-and-coming artists in Utah get more exposure.
NEWS
Locals Rock creator Rich Casperson (right) and co-producer of Van Sessions Brandon Long inside the Van Sessions studio at The Monarch. Deann Armes, The Ogdenite
An all-ages concert series dedicated to promoting local musicians makes its debut at The Monarch on Wednesday, November 22 with three Utah bands headlining: Blue Rain Boots, future.exboyfriend, and Bad Luck Brigade.
Locals Rock was created by Rich Casperson, a content creator and big music supporter based in Davis County. It launched this summer with a five-concert series at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City that featured Sammy Brue, Over Under, Dad Bod, Pool House, Sunhills, The Mellons, School of Rock, and more.
Casperson’s idea came from the desire to help his son Tyler, a musician, and others like him. Tyler formed a metal band, Grace and Silence, six months ago with fellow musicians from the School of Rock, fueling Casperson's passion for supporting local bands.
SLC metal band Grace and Silence perform at Locals Rock The Gallivan in Salt Lake City, Summer, 2023. Image provided
“I realized these local bands at mid-entry level have real challenges as far as getting traction and exposure,” Casperson says.
Locals Rock is about creating access to bigger audiences for up-and-coming artists in Utah, to “put more money in their pockets, create a concert series that does good things, and to build something.”
A significant percentage of ticket sales goes to pay the artists; the more tickets are sold, the more money the artists make.
After getting to know Van Sessions’ co-producer Brandon Long at BrueHaus, an Ogden concert series created by Mike Thornbrue, and later at the Locals Rock The Gallivan summer series, Casperson decided to bring his new winter series to The Monarch in Ogden where The Banyan Collective, producers of Van Sessions, are based.
As a sponsor for Locals Rock The Monarch, Van Sessions will host a special acoustic show to warm things up downstairs inside The Gist with local acts Excess Sass and The Snarlin’ Yarns. These appearances for the Locals Rock series dubbed “Van Sessions Lite” will be a live audience music podcast similar to their regular monthly show.
The main concert will be held upstairs inside The Royal Room.
Food, shopping, and beer will also be available on-site from sponsors Lucky Slice Pizza, Roosters Brewing, and Reborn Vintage who all joined The Monarch and Van Sessions to support Locals Rock.
Doors at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. Visit 24tix.com for more details and tickets.
The next dates for the five-concert winter series are December 31 (New Year’s Eve), January 19, February 16, and March 15. The artists will be announced soon.