Proceeds to Benefit Roswell Park's bone marrow screening program
The 2018 Spirit of the '80s concert event will feature Mike Peters and The Alarm at Academy Park in Lewiston on Saturday, Aug. 4. This year, the annual event will also promote bone marrow screening as part of Mike Peter's "Love Hope Strength Foundation," with concert proceeds going to Roswell Park's bone marrow donor screening program.
"The Spirit of the '80s began as an alternative to a traditional 25-year class reunion by the Lew-Port Class of 1987," executive producer Mike Hanrahan said. "We decided to hold a concert featuring bands we listened to in the 1980s, and it was so successful that the we had money left over - which we donated to the Lew-Port music program.
"We have held the event each year since 2012 at various venues and bringing The Alarm to Academy Park is the most ambitious to date."
Mike Peters and The Alarm helped break the mold of the typical rock band of the '80s and paved the way for alternative bands to make a statement in music. The Alarm have had 17 top 50 U.K. singles, a host of successful albums and more than 5 million sales worldwide.
The appearance at Academy Park is part of a 23-city North American tour promoting the new album, "Equals," which was released June 29.
In 1995, Peters was diagnosed with cancer, but, instead of bemoaning his fate, he donned a camouflage jacket and fought back. In the years since his diagnosis - and through two subsequent bouts with the disease - the Welsh singer continues to lead The Alarm.
In 2016, Peter's wife, Jules, was also diagnosed with breast cancer. She continues to tour with the band despite wagging a two-year battle with the disease. Peters has since become the co-founder of the "Love Hope Strength Foundation," which promotes music-related outreach and awareness programs for leukemia and cancer sufferers, survivors and their families.
There will be volunteer screening for bone marrow donors at Academy Park on Aug. 4 while educational cancer awareness information also will be distributed.
In addition to the headliner, Spirit of the '80s welcomes Canada's premier U2 tribute band, Desire; last year's favorite, Dead Letter Office; and the band Ten. Gates open at 3 p.m. with Ten taking the stage at 4 p.m.
