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Batavia Downs announces lineup for 2022 Pepsi 'Rockin the Downs' summer concert series

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Wed, Dec 1st 2021 06:10 pm

’80s & classic rock bands to headline series

Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced the lineup for its fifth “Rockin’ the Downs,” presented by Pepsi. The concert series will take place outside on the racetrack, with 10 Friday dates starting in June and running into August.

Kicking off the series on June 17 will be a double bill of rock with Tommy DeCarlo and Rudy Cardenas. DeCarlo has been the lead singer of Boston since 2007 and performs all of the band’s hits from the ’70s and ’80s, including “More Than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind” and “Hitch A Ride.” Opening the show will be Cardenas, a season six “American Idol” finalist who will perform a full set of Journey’s classic hits.

Next up, on June 24, Batavia Downs welcomes Canadian rock band Finger 11. Originating in Burlington, Ontario, in 1990, the band has gone on to release seven studio albums. The Juno Award-winning rockers will perform hits including “One Thing” and “Paralyzer.”

July 1 will see Get the Led Out perform at Batavia Downs. This group of professional musicians is passionate about the music of Led Zeppelin, and have a mission to bring the studio recordings of the Mighty Zep to life on stage. Songs performed by the band will include hits “Black Dog,” “Immigrant Song” and “Stairway to Heaven.”

Returning to Batavia Downs on July 8 is Theory. Hailing from Delta, British Columbia, the band – also known as Theory of a Deadman – has turned its hard rock/alternative sound into nine Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, including four No. 1s in “Bad Girlfriend,” “Lowlife,” “Rx (Medicate)” and “History of Violence.”

Performing on July 15 is another double-bill of music, this time with Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone. He is a multitalented entertainer who achieved international fame as Herman, lead singer of the legendary 1960s pop band Herman’s Hermits. His classic hits include “I’m Into Something Good,” “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” and “I’m Henry VIII, I Am.”

Earlier that evening, The Grass Roots will take the stage. The circa-mid-1960s act charted with such hits as “Midnight Confessions,” “Let’s Live for Today,” “Sooner or Later” and “Temptation Eyes.” The current band lineup of Mark Dawson, Dusty Hanvey, Larry Nelson and Joe Dougherty rocked Batavia Downs last summer with an inspired performance.

On July 22, Batavia Downs welcomes back southern rock legends Molly Hatchet. Originating in Jacksonville in 1978, the band has gone on to release 14 studio albums. Molly Hatchet performing hits “Flirtin’ with Disaster,” “Dreams I’ll Never See” and “Whiskey Man.” Opening for them will be American southern rock band Blackfoot, with hits “Train, Train” and “Highway Song.”

Rocking the stage on July 29 is the legendary 38 Special. After forming in Jacksonville in 1974, their signature blast of southern rock became unmistakable with such arena-rock pop smashes as “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ Into the Night” and “Caught Up in You.

America’s top Pink Floyd show, The Machine, returns to the Batavia Downs stage on Aug. 5. For over 30 years, they have extended the legacy of Pink Floyd while creating another legacy all their own. Over the years, The Machine has touched the hearts and souls of many with their stellar musicianship, dramatic lighting and video performances.

Making his Batavia Downs debut on Aug. 12 is Mike DelGuidice, a recording artist/singer/songwriter who is currently on tour with Billy Joel. In October of 2013, Joel was so impressed with DelGuidice’s singing, he personally hired Mike to join his band. DelGuidice and his band play Joel’s biggest hits. They will also perform a few renditions of other classic rock hits, plus some of their own original work.

Closing out the series on Aug. 19 is the Dire Straits Experience. With former Dire Straits member Chris White, this collection of professional musicians has been paying homage to one of the greatest songbooks of all time with tours across the world. They will play Dire Straits’ major hits, “in all their ambition, grandeur and aching beauty.”

“We are looking forward to hosting what we feel is the best concert series lineup we’ve ever had,” said Henry Wojtaszek, president and CEO for Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. “We’re appreciative to the folks at Pepsi for being our headline sponsor this year, and excited to welcome back charities like Make-A-Wish Western New York and Volunteers for Animals, who raise funds for their organizations through the chair rental and guitar raffle.”

Tickets for all 10 concerts will be available at www.BataviaConcerts.com only beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 2.

Prices are $15 for general admission, $30 for VIP, $50 for premium and, debuting this year, limited tickets for $75 will guarantee a front row spot. All tickets can be redeemed at Player’s Club at any time in the three days following the concert for $15 free play to be used on one of Batavia Downs Gaming’s 800-plus gaming machines.

Season tickets are also back and will also go on sale for general admission, VIP and premium sections. A season pass for general admission will be $100 (a savings of $50), and purchasers will receive a $50 free play voucher valid to be used within one month of purchase. Season passes for VIP tickets are $250 (a savings of $50), with the purchaser receiving $100 in free play vouchers. A premium season pass is $450 (a savings of $50), with the purchaser receiving a $150 in free play vouchers. Season passes may only be purchased online.

Now until Christmas, tickets purchased online for the general admission section will be only $10. Concertgoers will still receive $15 in free play on show day with this ticket.

Suite packages for the Hotel at Batavia Downs are available for $500 and include 10 lawn tickets. To book a suite package, contact Sara Tenney at 585-344-6155.

Concerts are held rain or shine. Additional information may be found at www.BataviaDownsGaming.com.

Western Region Off-Track Betting is a public benefit corporation with headquarters in Batavia. WROTB owns and operates 11 branches, as well as Batavia Downs Gaming, a standard bred racetrack and gaming facility. Since its inception, Western Region OTB has generated over $232 million in operating and surcharge revenues to the taxpayers of participating municipalities.

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