Hillis: Guided by Voices, Drewcifer and more kick off 'locals' summer' at the beach

The Labor Day weekend is in the rearview mirror, and the second season (locals' summer) is upon us.

Beach music venues are hosting various events designed to entertain locals and also lure back those visiting weekend warriors.

The Dogfish Head brewpub in downtown Rehoboth Beach will present a free concert by the alternative-rock act Guided by Voices at 10 p.m, Friday, Sept. 8. Dogfish owner Sam Calagione booked and promoted a sold-out concert by the band at the Milton Theatre in 2014, and even brewed a beer in its honor.

Calagione is sticking to his "almost never a cover charge" mantra Friday, which is impressive; I know I paid big bucks to see Guided by Voices at the Electric Factory nightclub in Philadelphia a while back. For those unfamiliar with the long-running group, which has a rabid underground following, try to envision a cross between The Replacements, The Who and The Ramones.

In downtown Ocean City, the Cowboy Coast Saloon will host its third annual OC Bikefest kickoff party at 9:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 14 ($20). Live music will be provided by hard rock band Jackyl, which was an MTV favorite back in the '80s and has had a resurgence due to frontman Jesse James Dupree's forays into reality television. Purchasing tickets in advance is advised.

The Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach has announced a slew of shows that will take place later this month. Saved By The '90s will pay tribute to the Top 40 hits of that decade on Friday, Sept. 15 ($10). A pair of back-to-back country concerts will take place the week after that, and both are free.

Regional favorite The Morrison Brothers will return Thursday, Sept. 21, followed by national act Drewcifer (featuring members of the Infamous Stringdusters, Railroad Earth and Guster) on Friday, Sept. 22. Reggae-rock quartet Ballyhoo performs Saturday, Sept. 23 ($10).

Also in Dewey Beach, Bottle & Cork nightclub owner Alex Pires will present the free mini-festival he has dubbed Cliff-A-Palooza at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. As mentioned here last week, Pires is staging the event as a salute to my brother, singer-songwriter Cliff Hillis.

Cliff will play with his current backing band, the Forward Thinkers — after reunion performances by some of the pop-rock groups he has played with in the past such as Mystery Machine, The Name and Starbelly. Looking ahead, the Cork will feature Christian music performer Matt Maher on Friday, Sept. 15 ($20) and country star Lee Brice on Friday, Sept. 22 ($50). The performance by Brice is very close to selling out.

E-mail Roger Hillis at rogerhillis@gmail.com

This week's must-see list

Guided by Voices at Dogfish Head in Rehoboth Beach at 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Free

Jackyl at the Cowboy Coast Saloon in Ocean City at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. $20

Rogue Citizens at Pickles Pub in Ocean City at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. Free

Eight-Track Mind at Fager's Island in Ocean City at 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11. Free

Cliff-A-Palooza festival at the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10. Free