Alice Cooper, Tesla and Great White - 2010

Alice Cooper, George Thorogood, Tesla headline Bay City summer concerts

Bay City might as well be called Pine Knob North this year, with four rock acts playing summer festivals: Tesla, Great White, Alice Cooper and George Thorogood.

The lineups were announced this morning for concerts supporting the “I think it’s the biggest summer I’ve ever had to look forward to,” said Chad Cunningham, a concert promoter who lives in Bangor Township.

The four acts bring classic rock to the Saginaw riverfront, in Veterans Memorial Park. And will bring an outrageous light show, Cunningham said.

A special stage roof is being brought in from Nashville for Cooper’s show, to support 9,000 pounds of lights. That’s six times what’s brought in for a typical Bay City concert, Cunningham said. Cooper, one of the original shock rockers, is known for stage shows featuring guillotines, snakes and fake blood.

Great White

will open for Tesla at the River Roar on June 25. Alice Cooper will play the Tall Ship festival on July 17. George Thorogood will play an Aug. 13 concert to support the Fireworks Festival, which runs July 1-3.

Tesla

, a hard rock band, enjoyed success in the 1980s with songs including “Modern Day Cowboy,” “Little Suzi,” “Love Song” and a cover of “Signs.” The band reunited in 2000 and still features original lead singer Jeff Keith and guitarist Frank Hannon.

“I’m telling you, these guys have not lost one ounce of energy,” said Cunningham, who saw them play last week at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant.

Cunningham said he chose Great White, an ’80s hard rock band known for its cover of “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” to help round out the show.

Cunningham said he’s also excited to bring Alice Cooper to town. The Detroit native is known for snarling out hits like “School’s Out,” “I’m Eighteen” and “Under My Wheels,” and hosting a syndicated radio show that airs locally on WHEELZ 104.5.

Proceeds from all three concerts will go to charities including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bay County Inc., the Bay Arts Council, the Fireworks Festival and Just for Kids.

“One of the coolest things that I think has happened this year is ... all the festivals have gotten together and said, ‘Let’s pool our talents and try to come up with better shows for Bay City,’” Cunningham said.

Summer concerts in Bay City typically pack in about 10,000 fans, he said.