Travel back nearly four decades, and you could relive some of Poison’s greatest hits, like “Nothin’ But A Good Time” and “Talk Dirty To Me.”
With Ellis Music Event’s Summer of ’89 Party, you’ll only need to journey to Penguin City Brewing Company to hear those tunes again.
The Saturday, July 25, event will feature Say Ahh, the world’s first Poison tribute band, and special guest Steel Reserve, an ’80s rock cover band. Jake Ellis, founder and owner of Ellis Music Events, said ’80s tribute acts have gained traction nationally and regionally, especially after Ellis Music Events’ May 9 launch concert, which showcased a duo tribute act of Live Wire and Space Frehley.
“I think it’s just a way for people to go and experience the bands that they loved from a decade that was so vibrant and colorful, and they had great party tunes,” Ellis said. “And I think it’s a great escape for a lot of people to get back in that environment for a night.”
Founded in downtown Youngstown in 2025, Ellis Music Events relies on its local ties to create space for live entertainment in the Mahoning Valley. Summer of ’89 Party supporters include Phantom Fireworks, Cocca’s Pizza and Sport Clips Haircuts of Poland.
Ellis said he’s also joined forces with Penguin City Brewing Company on the live-music venture. In a back area of its warehouse, the brewery invested in a large concert stage with professional sound and lighting and was seeking help organizing live music in the room. The partnership, Ellis said, was “the right place at the right time.”
“The biggest thing I want to drive home is: We can’t put these events on without full community support,” Ellis said. “Of course, you need people who want to attend … But the businesses — they are such a critical component of all of this. The support that they show, whether it be through promotion or financially, and just getting them involved.”
Other upcoming events will remain disclosed for several more weeks, but Ellis offered a sneak peek at two of them. The first announcement will be an October kickoff show, described as the largest production Ellis Music Events has produced so far, with a Halloween-esque vibe and theatrical hints. The other live-music entertainment is slated for Sept. 26 and ready to slow things down a notch with a country act from Nashville, Tennessee.
Despite it being Ellis Music Event’s second show, it knows what the community lacks, and that’s a consistently valued live-entertainment space, according to Ellis.
“We’re trying to give the people of the Mahoning Valley somewhere to go in downtown Youngstown that’s not going to break the bank, where they can get quality live entertainment, live music, three hours on a weekend night,” Ellis said.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. There are several ticket options available online, so don’t wait and get ready to party like it’s 1989.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.mahoningmatters.com ’
