Photo and Logo, bergenPAC From top, Cyndi Lauper and STYX are just two of the concert acts set to perform in Englewood at the Bergen Performing Arts Center.

By John Soltes
Editor-in-Chief

ENGLEWOOD (July 30, 2009) — The Bergen Performing Arts Center in downtown Englewood recently announced a motley variety of upcoming acts. Be it rock, soul or funk, the bergenPAC seems ready to fill its seats with concertgoers hungry for music.

In an effort to help patrons during the economic recession, the arts venue will sell several tickets at almost every concert for under $30. So now top entertainment doesn’t have to come at top prices.

Here are a few highlights of events in the coming weeks.

Bruce Hornsby

Thursday, July 30 at 8 p.m.

Tickets prices: $29-$99

Bruce Hornsby, the singer-songwriter behind such classics as “The End of the Innocence,” “Mandolin Rain” and “The Way It Is,” will take the stage in Englewood for a show of jazz music and Top-40 hits. The Virginia native will likely pull from his impressive résumé of songwriting experience. Hornsby wrote many hit songs, but wasn’t necessarily the performer who topped the charts with them (take for example Don Henley’s version of “The End of the Innocence”).

Joe Bonamassa

Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 8 p.m.

Tickets prices: $29-$69

Joe Bonamassa is considered by many to be one of the best blues guitarist playing. His latest album, “The Ballad of John Henry,” features a swampy mix of 1960s-era British rock and Delta sounds.

STYX

Thursday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m.

Tickets prices: $29-$99

You either love them or hate them. And being that they have sold millions of albums and pack almost every venue they book, it’s probably safe to say that America loves STYX. The rockers have so many classic tunes that compiling their setlist each night must be a difficult venture. From the funky vibes of “Mr. Roboto” to the anthemic “Renegade” to the smooth “Come Sail Away,” STYX normally puts on a good show of well-known classics from their impressive repertoire.

Cyndi Lauper

Sunday, Aug. 16 at 8 p.m.

Tickets prices: $29-$89

Is there any performer that epitomizes the decade of the 1980s more than Cyndi Lauper? Her girl-power  songs are radio frequenters. Whether it’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “True Colors” or the still sublime “Time After Time,” Lauper is of a rare breed, in that she still can hit the high notes and whisk you back to the era of Wig Wams and mullets.

1964 The Tribute

Friday, Aug. 21 at 8 p.m.

Tickets priced $20-$55

Beatlemania will come to the bergenPAC in the form of 1964 The Tribute, which pulls together the hits and lesser-known songs of the mop-top quartet. There are many Paul-John-Ringo-George tributes out there, but 1964 The Tribute promises to be one of the best.

Alice Cooper

Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.

Tickets priced $29-$99

There’s dark and then there’s Alice Cooper. The black-eyeliner-sporting, long-hair father of goth is still touring and still giving his fans a taste of such classics as “Poison,” “Billion Dollar Babies” and “School’s Out.” Expect a large, if not sold out, crowd for this one.

The Bacon Brothers

Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m.

Tickets prices: $19-$59

Kevin and Michael Bacon will bring their country-folk sound to the bergenPAC, a place the brothers know well. The duo recorded a live album at the Englewood venue, and are now coming back for a little more fun. Oh, by the way, that Kevin is Kevin Bacon of “JFK,” “Apollo 13” and “The River Wild” fame.

Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke & Lenny White

Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.

Tickets prices: $29-$99

If you like jazz fusion, then Chick Corea, Stanley Clark and Lenny White may be the concert to attend. The three performers promise to bring audience members on a journey through acoustic, electric, funk and rock — all fused with jazzy beats.

Visit www.bergenpac.org for more information and tickets.