A lot of people are asking, “What is a Basement Bunch?” The best way to answer that is to come out to Tryon Fine Arts Center Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. for two hours of substantial rock and roll. Until then, the best way to answer that question is to say …

Once Upon a Time there were a bunch of musicians who got together every Tuesday evening in Jim Peterman’s basement to jam and this went on for a number of years until one night …

Bass player Elaina Prevett came and announced, “We’ve got a gig.”

Tommy Lytle, guitar and sax player, said, “What? A gig?”

Lee Stockdale, harmonica player, said, “A gig?”

Vinny Corda, sax and flute player, said, “A gig?”

Drummer Robbie Johnson said, “A gig?”

Lead guitar player Mark Kennedy said, “A gig?”

Mike Locke, rhythm guitar player, said, “A gig?”

Organ player Jim Peterman said, “We must be a band. If we’ve got a gig we’re a band. We need a name.” No one disagreed and they put their heads together to come up with a name.

“I know,” said Lee Stockdale, “we can call ourselves The Trophy Husbands.”

“No,” said Elaina Prevett, “I’m a female. I won’t be in a band called Husbands. Anyway, there already is a band in Tryon called The Trophy Husbands,” which was true, so they decided they could not also be The Trophy Husbands.

After much intelligent discussion it was determined that since they were a “bunch” of musicians who played in Jim Peterman’s “basement” they would call themselves The Basement Bunch. That was a year ago. Since then they have played numerous gigs at The Winding Creek Brewery (now closed, but not because they played there), The Block Off Biltmore in Asheville, Saluda Outfitters, the Green River Barbecue, and private parties.

The Basement Bunch will satisfy anybody who wants to hear some of the best songs from rock and roll by the Beatles, Dylan, The Band, Marvin Gaye, Booker T & the MGs, Creedence Clearwater, the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison and others.

As an added bonus, The Bunch will be joined on stage by special guest Shane Pruitt, the region’s number one blues guitar player. Don’t miss this great night with Tryon’s most international, most fun, and most-players-in-the, band.

The show starts at 7 p.m., with 100 percent of donations at the door going to the artists. Relish Food Truck and concessions will be available onsite. More information about the Amphitheater Series is available at tryonarts.org or by calling 828-859-8322.

– submitted by Lee Stockdale