Rock out at MelodicRockFest 2 this weekend

Some of the biggest and best names in melodic rock will once again gather for the biggest party of the year on April 30-May 2 when MelodicRockFest 2 comes to The Roadhouse/Main Event, 200 Prairie St. in downtown Elgin.

MelodicRockFest 2 is the second major concert event organized by the popular hard rock website melodicrock.com, one of the most respected and leading music websites in the world, tallying 42 million hits and currently servicing 275,000 unique users per month.

Spread over two full days (Saturday May 1 and Sunday May 2); with an additional VIP ticket holder night on Friday April 30; the event will feature 20 bands and additional special guests in a display of classic melodic and hard rock music. Here is the weekend rundown:

• Friday, April 30: The Friday VIP Meet & Greet night is open to VIP ticket holders and will feature some acoustic performances from more melodic rock stars.

Headlining the night will be a rare special 30-minute set from Alias, featuring vocalist Freddy Curci and guitarist Steve DeMarchi.

Chicagoland rockers Mecca made an immediate impact with their debut album in 2000, but has never played live - until now.

Rock Sugar couldn't help but get involved again and will warm up for Saturday with some acoustic tracks.

From MRF1 is U.S. melodic rock band Goodbye Thrill, who might just ignore the acoustic night premise to deliver some rocking tunes.

A number of the weekend guests will be on hand to meet and greet fans, sign autographs or possibly share a drink or two.

• Saturday, May 1: Saturday's show will be headlined by San Francisco hard rock legends Y&T. The band will be taking a break from the studio, preparing the release of their new studio album due midyear to rock Chicago.

Danger Danger is one of the most popular hard rock acts to come out of the late 1980s and in 2009 the band delivered one of the genre's best new albums. They'll be playing all their biggest hits and some new tracks too.

Pride of Lions needs no introduction - featuring Chicago's favorite rock legend Jim Peterik (ex-Survivor, Ideas of March, World Stage) and vocalist Toby Hitchcock, plus members of the World Stage band, Pride of Lions will appear for one of their rare live appearances.

Eden's Curse features members from four different countries, but they will converge on the U.S. for the very first time to perform the best tracks from two acclaimed albums and maybe even preview the upcoming third opus. And they'll record and film the set for a DVD release!

Terry Brock has been in the business for 20 years and is the current lead vocalist for much loved AOR act Giant and classic rock band Le Roux. But Brock has a solo career also and in his feature set, he will cover all the favorites and perhaps a surprise or two. His backing band will be popular New York melodic rockers Valentine.

Rock Sugar might just be one of the most talked about bands of the weekend. Their unique take on twisting songs into each other, or "mashing them" together will have everyone talking. Fast becoming a YouTube sensation with their Metallica/Journey mash-up, these guys are going to rock the house.

U.S. rockers Talon are another band bubbling under and will debut their new vocalist and film a live DVD at the same time.

Opening the day is FarCry, a band with the attitude of any stadium act of the 1980s.

• Sunday, May 2: Headlining Day 2 of MelodicRockFest is multiplatinum rockers Winger. Famed for their musical prowess and fresh off a European tour, the band is supporting the release of their latest hard rock masterpiece Karma.

For the first time in 14 years, acclaimed New Jersey rockers Trixter will return to the Midwest to perform a true greatest hits set as they continue the tour that commemorates the 20th anniversary of their debut album.

Pulling double duty for the show is Danger Danger frontman Ted Poley. He will do his own set, concentrating on some D2 rarities and solo material, plus tunes from his Poley/Rivera release. He will be joined by guitarist Vic Rivera and band.

Jimi Jamison (ex-Survivor) returns from a guest appearance that brought the house down at MRF1 to perform a solo set of new solo tracks and some much loved Survivor classics. Who knows what guests might join him on stage?

Voices of Rock Radio are just that. Kevin Chalfant (The Storm, Two Fires) and Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent) and the Two Fires Band perform their best known hits before inviting former Survivor vocalist Jimi Jamison to join the fun.

Crown of Thorns, featuring Jean Beauvoir and Tommy Lafferty will play a rare U.S. soil live show in support of their latest studio album and a catalog of much loved tunes that go back to the Paul Stanley (Kiss) produced debut album.

No Chicago based show would be complete without local legends 7th Heaven, the hardest working band in the Midwest and recently featured on "American Idol."

Opening up Day 2 is melodic hard rockers Bombay Black, a heavy duty live act that will get the day off to a thunderous start.

For tickets, visit melodicrockfest.com or call (312) 675-8025.