X-Rock 103.9 to Host ‘Rock the Region’ Concert

This Saturday, X-Rock 103.9, one of the local Adams Radio Group stations, will host ‘Rock the Region’ at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana. The event, taking place on the Hard Rock Live venue stage, opens its doors at 6:30 p.m. It will feature performances from three distinct local bands: Steepwater Band, Salamander Drake, and Chester Brown. Ironworkers Local 395 sponsors the event, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Humane Indiana.

Earlier this week, the Steepwater Band, formed in the late 1990s, performed live on WGN-TV in Chicago. Known for blending classic rock, blues, and Americana, they have toured extensively and shared stages with iconic bands like ZZ Top. The band boasts eight studio albums and will debut their ninth, ‘Down & Divine,’ recorded in Chicago, during this concert.

Salamander Drake, with roots in Northwest Indiana, brings progressive hard rock to the stage. The band includes members Allen Fraley, Daryl Grady, Eric Kuiper, and Robert Wray. Their album, ‘Ghosts in the Blood’ (2025), includes popular tracks ‘Amelia and The Electric Eels,’ ‘Giving Up the Ghost,’ and ‘Lurker in the Wildwood.’

Chester Brown, a five-piece band originating from Chesterton, has been performing for over 25 years. With a vast repertoire of original songs and covers spanning rock, funk, country, blues, R&B, and jazz, the band includes Nate Vanderlin, Tim Vanderlin, Dominic Puglisi, Mike Kneeland, and Tony Dellumo.

Tickets for ‘Rock the Region’ start at $21.30 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or by visiting the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana website.

The article also paid tribute to Tony Butala, co-founder of The Lettermen, a Grammy-nominated vocal group from the 1960s. Butala passed away at 87, as confirmed by the band’s press representative, Tracy Clark. Known for hits like ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ and ‘When I Fall in Love,’ The Lettermen were popular in Northwest Indiana, especially for their performances at the Holiday Star Theatre. Butala’s connection to the region included his marriage to Judith Ann Blaskovich from Highland.

Butala remained the last surviving member of the initial trio, with Pike and Engemann passing earlier. The group’s legacy persists with the current lineup of Donovan Tea, Bobby Poynton, and Rob Gulack. Butala last performed with The Lettermen in 2019.