IN-STUDIO GUEST: Singer/songwriter JOEL JUSTIN (of The Mad Ants)This week's program welcomes back NWI songwriter and rocker JOEL JUSTIN, a long time Region rocker and the leader of THE MAD ANTS. Only for this show, Joel will be flipping the coin musically speaking.Justin's latest solo album is called -- “THIS IS OUR COUNTRY” -- and as the title suggests, the rocker has "gone country" this time around. Not with the Mad Ants this time, but rather with a handful of hired gun players met online, while collaborating with the new creative tool A.I.Joel has taken his original lyrics from older, already recorded rock songs --- some going back to the 1970s -- and given them a new country-flavored treatment with just enough twang to sound legit.Listeners will hear a half dozen of his older songs that now sound equal parts Nashville polish, Midwest grit, and timeless songwriting. This album is a unique combination of strong original songwriting, emotional depth and modern technology, which finds this regional rock favorite making songs suited for a sawdust filled dance floor.

THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL PROGRAM “HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS”A Flashback to Holiday Memories & Music Shared by Some of Tom’s Celebrity Friends & Past Guests Guests on this special flashback program include:JIM PETERIK (Survivor & Ides of March),ROGER EARL (Foghat), Peabo Bryson, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. (The Fifth Dimension), RICKY PHILIPS (formerly of Styx ), and GARY U.S. BONDS.

HEART was a first of its kind rock band in the early 1970’s -- a band that could stand toe to toe, shoulder to shoulder with any other hard rock band on the scene -- only it was anchored by two women, two Seattle born and bred sisters who while not necessarily trying to make history and break down barriers in the music business, wound up doing exactly that in hindsight.HEART performs DECEMBER 6th as the Wilson sisters -- ANN & NANCY -- bring their "ROYAL FLUSH TOUR" to the HARD ROCK LIVE stage at HARD ROCK CASINO NORTHERN INDIANA for an 8p.m. concert performance that she said generally runs about two hours and includes a mix of huge hits, deep cut fan favorites, and even a couple of covers.Listen here to TOM LOUNGES' interview with NANCY WILSON -- the co-founder, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter of Heart -- as she talks about dogs, guitars, her long journey through music, being a female empowerment groundbreaker in music, the current HEART tour, and what's coming next.

"DARK SIDE OF THE YULE" -- by unique musical ensemble CLASSICAL BLAST -- is an annual holiday tradition in Northwest Indiana as "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges" on Lakeshore Public Media takes an evening to spotlight the group and their special Holiday Concert each season.CLASSICAL BLAST return to the Hobart Art Theater (230 Main St.) in downtown Hobart on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7th for the fifth consecutive year with their ever-evolving and always incredible live performance "DARK SIDE OF THE YULE," a continuously updated musical repertoire of incredibly crafted and skillfully arranged holiday music. This year's concert is a matinee performance beginning at 4p.m.CLASSICAL BLAST have released five critically acclaimed full length albums, with two dedicated entirely to holiday music -- "Whiter Shade Of Winter" and "Dark Side Of The Yule." Many tracks on these albums are familiar and beloved pop/rock songs creatively mashed-up with Christmas classics, medieval carols, and original holiday songs. Listen to this broadcast and hear several of the selections from these albums as the members talk about creating them.

In-Studio Musical Guests: THE RELICSThree members -- JIM, BOB and DAVE -- of one of the Region's longest running club and festival bands join show host Tom Lounges in the Lakeshore studio to discuss the secret to their long career, their relatively unknown songwriting output, and their NOVEMBER 30, 2025 first ever holiday concert happening at HOBART ART THEATER -- 230 Main Street -- in downtown Hobart, IN.Hear for the first time ever on radio -- three original RELICS songs, along with some recordings of the band performing classic covers. Online tickets at: www.brickartlive.comPhysical tickets at: Tom Lounges Record Bin - 218 Main St. - Hobart, IN

For this week's radio program, host and producer Tom Lounges interviewed iconic guitarist Andy Powell of the classic British band, Wishbone Ash.The Ash formed in 1969 and were in many ways born out of the British Blues Revival of the era. They later evolved into melodic folk-inspired rock, heavy rock, progressive rock, and hybrids of all those and more.On this program, Any Powell talks about his own evolution as one of the rock world's most gifted guitarists and the band's longevity and creative output that has spanned over 5 decades.

Host Tom Lounges and Candice Night of Blackmore's Night talk about and spotlight songs from her powerful new solo album "Sea Glass". While also catching up on Life, Family, and the status of Blackmore's Night.

Midwest Beat with host Tom Lounges.

The musical guest on this edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges" is LEO SAYER, the global pop sensation behind such major radio hits as “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing,” “The Show Must Go On,” “Thunder In My Heart,” “Long Tall Glasses,” “When I Need You,” and “Giving It All Away,” to name but a few. Check out this program and learn some cool things you didn't know about Leo Sayer.

Midwest Beat: Stan Skora co-founder Chicago's iconic pop rock/power pop group "In Kind"