Music Guest: CARMINE APPICE of CACTUSThis week’s guest is iconic rock drummer CARMINE APPICE who spends the hour discussing his long and varied career, his many band projects, and the creation of his newest release "TEMPLE OF THE BLUES: VOL. II" by his CACTUS ALL-STARS.Appice’s latest recording features an array of top talents like Ted Nugent, Pat Travers, Rudy Sarzo, Melanie, Billy Sheehan, Eric Gales and other special guest performers. Songs from the new album, “TEMPLE OF THE BLUES: VOL. II,” are spotlighted tonight on the program.

THIS PROGRAM WAS ORIGINALLY BROADCAST ON MAY 26, 2026 MUSICAL GUEST:DAVE PETERSEN of Brothers/Irmãos This edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges" welcomes Northwest Indiana musician/songwriter DAVE PETERSEN into the radio studio to discuss Petersen/Parise Productions, an international music project he co-founded in 2020 called Brothers/Irmãos with Brazilian musician and songwriter MARCOS PARISE.This show features both live and studio performances of songs featured on the international group's third and newest full-length album, "THIS OLD COWBOY."Performing a pair of songs live in-studio with Petersen, is veteran Region fiddle player AL JOSEPH.More on this unique project at: www.brothers-irmaosmusic.com.

Classic blues-rock group FOGHAT has been recording and performing since 1971 when the founding members broke off from British Blues band SAVOY BROWN. This week's guest is Foghat's founding member and drummer ROGER EARL. Foghat has released 17 studio albums and multiple live albums over the decades. The band's latest being -- 2023's "SONIC MOJO" -- which debuted at the #1 spot on the Billboard Blues Chart."Midwest BEAT" host and producer Tom Lounges has known Foghat since the mid-1990s when he first interviewed the band to promote their "Return of The Boogie Men" reunion album/tour. Tom has done many interviews with various past and present members over the years. LIVE PERFORMANCE: FOGHAT performs on Saturday, May 23rd with special guest Nazareth at The Hard Rock Live auditorium found inside Hard Rock Casino Northwest Indiana in Gary, Indiana.

This edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges" focuses on the live performance revue "THE MUSIC OF TINA TURNER" a symphonic telling of the story of Rock Queen Tina Turner that was created by Northwest Indiana native JOHN SUCH, the CEO and namesake of John Such Artists Entertainment in New York City.A one night only performance of "The Music of Tina Turner" is being presented on FRIDAY, MAY 22nd by The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra (NISO) at The Hard Rock Live entertainment venue at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary, Indiana. It stars LaKISHA JONES, NOVA Y. PAYTON and ARMANDO IMAGINES.This week's edition of the "Midwest BEAT" features show host Tom Lounges interviewing "American Idol" (2007) finalist LaKISHA JONES, along with JOHN SUCH and NISO Marketing Director TAMMIE MILLER, while including various recordings by the real Tina Turner and songs from Jones' own CD, "So Glad I'm Me."The live stage production of "The Music of Tina Turner" includes standard rock band accompaniment (bass, drums, guitar) along with full orchestra backing, which brings the music of Tina Turner to life in a big, big way as it pays tribute to the eight-time GRAMMY-winner and Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

Blues guitarist KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD is my special guest on this edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges". The last time Kenny was on this program was in 2022 when he released and toured behind the "TROUBLE IS...25th ANNIVERSARY" album, a re-recording and re-interpretation of his 1997 landmark album.Kenny is now doing a similar project and has just re-recorded his 1996 debut album -- "LEDBETTER HEIGHTS" -- which originally landed at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart the first week of its release, which put the then 18-year-old Shepherd on the international music radar.The new "LEDBETTER HEIGHTS The 30th Anniversary" album will be released worldwide in early May, but Kenny and his band are already touring in support of it. They perform an 8pm concert on FRIDAY, APRIL 24th at the HARD ROCK CASINO NORTHERN INDIANA.In addition to talking about the new album and tour, I'll talk about Kenny's 2025 GRAMMY-nominated "YOUNG FASHIONED WAYS" recorded with legendary bluesman BOBBY RUSH. I'll also talk with Kenny about a few of his other future projects currently being planned.Two newly recorded tracks will be debuted here, along with a couple of the original 1996 tracks, I'll include a tune from the Bobby Rush sessions, and a song pairing him with Bonamassa from the "B.B. King Blues Summit 100" box set.

After decades away from the road, the three original founders of Canadian rock band TRIUMPH are back together and hitting the road for a multi-week North American Tour that is dubbed "THE ROCK 'N' ROLL MACHINE RE-LOADED 2026 TOUR" which brings TRIUMPH to Chicagoland for an 8pm performance on May 13th at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. The tour's name is borrowed from the group's hit song"Rock 'N' Roll Machine."It this edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges", show host and producer Tom Lounges reconnects with the band's founding members -- guitarist/vocalist RIK EMMETT, bassist MIKE LEVINE and drummer/vocalist GIL MOORE -- whom Tom first met and interviewed back in 1980 at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom during Triumph's "Just A Game" debut U.S. Tour.A handful of TRIUMPH hits and fan faves are played during this week's program. This extended "Archive Only" edit of the broadcast show includes an additional 15 extra minutes added to the broadcast edit heard on air.

This edition of "Midwest BEAT with Tom Lounges" was originally broadcast on April 7, 2026.Guests on this edition were M&R RUSH band members MARTY MARDIROSIAN and JOHN McFARLAND who discussed the band's career, music, and the new book -- "Reach for The Stars: The M&R RUSH Story" -- by author James W. Arvia.The book chronicles the chemistry, the legacy, and the wealth of original music that this South Side of Chicago band created together over the decades.The author captures more than fifty years of music, friendship, and the unmistakable Chicago spirit that shaped one of the Midwest’s most resilient independent rock acts. It's a quick read and includes dozens of classic and timeless photos. A public release event scheduled in early May was discussed and it was revealed a portion of each book sold will benefit breast cancer research. More: www.mandrrush.com.

Tonight's edition of "MIDWEST BEAT with Tom Lounges" features musical guest MUMMY CASS of the theatrical and thoroughly entertaining group, HERE COMES THE MUMMIES. Listeners will hear Cass and show host Tom Lounges chat about the group's unique image, show and history. Are there really well known Grammy Award winners in the line-up under all those wrappings? The answer is heard on this program. Also heard will be several songs from the group's newest EP, "ROAD TRIP," and some fan favorites from a few of their earlier albums.

JOANNE SHAW TAYLORBLUES GUITARIST/VOCALIST/SONGWRITER Discovered at age 16 by music industry icon DAVE STEWART of The Eurythmics, JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR has released 10 full length albums, been honored with several accolades and awards, and has performed and/or recorded with many top talents.Tune for the interview and to hear her songs, including two new tracks -- "Hell Or High Water" and "What Good Is My Love?" -- from Joanne's as-of-yet untitled 11th album due for release later this year. Joanne performs TUESDAY, MARCH 31 at Hobart Art Theater (230 Main St.) in downtown Hobart, Indiana with NWI's own DEREK CARUSO & THE BLUES FUSE.FREE DRAWING TO WIN tickets, merchandise, and music at Tom Lounges Record Bin (218 Main St.) in downtown Hobart, IN. A drawing for FOUR prize packages happens at 5pm on Friday, March 27th. (www.facebook.com/TomLoungesRecordBin).