Chaser Eight wins the $5,000 grand prize and will headline a
2025 Wolf Den show
UNCASVILLE, CT (December 9, 2024) –Chaser Eight was crowned 2024 Locals Live Champions after the finals on Wednesday, December 4th at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den. As part of the grand prize, the spirited four-piece band won $5,000 and will headline a future show in the Wolf Den. Norwich CT singer and songwriter JusBu took second place and received a $1,000 cash prize.
Chaser Eight, JusBu, and third-place solo act Austin Neal were named finalists after an exciting four-week contest hosted by Mohegan Sun and Hall Communications. Twelve bands were originally selected to perform live in the Wolf Den and competed in groups throughout November. Chaser Eight, JUSBU, and Austin Neil advanced to the finals after winning their respective first-round battles.
There was a boisterous turnout for the finals on Wednesday night. People were encouraged to dance to their favorite bands to receive points for crowd participation. Based on the audience’s response, stage appearance, musical presentation, and creativity, the panel of judges made their ultimate judgment.
“The Locals Live experience was amazing; every part of the night was magical,” said Audra Tagliamonte, lead singer and guitarist of Chaser Eight. “The Wolf Den environment is unlike any other. The entire staff and crew are so attentive to your needs on and off stage. There is so much energy in Casino of the Earth, and we can’t wait for our next performance.”.
For the past decade, Connecticut-based Alternative Rock Pop band Chaser Eight have been evolving. During this evolution, they’ve twice been voted New England’s Best Alt-Rock band in The Deli magazine’s year-end poll and were nominated in 2024 for New England Music Awards Rock Act of the Year. They opened for the likes of Panic! At the Disco, Buckcherry, and Badfish. The group consists of founding member AUDRA (vocals/guitar) and is rounded out by Brennan DiLernia (bass), Chris Siena (drums), and Mike Cocco (guitar). The band has released six EPs, two LPs and various singles, with more information available via chasereight.com.
The panel of guest judges at the Locals Live finals were Jay Thomas of Jay Promotions, Matt Chirski from “Darik and The Funbags,” and the members of Unwoke, who are the Locals Live 2023 champions.
A gallery of Chaser Eight’s winning performance can be found here. Stay tuned to our website for more information on Chaser Eight’s Wolf Den show.
ABOUT THE WOLF DEN
Located in the center of the action, in Casino of the Earth, the always popular Wolf Den offers full beverage service, a state-of-the-art sound system, intimate seating and top performances by entertainers like Ludacris, The Marshall Tucker Band, Warrant, Sister Hazel, Chubby Checker, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Queensrÿche and Run-DMC – and it’s all free!
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN
Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, two distinct convention centers, an expo center, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on X and Instagram @mohegansun and view us on YouTube.
Talented local bands will jostle for a $5,000 Grand Prize and Headlining Concert at the legendary Wolf Den
UNCASVILLE, CT (December 2, 2024) –The champions of the first three rounds of Mohegan Sun’s popular Locals Live competition will square off for musical supremacy on Wednesday, December 4th beginning at 8:00pm. Hosted by Mohegan Sun and sponsored by Hall Communications, Locals Live showcases some of the best bands throughout the region and is free to attend.
With a $5,000 grand prize and a headline performance at the Wolf Den on the line, the three acts that will be competing Wednesday include Alternative-Rock-Pop band, Chaser Eight, Norwich based Hip-Hop artist JusBu, and Country-Rock performer Austin Neal. These impressive acts will compete in the finals on the same stage that has hosted legends like Run DMC, Thomas Rhett, LL Cool J and Gary Hoey.
The winner of the last year’s Locals Live competition, the three-piece Rock band Unwoke from Montville, CT, will also play a special opening set at this finals event. From there, Unwoke will join Jay Thomas of Jay Promotions, and Matt Chirski from “Darik and The Funbags” as guest judges in helping to decide on the Locals Live 2024 champion.
Locals Live Final Round Lineup:
Chaser Eight
For the past decade, Connecticut-based Alternative Rock Pop band Chaser Eight have been evolving. During this evolution they’ve twice been voted New England’s Best Alt-Rock band in The Deli magazine’s year-end poll and were nominated in 2024 for New England Music Awards Rock Act of the Year. They opened for the likes of Panic! At the Disco, Buckcherry, and Badfish. The group consists of founding member AUDRA (vocals/guitar) and is rounded out by Brennan DiLernia (bass), Chris Siena (drums, and Mike Cocco (guitar). The band has released six EPs, two LPs and various singles, with more information available via chasereight.com.
JusBu
JusBu is as local as they come! The music aficionado was born and raised in Norwich, Connecticut. He brings his passion and desire for greatness to every track he raps over. The versatile singer and songwriter writes all his own lyrics and is looking for his opportunity to breakout onto the music scene in a major way.
Austin Neal
Austin Neal was born and raised in the southeast Missouri Ozark foothills. Neal started playing the guitar at six and grew up with a heavy musical influence from the Memphis music scene and bands like The Eagles, The Black Crowes, Jim Croce, Glenn Campbell, and others. A proud Navy veteran as well, Neal has opened for acts such as Shenandoah, Mark Chesnutt, Craig Campbell, Shooter Jennings, Neal McCoy, and Chris Hicks of the Marshall Tucker Band. He has been a local of Eastern Connecticut for the past few years and continues to rock crowds everywhere.
Admission to attend Locals Live is free, and all guests must be 21+ to enter the Wolf Den. Specials for drinks include Bud Light and Michelob Ultra for $4. Guests may line up no sooner than three hours before the show. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. One guest can hold four spots in line, but seats will only be given to those present at the time of seating. All guests must be 21 or older to enter the Wolf Den.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN
Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, two distinct convention centers, an expo center, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on X and Instagram @mohegansun and view us on YouTube.
Country music singer Corey Kent will take the Wolf Den stage for a free concert to benefit Mothers Against Drunk Driving
WHAT: MADD About Corey Kent – A Mothers Against Drunk Driving Annual Benefit returns to the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun in October. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction where all proceeds benefit Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The MADD About Corey Kent concert a free event!
WHEN/WHERE: Friday, October 18th
7:30pm
Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun
IN DETAIL: Guests are invited to enjoy a special night in the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun as Corey Kent with special guest Max McNown will be the entertainment featured for the 16th Annual MADD benefit. Other MADD festivities include a silent auction happening daily in The Shops at Mohegan Sun from Friday, October 18th through Sunday, October 20th. The three-day auction will be held from Noon until 10:00pm each day. Donations to MADD will also be accepted at the silent auction throughout the night.
Sponsors for the event include 97.7 WCTY, Walmart, Uber, AMR, CMRK Inc., Buckley Wynne & Parese Law, Fundacion Mapfre, Outfront Media, The Day, and Comix Roadhouse.
Guests must be 21 years of age to enter the Wolf Den. Guests may line up no sooner than three hours before the show. Come early, seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. One person can hold four spots in line, but seats will only be given to those present at the time of seating. Limited seating available.
With the small-town charm of a boy from Bixby, OK, the big-city energy of Dallas, TX, and vocal prowess that rivals Nashville’s best – Corey Kent has been poised for a career in music from the beginning. Growing up influenced by various genres and artists, Corey started his journey in music at an early age. Taking the stage at age 11 as the lead singer for a touring Western Swing band, Corey hit early career milestones opening for legendary acts like Roy Clark and The Oak Ridge Boys. A few years later, he would be booking gigs around his hometown of Bixby, OK and by 17 he made his way to Nashville.
A road warrior, Corey has been seen out on the road performing over 100 shows a year in 2021 alone. Along with headlining his own shows and playing the top music festivals across the country, Corey has been the supporting act for artists including Parker McCollum, Cody Johnson, Chase Rice, Eli Young, Josh Abbott, Flatland Cavalry, and Kolby Cooper. Corey also has major success writing songs for others including Kolby Cooper, Brandon Jenkins, Clark Green’s #1 hit “Hit You Where It Hurts” and more under his publishing deal with Combustion Music.
ABOUT MADD
The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is to stop drunk driving, to support the victims of this violent crime and to prevent underage drinking. MADD Connecticut is committed to clearly and powerfully advocating for victims of alcohol – related crashes. MADD delivers quality services to hundreds of families each year at no cost to them, as well as help victims/survivors through the multitude of emotions and criminal proceedings that take place through court accompaniment and by providing grief counseling and support groups. MADD’s goal is to eliminate drunk driving and educate Connecticut youth about underage drinking. MADD introduces and follows legislation concerning bills to strengthen drunk driving laws.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN
Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on X and Instagram @mohegansun, view us on YouTube and find us on Snapchat at username MoheganSun
Grand prize winner will receive $5,000 and a headlining show in the Wolf Den
UNCASVILLE, CT (August 28, 2024) – This November, 12 local bands and musicians will have the opportunity to be crowned champion when the alluring four-week Locals Live competition returns. Mohegan Sun and Hall Communications will host the 10th annual competition where area talent battle for a $5,000 grand prize. The Locals Live champion will also get the opportunity to headline their own show in the award-winning Wolf Den, where acts like Thomas Rhett, Run DMC, Five For Fighting, and previous winners like Nick Bosse and Unwoke have graced the stage. Submissions can be made starting today, through Wednesday, September 25th via the WCTY website.
Mohegan Sun and Hall Communications will select 12 bands/musicians plus two alternates, and four acts per week will compete live in the Wolf Den every Wednesday from November 6th – December 4th (excluding November 27th) from 8:00pm to 10:00pm. A live audience vote will select who moves on to the most epic musical clash in town, the final competition, on Wednesday, December 4th. At the finals, a panel of expert judges will play a pivotal role in deciding the official Locals Live champion.
Admission to attend Locals Live is free, and guests can enjoy $4 Michelob Ultra and Bud Light specials. Guests may line up no sooner than three hours before the show. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. One guest can hold four spots in line, but seats will only be given to those present at the time of seating. All guests must be 21 or older to enter the Wolf Den.
For the purposes of this competition, talent is defined as musicians, bands, or singer-songwriters only. All talent must be 21 years of age or older and from CT, RI, MA or NY. Performers must adhere to all Mohegan Sun rules and sign a guidelines contract prior to performance. Talent must be able to set up by 5:00pm on date of performance for sound check. All rules subject to change/management interpretation.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN
Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on X and Instagram @mohegansun, view us on YouTube and find us on Snapchat at username MoheganSun.
Select nights in August & September feature live entertainment across all major venues on property
UNCASVILLE, CT (August 8, 2024) ––Entertainment at Mohegan Sun is getting a boost during select Saturdays in August and September with jam-packed live entertainment all evening inside Mohegan Sun Arena, the freshly renovated Sun Patio, and the Wolf Den. This can’t miss entertainment at Mohegan Sun is set to include Dierks Bentley, Buckcherry, Childish Gambino, Meghan Trainor and more! Doors open for concerts outside at The Sun Patio at 6:30pm before the action kicks off at 8:00pm, while shows at Mohegan Sun Arena start as early as 7:00pm. On select weekend nights starting at 10:30pm, the Wolf Den continues its late night concert series with popular bands like Wicked Peach, BRANDED and Fusion taking the stage!
“Our new summer entertainment lineup includes a few special nights where all three of our major entertainment venues are packed with electrifying talent at the same time, creating an unforgettable experience for our guests,” said Greg Romeyn, Director of Sports and Entertainment for Mohegan. “Mohegan Sun Arena, the Wolf Den and the brand-new Sun Patio all provide a unique atmosphere combined with high energy, and we encourage our guests to stop by all three venues to revel in a diverse talent lineup they won’t find anywhere else.”
Saturday, August 10th
Dierks Bentley | Mohegan Sun Arena |7:00pm
Multi-Platinum singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley kicks off a night of entertainment on Saturday, August 10th with openers Chase Rice & Kaitlin Butts inside Mohegan Sun Arena. Bentley’s unique 21st-century career has had a rare consistency fueled by longevity. Over the course of two decades, Bentley has achieved success with eight more albums that reached the top of the Country sales charts, resulting in 22 No. 1 songs, eight billion streams, three CMA Awards, 15 GRAMMY® nominations and membership into the Grand Ole Opry. Bentley released his tenth studio album Gravel & Gold in 2023. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.
Buckcherry| Sun Patio |8:00pm
Buckcherry has four million+ album sales, two million+ monthly listeners, 300 million+ song streams, 100 million+ video views and two million+ followers! They have also toured with KISS, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Nickelback, Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe and Kid Rock and have played Woodstock ‘99.
The Sun Patio features free live entertainment every Friday through September 27th. Guests can enjoy a rotating lineup of food trucks for a quick and tasty bite, complimented by an incredible beverage and cocktail menu. The featured food trucks on August 10th are Philly’s and House of Barbecue and Bacon. Food trucks will not be serving during the concert from 8:00pm-10:00pm.
All guests must be 21+ and have a valid ID to enter the Sun Patio. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, guests are welcome to bring their own chairs! Guests are not permitted to bring coolers or outside food/beverages. Bands and food trucks subject to change.
BRANDED| Wolf Den |10:30pm
Branded Country That Rocks, has been the foremost party band for 18 years entertaining Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Vermont, and New York. Bringing new music from country, pop, hip hop and rock & roll, Branded Country That Rocks, is a family-oriented band that regularly plays fairgrounds, baseball stadiums, campgrounds, casinos, Big E, and countless other entertainment venues all over New England. They bring something for everyone to enjoy from the bar stool to the dance floor. Be sure to check them out on Facebook @BrandedCT and Instagram @BrandedCT for upcoming shows and other exciting information.
Guests must be 21+ to enter the Wolf Den. Guests may line up no sooner than three hours before the show. Come early as limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. One person can hold four spots in line, but seats will only be given to those present at the time of seating.
Saturday, August 24th
Childish Gambino| Mohegan Sun Arena |8:00pm
Childish Gambino is set to take the global stage with special guest Willow at The New World Tour. Alongside The New World Tour, Gambino surprised fans with the release of Atavista (3.15.20 reimagined versions) via RCA Records, including two new tracks, “Atavista” and “Human Sacrifice.” Additionally, he dropped the official music video for “Little Foot Big Foot,” directed by Hiro Murai, featuring Young Nudy. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.
The Docksiders| Sun Patio |8:00pm
Imagine that it’s 1981 and you’re cruising the Atlantic shores of the Hamptons with your friends. Bikinis are fluorescent, polo collars are popped, and boat shoes are rocked sockless. In the background, your booming sound system is playing the Soft Rock sounds of Michael McDonald, Olivia Newton-John, Hall & Oates, Christopher Cross and Air Supply.Straight from their headlining show in Las Vegas, The Docksidersl is made up of veteran musicians – led by three-time GRAMMY® nominee, Kevin Sucher. Their unique tribute act of Soft Rock favorites songs of the 70s and 80s – now defined as Yacht Rock – have been entertaining hundreds of thousands of people for years – and audiences are only getting bigger!
Wicked Peach| Wolf Den|10:30pm
Wicked Peach is this area’s ultimate Rock cover band and is a staple on the southeastern New England music scene. With Ernie Lewis on lead vocals/guitar, Dan Watson on lead guitar/vocals, Stan Smith on bass guitar and Jonathan Souza on drums, Wicked Peach continues to rock the house night after night!
Saturday, September 21st
Meghan Trainor| Mohegan Sun Arena |6:30pm
GRAMMY® Award-winning hitmaker Meghan Trainor has announced her sixth full-length album, Timeless, and her first tour in seven years. Meghan Trainor first made history in 2014 with her diamond-certified smash single “All About That Bass.” Since then, the award-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has garnered a GRAMMY® for “Best New Artist”, achieved eight multi-platinum singles and two multi-platinum albums, sold out three world tours, penned multi-platinum hits for peers across Pop and Country, and received countless industry awards and nominations. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.
Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry| Sun Patio |8:00pm
As one-third of the GRAMMY® Award-winning superstar sibling trio The Band Perry, Kimberly Perry has racked up sales of over two and a half million albums, thirteen million singles, and over two billion combined streams. As a songwriter, her groundbreaking crossover No.1 single “If I Die Young” (with its current nine times platinum status and over 200 million video views) helped Kimberly burst on to the world stage. As an entertainer, she’s performed on TV’s biggest shows, from late night’s most influential (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Late Show With James Corden, The Late Show with David Letterman) to daytime’s most popular (Ellen, Good Morning America, The Today Show). She has also performed and presented at multiple CMA, ACM, and CMT award shows and specials.
FUSION| Wolf Den |10:30pm
FUSION is a high energy six-piece Top 40 band from Southeastern Connecticut that has been packing dance floors and entertaining audiences for over 15 years. The bands repertoire ranges from the hits of the 1960’s to the most recognizable songs of today. Rock, Pop, Disco, 80’s, 90’s, Modern Country and Hip Hop; FUSION plays it all which ensures an entertaining experience for all ages. There’s something for everybody so come on out and party with FUSION!
For additional information about entertainment at Mohegan Sun Arena, the Sun Patio and the Wolf Den, visit mohegansun.com/entertainment.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN
Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on X and Instagram @mohegansun and view us on YouTube.
