Weekend Buzz: Myrtle Beach's best entertainment bets for March 13-15, 2015

I'm not going to quote Loverboy, but it's that time everybody's been working for - the weekend.
And once again, there's an overload of events to choose from to keep yourself entertained this weekend along the Grand Strand.
Here are some recommendations:

TONIGHT

Myrtle Beach rock act The Izm squares off against two country artists - Rock Hill's Matt Tucker and Fayetteville, N.C.'s Erik Smallwood - in the finals of the Myrtle Beach round of the annual Hard Rock Calling Battle of the Bands tonight at Hard Rock Cafe at (and not near, as another local media outlet reported) Broadway at the Beach.

The action gets started at 8 tonight. There is no cover charge.

If you're a fan of The Izm and or/local original music, then grab your posse and head to the competition, because audience reaction is a portion of the judging criterion. Make some noise!
The winner will pocket $1,000 and advance to the next round of the battle, and continue the fight for the ultimate prize of performing at the Hard Rock Calling Festival in Barcelona, Spain.
Hard Rock Café is at 1322 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach. Call 946-0007 or visit www.hardrock.com.

TONIGHT

Over at the Boathouse, the venue's Friday night country showcase continues with country duo Love & Theft, known for the No. 1 single "Angel Eyes." Of particular interest to locals: former Eason guitarist Travis Newman, who had been a member of Craig Morgan's band, will be shredding his ax with Love & Theft tonight. The show starts at 9 tonight. There is no cover charge.

The Boathouse Waterway Bar and Grill is at 201 Fantasy Harbour Blvd., Myrtle Beach. Call 903-2628 or visit www.boathousemb.com.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

St. Patrick's Day is actually Tuesday (March 17), but once again Myrtle Beach is getting a leg up on the Irish celebration as dueling St. Patrick's Day festivals go head-to-head.

• At the Market Common, it's the 6th annual Irish Fest set for Saturday at Valor Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, featuring live music, Irish food and beer, vendors and kids activities. These 16-ounce drafts will be on tap: Brooklyn Irish Stout ($5), Highland Gaelic ($5), Highland Devils Britches Red IPA ($5), New South White Ale ($5). There is no admission charge. Valor Park is off of Farrow Parkway at The Market Common, on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, between U.S. 17 Bypass and U.S. 17 Business, south of Myrtle Beach International Airport. Call 839-3500 or visit www.MarketCommonEvents.com.
• Meanwhile, down on the oceanfront and boardwalk, Ocean Boulevard's St. Patrick's Day Celebration has expanded to a two-day event, incorporating a battle of the bands set for Sunday. It gets kicked off on Saturday with a street festival featuring live music, a beer garden, a kids carnival, vendors, games and plenty of drunks. Admission is free, and the event is roughly from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday. The event's headlining act is self-described "Voodoo Rock 'n' Roll" band The Delta Saints, expected to go on stage 8 p.m. The festival site is on Ocean Boulevard between 8th Avenue N. and Mr. Joe White Ave. The event will resume Sunday with an inaugural Battle of the Bands from noon to 9 p.m. on the oceanfront stage on Ocean Boulevard, between 8th Avenue N. and 9th Avenue N. There is no admission charge either day. For more info, go to http://myrtlebeachdowntown.com.

SATURDAY

And further on up the Strand, the 27th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival starts earlier than the others, slated to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday. Centered on Main Street, the event features the parade (starting at 9 a.m.), three stages of live entertainment, kids activities and approximately 150 vendors. The festival is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission and parking is free.
For more info, go to http://parks.nmb.us/Page.aspx?id=14.

TUESDAY

As mentioned, Tuesday is actually St. Patrick's Day, so we're going to handle those events in a separate, upcoming blog post.