Join local bar The Loudhouse Bar and Grill (915 W Prince Rd.) in a three-day celebration of rock n' roll in Tucson on March 17, 18 and 19.

"Having been in bands and having so many friends who are in bands, I know how tough it is for local music to get a venue to showcase their talents," said manager Michael Essi.

Since taking over the bar, Essi has turned it into a go-to spot for new acts looking to test their talents on stage.

"Not everybody is going to be Led Zepplin. Not everybody is going to be The Ramones, but they need a place to start. They need a place to see if they can become one of those bands," Essi said. "Tucson's got a lot more good vocal acts than it's being given credit for."

The three-day event will feature 15 local bands curated by Essi and his associate Jeffery Locke. Though there will be a cover fee of $5 per day (or $12 for all three days), all the money will go straight to the bands.

"All of these acts have something very special about them," Essi said. "We set it up so they were put on bills that accentuated each other. At the same time, they are different enough that it is not like listening to the same band over and over. There is a lot of raw talent in these bands."

Expect St. Patrick's Day drink and food specials, door prizes, and an airbrush artist as part of the festivities.

For more information about the Loudhouse, visit loudhousetucson.com. Know of a band who might want to play at the Loudhouse? Shoot an email to Mike Essi at mike@loudhousetucson.com.