Packed House Productions is planning something special for St. Patrick's Day.
The second event by the promoters at Packard Music Hall will feature .38 Special and Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers on March 17.
Packed House's first show, featuring Michael Stanley & the Resonators and Jonah Koslen, raised $15,000 apiece for SCOPE Inc. and Hospice of the Valley.
At a news conference Friday, Packed House president, Dr. Jim DeVengencie, said they want to bring entertainment to the region as well as help worthy causes. The beneficiary for the March 17 show will be the domestic violence shelter/advocacy group Someplace Safe.
Theresa Lyden, development director for Someplace Safe, said the support, ''Couldn't come at a more opportune time.''
Someplace Safe saw a 20 percent increase in calls in 2010, and its shelter currently is at capacity. The organization provides shelter, food and clothing free of charge to domestic abuse victims and their children as well as legal advocacy.
Michael Stanley, with a long history and a loyal following in the Mahoning Valley, was a logical choice for Packed House's first event. DeVengencie - whose wife, Dr. Laura Pall DeVengencie, is Packed House's vice president - said there were several reasons they picked .38 Special for their second concert.
''First, we look at music we enjoy,'' he said. ''There's a lot of sweat equity that goes into these shows, and we also want to enjoy it.''
Also, they believed .38 Special would appeal to the demographic they were trying to reach. .38 Special's rock radio hits in the '80s include ''Hold On Loosely,'' ''Caught Up in You,'' ''Chain Lightnin','' ''You Keep Runnin' Away,'' ''If I'd Been the One,'' ''Four Wheels,'' ''Somebody Like You'' and ''Back to Paradise.''
And Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant, the two frontmen who sang those songs, still are with the band along with founding bass player Larry Junstrom.
''We look at bands and what they're doing now, and they still tour a lot,'' DeVengencie said. ''They're tight.''
Cornel Bogdan from Clear Channel Radio called opening act Grushecky, ''Probably one of the finest songwriters in the world,'' and he recommended that those attending get there early so they don't miss him.
Most tickets for the show range from $35 to $75. There also will be 16 VIP seats on the stage for $200 each, which include a meet-and-greet with the band. Admission to a pre-show St. Patrick's Day party will be included with VIP floor seating and the VIP stage seats.
Tickets are available at the Packard box office, www.packedhouseproductions.net and by calling 800-750-2747 ext 101.