The Maintenance Shop is once again preparing to bring another year of diverse music to campus. And this time, the club is taking steps to embrace the local scene. The venue is entering its 27th year of serving the ISU campus as one of the few music clubs in the Midwest that can provide both intimacy and national acts. Ames area bands such as Mr. Plow and Grubby Ernie spotlight the schedule for the first week of class, serving as a hint of more local shows to come. The club and its new music director, Nathan “Boonie” Boone, are promising to increase the amount of Ames area acts who will grace the M-Shop’s stage. “When I applied for the position, I told them that I wanted to focus on getting more local acts in here, headlining their own shows as well as opening slots when we can,” Boone said. “There were a lot of local shows during the last school year at other places in town, and on a Tuesday night, the kids were coming out and supporting them. The band walked out of there with a hundred bucks, so I see no reason not to do them,” he added. Regarding the local shows already booked at the beginning of the semester, most of the bands playing have quite a reputation and following within the area. However, Boone is also putting out a call to any new area musicians who may be interested in showcasing their talents for the M-Shop stage. “We haven’t really had the chance to get the word out yet, but we’re more than interested to have the locals send us their stuff,” he said. “Just send us a demo tape, and we’ll give it a listen.” The location of Ames as a stopping place for bands constantly on tour between Minneapolis, Chicago and Omaha has helped to attract the national acts that ISU campus has come to embrace over the years. It also allows the area musicians an opportunity to bolster their resumes as an opening act. Returning this year to the stage are Midwest mainstays such as Stuart Davis, Martin Zellar and Robin and Linda Williams who have played the M-Shop every year since the club began booking live music. The club kicks off the semester with area funksters Mr. Plow headlining Thursday night, followed Saturday evening by more local rock when Grubby Ernie, High Jinx and Minus Zero all share the stage. Whether it’s the local ska kids in Mediocre Superheroes, Brenda Weiler’s folk imported from across the Minnesota state line or a national act such as Hank Williams III, the club hopes to showcase acts everyone can enjoy sometime soon. Vist the M-Shop website for more information on events.