By MARY STEGMEIR, Courier Staff Writer

WATERLOO --- Nothing says summer like a slamming concert, and live music serves as the core of this year's My Waterloo Days celebration.

Festival-goers will be treated to three nights of national acts at the city's Young Arena. 'Tween heartthrob Drake Bell kicks off the action Friday. Bret Michaels, of Poison fame, will headline Saturday night, and Building 429 will anchor Sunday's Christian concert.

Tickets are available at Waterloo and Cedar Falls HyVee locations or www.mywaterloodays.org (click on the Young Arena link). For details, call the Greater Cedar Valley Chamber of Commerce at 233-843.

Bret Michaels

Saturday, 7 p.m., $25

Each year, rocker Bret Michaels looks forward to a packed summer touring the country with his former Poison bandmates.

But since starring in VH1's "Rock of Love with Bret Michaels," the musician has developed a growing following as a solo artist.

"I love touring solo because it gives me a chance to do all the stuff --- there's no boundaries," said Michaels, who will release "Rock My World" June 3. "I get to do the old Poison hits and the brand new material like 'Go That Far' and 'All I Ever Needed,' and 'Bitter Sweet.'"

As frontman for the '80s hair band Poison, Michaels sold 28 million records, producing 15 Top 40 songs, including "Every Rose Has Its Thorns" and "Talk Dirty to Me."

"Those were great times. Those guys are like my family," said Michaels, 45.

Still, the performer is not content to live in the past. The "Rock of Love" reality show, which plunked the rocker into a house full of bachelorettes, catapulted Michaels back into the public eye. He used that publicity to forward his music career.

"I'm a rock musician who did a reality show," said Michaels, whose original songs are weaved into the program. "I did it because it was based around music."

The artist will play Saturday at Young Arena in Waterloo. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with local rock band Major Healey offering pre-show entertainment. Michaels' Cedar Valley show will be recorded by a VH1 camera crew for the upcoming "Bret Michaels Big Rock Road Show."

"We've been selling out every stop on the 'Rock of Love' tour and there's a reason for it," Michaels said. "We deliver big.

"When we're done, they say, 'Damn, that rocks.'"

Building 429

Sunday, 1:30 p.m., $10

"When some people think about Christian concerts, they think about everybody sitting down singing ballads and saying: 'Praise Jesus,'" said Jason Roy, frontman for Building 429.

That, he said with a laugh, is not what attendees should expect of the group's Sunday show at Young Arena.

"I don't mind praising Jesus, but right from the first downbeat it will be an extremely interactive concert," said the guitarist and lead vocalist. "We'll have 30 to 40 kids up on stage with us, and I guarantee I'll be in the middle of the audience singing at some point. They definitely won't be sitting down."

Building 429, a Christian pop rock band, formed in 2000. The group has produced eight records and is finishing up work on a ninth disc, "End of Me," to be released later this summer. Fans will be treated to some of the band's new pieces at the Waterloo concert.

"We've been very intentional with the record, and I know that we've created some of the best songs we've ever had," Roy said. "I think that if there was a theme for the record, it has a lot with finding yourself at the end of yourself and leaning on people --- counting on help from your friends and your family in this world."

Important messages, to be sure, Roy said.

"But we also never forget that we are entertainers," he added. "No one's going to care about the music unless they are having a good time."

Building 429, winner of the Gospel Music Association's 2005 Artist of the Year award, will hit the stage at 1:30 p.m. Christian artists Jason Rich and Mandisa also will perform. Doors at Young Arena open at noon.

Drake Bell

Friday, 6 p.m., $20

Drake Bell may seem like he has it made.

The 21-year-old became an adolescent idol as one of the title characters in Nickolodeon's "The Josh and Drake Show," and has starred in several films, including this year's "Superhero Movie."

But success at his latest endeavor --- making music --- has been a bit more elusive. Critics praised Bell's 2006 release "It's Only Time," but fans beyond the celebrity's 'tween following have been slow to come around.

Those on the fence might want to check out Bell's Friday concert at Young Arena. The artist's music truly has a universal appeal, mixing pop sensibilities with classic rock riffs from the '60s.

"I'm a huge fan of the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley, everything about them," Bell said in a press release. "The songs, the way they were as people, their style. I love all those old vinyl albums."

So instead of digging a Top 40 sound, Bell (who was not available for comment) shoots for a retro style. It's only fitting for a musician who learned to play the guitar from The Who's Roger Daltrey. The two practiced together on the set of the 1998 film "Changing Destiny."

"I fell in love with it right away," Bell said. "I started putting these little bands together and just kept going."

Another teen favorite, Jordan Pruitt, also will perform Friday night at Young Arena. Doors open at 5 p.m.

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