Prog Rock Legends Crack the Sky Visit the Rook
Experience their first Erie show since the Erie County Field House in 1978
SATURDAY, OCT. 3
Legendary progressive rock band Crack The Sky is returning to Erie for the first time since 1978 for a show at the King's Rook Club on Oct. 3. The last time they headlined a performance in the area was at the Erie County Field House on their Animal Notes tour on May 22, 1978. The band formed in Weirton, West Virginia in the early '70s and garnered a dedicated following throughout the region, including Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Erie. In 1975, Rolling Stone magazine declared their self-titled first album the "debut album of the year" and in 1978 the magazine compared them to Steely Dan. They may not be a household name, however their first three albums charted on the Billboard 200 and their debut album was ranked number 47 on Rolling Stone's "50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time," in their 2015 publication.
Crack the Sky toured extensively throughout the '70s and into the 1980s with bands like Styx, Supertramp, Rush, ELO, Foreigner, Yes, ZZ Top, Kansas, Boston, and famously doing a few tours with Frank Zappa including two stops in Erie. They first performed opening for Zappa at Gannon University on Nov. 12, 1974, then again with him when he played the Erie County Field House in November of 1976. Both of these Frank Zappa performances are featured in the CD box set titled Erie, that features those classic shows, including pictures of the promotional posters for the event that include Crack the Sky. Crack The Sky may not have recorded those performances, but they became a favorite amongst Erieites that frequented the memorable fairgrounds — they returned once more as an opening act with Blue Oyster Cult in March of 1978.
(Photo: Concert Archives)
Crack the Sky has continued to write and release music off and on since their formation, with their latest album Blessed produced in 2025. They continue to write progressive rock songs that sound right at home with alongside their archive. The concert is being held on the downstairs stage at the King's Rook Club with local jam trio Kactai and indie rock collective This American Song opening the evening, while Erie Brewer and Friends will be hosting an after party following headliners Crack The Sky in the upstairs bar. For those of you nostalgic for the Erie County Fieldhouse or even if you just wished you were there, take the chance to hear what it was like when Crack The Sky roll into town and celebrate their 50 years together.
Doors at 6:30 p.m. // Kings Rook Club, 1921 Peach St. // $30 in advance // For tickets and info: tickets.eriereader.com
