Can you play guitar like Eddie Van Halen?

Attention, young deedle-meisters!

Think you can play guitar like Eddie Van Halen?

Alpha Music in Virginia Beach is hosting a "Shred Like Ed" guitar competition featuring the music of Van Halen for six-stringers age 18 and younger. Entrants have until June 14 to submit (on tape, CD or DVD) a personal recording performing "You Really Got Me," "Hot for Teacher," "Panama," "And the Cradle Will Rock" or "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love." Finalists will be selected to perform with a full backing band June 28 in Alpha's Live Room.

Call (757) 486-2001 for more information.

The blues boys

It's not every day you come across four talented teenagers with a passion for the blues. Corporate Woods Drive, which paints itself in the Stevie Ray Vaughan and Cream shade of blue, is: Maury High School students Will and Jay Einhorn, Jacob Snyder of Norfolk Collegiate and Daniel Karp of Norfolk Academy.

The quartet has an early gig Sunday at the Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach. The show starts at 7 p.m.

To hear their covers and originals, check out www.myspace.com/corporatewoodsdrive.

TGIF

Beginning tonight, Towne Place at Greenbrier, a business development in Chesapeake, will host a free after-work concert series Fridays from

5:30 to 8:30. The acoustic-based concerts will be on an outdoor stage under a tent in the center of the complex. Lewis McGehee performs tonight.

More freebies

The lineup for the 2008 Free Summer Concert Series at Neptune Park on 31st Street at the Oceanfront has been set.

A Flock of Seagulls opens the series June 4. It continues with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (June 17), Fastball (July 3), Carbon Leaf (July 17), Hotel California: A Tribute to the Eagles (Aug. 6), Edgar Winter (Aug. 13), Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (Aug. 28) and The Knack (Sept. 17).

Concerts begin at 7 p.m.

Where is he now?

"Right now I am just doing shows here in Paris and getting real tight with the band," said former Chesapeake/Norfolk-based Thin Lads drummer Jeff Brodnax, "but I plan on hitting the outskirts of Paris after a break."

Brodnax, who officially resides in New York City these days, moved beyond the drum kit and made a name for himself as a singer in funk-rock bands Egypt and 24-7 Spyz.

He said Fabell Music is covering the expenses of his stay and gig schedule.

And if you happen to be in Paris on Saturday, Brodnax has an 8 p.m. acoustic show at L'Eclipse.

Atlantic partnering

WRN, a television and radio company based in London, is partnering with local public radio station WHRV-FM (89.5) to rebroadcast its news and current affairs channel overnight.

The partnership will give WHRV access to international programming, including Radio Africa, Radio Poland and RNWI in The Netherlands.

Jeff Maisey, (757) 222-3934, jmaisey@pilotonline.com