SANDPOINT — History buffs in town for the Lost in the '50s weekend have the chance to delve even further into the past at The Alliance open-air concert, taking place Saturday, May 21.

The Alliance, a local band and performance group with the motto "fight for the light," features '70s- and '80s-style rock music with a backdrop of medieval England, complete with castle and stockade. While the band plays original songs by founder Jay Trocke, actors augment the music with sword fighting and dancing, a narrator ties together the songs with a story line and all the performers are dressed in authentic medieval costumes, said Trocke.

"It's an all-ages show. It's family-friendly with a positive message about chivalry, integrity, courage and honesty," he said.

Trocke formed the first Alliance band during a stay in Japan in 1994, but he had always been fascinated by tales of knights and kings.

"Growing up on a farm, who didn't take a stick and turn it into a sword?" he said.

In the '90s, he started writing songs about medieval times. Although technically rock songs, Trocke uses devices such as minor chording to make the music fit the words.

"Everything I've written are all written about something back in the time," he said. "The words talk about stories like Excalibur."

The band features two guitars, a bass, drums and keyboard, which Trocke's wife, Colleen, plays. Alliance members assume personas when on stage. Jay is King James, and his wife, Queen Colleen. The other musicians dress as knights.

The group's premier CD, entitled "The Writing on the Wall," will be available along with other branded merchandise the day of the concert. A second CD, "King's Knights," is also in the works.

The concert will take place in the courtyard of Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters, 524 Church St., in Sandpoint. A bike rodeo precedes the event at 3 p.m., and The Alliance will take the stage at 4 p.m. Tickets are $5.

The band will have prize drawings throughout the concert for such items as coffee, T-shirts and mugs. At the end of the event, it will draw for the grand prize, an autographed Alliance guitar.

Those attending the event will have photo ops during intermission, both with cast members and in the stockade.

"You can't go to an Alliance concert without putting your head in the stockade," Trocke quipped.

Information:  www.thealliancerockband.com or Jay Trocke at 208-946-7948.