MEDINA – Book the babysitter, grab some beer money and make your way downtown.

Main Street Café on Public Square is stepping up its free summertime concert series in a huge way heading into the 17th year in the alley behind the longstanding restaurant – bigger talent, better sound and lighting and, most importantly, a covered, mobile-hydraulic stage able to be used amid threats of adverse weather.

You can keep your Friday night plans intact all summer long, because it will pretty much take an act of God to cancel a Rally in the Alley gig now thanks to a brand new, 33-by-14-foot, festival-grade concert stage complete with a roof.

Bring on the rain. Long live rock ʻnʼ roll.

Fans of live local music have groaned loudly and long enough. Rally organizer and Main Street owner Gary Quesada has heard you and has responded in a way to keep the concerts going in the face of unpredictable northeast Ohio weather in the early half of the schedule, an issue Rally is faced with year after year.

Itʼs all in the past now. This stage can be erected in less than an hour, saving about 60 percent of setup time from previous years and amping up production value.

“Itʼs rated for up to 90 mph, so itʼs going to have to be pretty crappy out for us not to do something. The weather has been our biggest drawback,” Quesada said. “I think a lot of people are going to be pleased, especially those people who have been disappointed and, of course, theyʼll say ʻI told him he shoulda got a roof!ʼ”

The past three years, Rallyʼs opening show has been rained out, as well as a number of dates in the series, which runs nearly every Friday night between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. Bands are sometimes moved into the cellar of Main Street if outdoor conditions arenʼt ideal, but that can prove difficult as the bands get bigger as the schedule goes on.

What the general public often failed to realize, though, was the cancelation call had to be made so early in the day – before 10 a.m. at the very latest – due to the logistics of setting up an open stage for the weekly concerts at the risk of damaging hundreds of thousands of dollars in sound, light and musical gear. In a number of cases, much to the dismay of many fans, there was little or no rain by showtime, but a call had to be made.

Quesada always took that stress in stride – often awake through the night before a Rally, frantically monitoring every weather service known to mankind – but now he doesnʼt have to do that.

What will he do with all the extra time? “Iʼll be having a beer, watching the show!” Quesada quipped.

“Before, all the gear was exposed to the elements, and for a lot of these tribute bands, they have the authentic, vintage equipment: The '60s guitars, the Fender amps, you know. I would always have to err on the side of caution if they were calling for storms, even if theyʼre only calling for 30 percent rain,” Quesada said. “People donʼt understand the protocols we had to go through ... Weʼre not building an open stage from scratch anymore. Now, weʼre just wheeling ʻer in.”

The logistical advantages of having a closed stage – one where lighting and sound gear can remain nearly show-ready when its stored offsite on weekdays – should also equate to an even better live concert experience.

The enclosed structure gives the sound crew more control in dialing in a cohesive house mix, due to the acoustic environment created, as well as gives the players themselves a chance to perform at a more comfortable stage volume.

“The open stage was like having a stereo speaker without the box. This will be a little more focused. The fidelity will be a bit better, that dynamic range. We can start to develop a show,” Quesada said. “The mix was sort of all over the place before.”

The impact will certainly be tested when hometown boys 40 Oz. to Freedom, a tribute to '90s alternative band Sublime, kick off the season Friday, May 26 at 7 p.m.

“40 Oz. brings a very good draw, a young beer-drinking crew, and what I like, even if youʼre looking at a few sprinkles, their fans are going to come out for those guys,” Quesada said. “Just being able to have the Memorial Day weekend show finally, thatʼs going to get things off on a good note.”

Quesada confirmed Stylee Wild, a local favorite, will perform two dates, one in June and one the Saturday night of the three-day Labor Day weekend blowout. While some dates are still being hammered out, the official list will be updated soon at www.themainstreetcafe.com, on their app and on Facebook.

Renowned KISS tribute band Mr. Speed – which features Medina-area native Rich Kosak playing the role of Paul Stanley – will perform the Friday night of Labor Day weekend.

The best Pink Floyd tribute band anywhere and Rally headliners for the last 15 years, Wish You Were Here will close out the season the Sunday before Labor Day. That show will be a ticketed event, as always.

All concerts are free (except Wish You Were Here) and start at 7 p.m. behind Main Street Café at 17 Public Square, Medina. More information and the announcement of bands can be found at www.themainstreetcafe.com or on Facebook.

2017 lineup

May 26 – 40 Oz. to Freedom (Sublime tribute)

June 2 – Stylee Wild (classic rock covers and originals)

June 9 – Colin Dussault Blues Project

June 16 – Classic Performance Replay (Joe Walsh and Peter Frampton tributes)

June 23 – TBA

June 30 – Wanted (Bon Jovi tribute)

July 7 – Jersey (Bruce Springsteen tribute)

July 14 – Vicious Cycle (Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute)

July 21 – TBA

July 28 – Rumours (Fleetwood Mac tribute)

Aug. 4 – TBA

Aug. 11 – Just One Look (Linda Ronstadt tribute) and Out of Eden (Eagles tribute)

Aug. 18 – Diamond Dogs (David Bowie tribute)

Aug. 25 – TBA

Sept. 1 – Mr. Speed (KISS tribute)

Sept. 2 – Stylee Wild

Sept. 3 – Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd tribute)