By Joe Bachman

A guitar and a mic is all you need if you’re in The Phixx — and this duo has been doing it for over two decades.

While The Phixx is new, started in 2012 by Bo Ceplina and Jamie Cumberland, the team has been playing in the Wisconsin Rapids music scene in various bands since the early 80’s. The two focus on covers of everything from 3 Doors Down to Bon Jovi with an acoustic flare.

“We like to take the same rock tunes we like playing and switch them to an acoustic form,” said Cumberland. “We don’t really have anything low key; it’s as jammed up as we can get.”

Cumberland’s unique sound on guitar comes from a strong rock influence that is expressed in The Phixx through an acoustic median.  Cumberland has donated a guitar to Music Fest, as well as many hours to the show in general, and for a good cause — as the local music scene continues to grow.

“It’s always been that way,” said Cumberland, regarding the strength of the music scene in Wisconsin Rapids. “From the 80’s, I think it was the families passing it down to their kids, and they picked up instruments and they formed bands, and their kids formed bands.”

You can catch The Phixx in the 12:00 p.m. slot at Music Fest this Saturday, at Robinson Park.