The Pittsburgh-based band Haywire, above performing in the 1980s, will reconnect for a Dec. 11 show in Butler. Below, band members are, from left, Howard “Hutch” Hockenberger, Arte Tedesco and Jim “Slim” Varhola.

Members of Pittsburgh's Haywire Band will reunite for an acoustic concert at the Butler Sons & Daughters of Italy Hall, 338 S. Main St., from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 11.

The rock band, which rose to fame in the 1980s, will perform original songs in the form of a Nashville Songwriters Night. Three founding members, Arte Tedesco, Howard “Hutch” Hockenberger and Jim “Slim” Varhola, will discuss the background of their work before playing.

“We'll tell a little background, how the song hatched, its origin,” said Hockenberger, the vocalist and fiddler in Haywire. “It usually involves humor in some respect. It's a listening event, typically.”

Hockenberger said the band began on Thanksgiving 1981, trying its hand at country music and slowly transitioning to the rock genre. He said he felt the tug to reunite with Tedesco and Varhola for some time.

“I'd been pestered for years to get my chops back, to put forth effort to recreate the sound. When we harmonize, it's got a unique sound,” Hockenberger said. “I was involved in songwriter nights (in Nashville ) … I called them up and asked if they want to do this, and they said, 'Heck yeah, let's do it.'”

Haywire played frequently in local venues such as the Ribit in Butler and John's Bar in Evans City. Hockenberger said he was excited to play in Butler again, having grown up in Zelienople.

“(The Ribit) was a special place; we played there repeatedly,” Hockenberger said. “Butler County was always a great place for us. We used to pack several hundred into these places.”

Charmaine Fetterman, event coordinator for the Sons & Daughters of Italy, said the performance was inspired by members who are fans of Haywire.

“They were a pretty big deal for people who went to the Ribit,” Fetterman said. “It's a 1980s Pittsburgh rockers type deal.”

Fetterman said the public is invited to the event and can expect a full dinner and bar menu with the price of admission.

“I'd like to see people come out. There's going to be a great menu. It's a lot of fun, a little reunion for that era in a great event space,” Fetterman said.

Tickets are $20 in advance on EventBrite and $25 at the door. For more information about the Haywire Acoustic Event, visit the Haywire Acoustic Event page on Facebook.

Haywire band members from left to right: Howard “Hutch” Hockenberger, Arte Tedesco and Jim “Slim” Varhola. Submitted Photo.