Aliens and Strangers Music lands in downtown Sidney

Local residents can continue their passion for music or pick up an instrument for the first time at the new store located at 932 10th Ave. in downtown Sidney.

The old Salvation Army building has been transformed into a music store with guitars, a practice area and a soon-to-come recording studio.

Chris and Amy Dyson relocated the music store from Chappell after being there for four years.

"We purchased the building in Chappell four years ago, but we outgrew it due to business in about a year and a half," Amy said. "We felt like a lot of people are already in Sidney and people from the Chappell area pretty much come here every week anyway whereas people from Sidney don't really go to Chappell."

Dyson founded the store after being displeased with the standard local music store and online retailers. He found that in Western Nebraska there was a shortage of mid-priced and high quality instruments was lacking.

"We also sell online, so we can pretty much match any price you find," Amy Dyson said.

Originally from Indiana, Dyson's passion for music started with the guitar at the age of 12. According to Dyson in school he played in jazz band, was a bassist and guitarist, but his desire was always to play guitar-oriented rock. He eventually decided to push his skills to the next level by enrolling in the Musician's Institute in Hollywood, Calif.

After graduating, he earned a spot as the lead guitarist with Sciacca, a late '80s hard rock band in Los Angeles. While in Los Angeles, Dyson was able to record in major studios including Ocean Way and Hollywood Sound Recorders.

With Aliens and Strangers Music, Dyson is able to share his love for music, bands and guitars with the community.

"We are just hoping to provide high quality instruments for a reasonable price to the community and being a local service instead of people having to go out of town is something we are looking forward to," she said. "Hopefully we can bring some excitement to downtown with the new store, just something different."

Each guitar that is purchased is personally set up and tuned by Dyson before it leaves the shop.

"It has a personal touch instead of coming straight from the factory into your hands with nothing set up and out of tune because of the climate," Amy said.

Aliens and Strangers Music provides guitar and bass lessons, and in the coming months will provide lessons for woodwind and brass instruments. They will eventually remodel the downstairs portion of the store to become recording studio rooms.

A four-week grand opening will kick off Aliens and Strangers Music's new location.

There will be weekly giveaway drawings taking place every Saturday until Oct. 17. The first drawing is this Saturday for a chance to win an electric guitar.

Aliens and Strangers Music is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.