Punk bands The Arrivals, Plan of Attack and Niagara Fell will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. today at the Holmes Student Center’s Diversions Lounge. The show is part of the CAB Concerts Local Music Showcase series.

The series is aimed at showcasing the Midwest’s elite up-and-coming artists from a variety of music genres.

“We want to expose local music to the students,” said CAB Concerts Coordinator John Ugolini. “Because there’s a lot of local bands out there that are just getting started, and if we could give them a chance to open up for some better-known local bands, I think it could really go a long way toward pushing those bands on to bigger things. And it’s at a low cost.”

A CAB Concerts press release described The Arrivals as “pure punk energy; proof that youthful exuberance doesn’t have to equal immaturity.”

“They have a really good buzz in Chicago, they’re up and coming,” Ugolini said. “The big thing about them is they have a big following in the city, it’s a following that they’ve earned without radio airplay. It’s more grassroots than something commercial.”

The group currently is writing material for a follow-up to its last album, “Goodbye New World.” The band includes bassist Dave Kaktis, drummer Ronnie Dicola, vocalist Isaac Thotz and guitarist Dave Merriman.

Hardcore five-piece Plan of Attack sounds like old-school hardcore mixed with metal guitar riffs, said drummer John “Caution” Hoffman in the press release.

“That’s another band that’s starting to make a lot of waves,” Ugolini said. “They’re a straight-edge hardcore band from DeKalb … They’ve been formed for less than a year and they’ve already been signed to a record label.”

Plan of Attack will release an album in November on The Silent Treatment Records before heading out on a west-coast tour on Christmas break. The group has played with bands like American Nightmare, No Warning and recently played at Chicago Fest.

Plan of Attack includes vocalist Bill Smiles, guitarist Edward Aaron Ross, guitarist Ryan Wilson, bassist Liz Panella and Hoffman.

Punk/hardcore band Niagara Fell will open the show.

“One of the things we’re trying to do is give bands like them, who haven’t been given a lot of big opportunities, a chance to show what they can do,” Ugolini said.

The series also includes the band On Sale, which will perform a free show at noon at the King Memorial Commons. The group has been performing for more than a year, and draws influence from groups like the Beatles, Weezer and Nirvana.

“They are a two-piece,” Ugolini said. “They’re described as more alternative rock with more classic rock influences.”

The group includes guitarist/vocalist Brian Broscoe and drummer Anthony Forcareto.

For information about CAB Concerts or these shows, call 753-1580 or visit www.niu.edu/cab.