Tom Diecidue
I’m not going to subject you to a Pitchfork-style breakdown of top albums for the year, but boy did we get spoiled with excellent releases in 2025. Here are a few favorites that have low-key blown my mind from this year:
- “Everybody Scream,” Florence and the Machine
- “Lux,” Rosalia
- “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party,” Hayley Williams
- “Never Enough,” Turnstile
- “Mayhem,” Lady Gaga
Also, in the holiday spirit, here are a few music orgs doing wonderful work to help our neighbors, if you’re able to give:
- The River 97.3 and Central PA Music Hall of Fame (CPMHOF) are organizing a “Rock the Food Bank” Benefit Concert at XL Live on Dec. 5; find details at xlhbg.com.
- Moonpeak Productions welcomes guests to bring donations to any show at the Abbey Bar, which will be donated to the Central PA Food Bank. Additionally, they’re partnering with CPMHOF and Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area for the seventh annual “Joy to the Burg” fundraiser on Dec. 14, supporting our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. Find details at abcbrew.com/harrisburg/abbey-bar.
- Capital City Music Hall is collaborating with 717 Entertainment and Defiant to host a “Toys for Tots” benefit show on Dec. 6.
MIDWINTER FOLK
12/9, Susquehanna Folk Music Society Presents Windborne: Music of Midwinter, Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
Windborne’s haunting harmonies are the perfect soundtrack for this time of year. Expect to hear familiar songs styled in a new and unexpected way, alongside songs from Windborne’s 2024 album, “To Warm the Winter Heart.” Put the record on and feel right at home with old English carols and Lithuanian wassails for a more rustic experience to welcome the yuletide.
ROCK ON
12/14, Heart, GIANT Center
Few musicians made a bigger impression on 13-year-old me than Heart did. I constantly had their greatest hits compilations on repeat on my iPod (and, I bet, I could still belt out all the words to “Alone,” “Barracuda” and “These Dreams” if put to the test). Pioneers of rock and roll, Heart’s Nancy and Ann Wilson still have the vocal chops to bring a packed arena to its knees to hail the queens of rock. There are still limited tickets to this show, but if seeing Heart is a bucket list item for you, like it is for me, I wouldn’t wait to snag a few seats.
If your friends or favorite local band have a show coming up or you’ve caught word of a cool gig that should be on our radar, drop me a line at [email protected].
HONORABLE MENTIONS
12/6, The Local Honeys w/Abby Hamilton and Virginia Masland, The Abbey Bar
12/11, Pentatonix: Christmas in the City Tour, GIANT Center
12/14, “A Carpenters Christmas” w/Jillian Rossi, West Shore Theatre
12/15, “A Merry Rockin’ Christmas” w/Michael Cavanaugh, Whitaker Center
12/18, WXPN Welcomes Samantha Fish, XL Live
12/19, Holiday Variety Show, Strawberry Square (FREE)
12/31, Crack New Year’s Eve Tribute to Creed & Nickelback, XL Live (FREE)
12/31, New Year’s Eve w/The Martini Bros., West Shore Theatre
12/31, New Year’s Eve w/The Dirty Grass Players and Treesap, The Abbey Bar
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