Every month, the music scene gets bigger and better in Harrisburg, and this month we have some heavy hitters coming our way. In addition, we have some unique local events going on that are a bit different from our classic shows.
The annual “Hooray for Harrisburg” show is on Nov. 23, featuring the Greater Harrisburg Chorus. This performance will include two showings at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. hosted at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center. Local drag clown Mister Treats will perform a cabaret series in the style of musical theater from Nov. 20 to 29 at Open Stage, featuring dance numbers, live singing, lip-synching and a heck of a lot of wigs!
If you’re searching for those heavy hitters I mentioned, look no further, because we have three shows you’re going to be hearing about long after they’re gone.
JIMMY EAT WORLD, 11/12, 7PM, H*MAC CAPITOL ROOM, $30
In Harrisburg’s attempt to catch up with other places with proper, city-sized concerts, organizations like Harrisburg University and venues like Whitaker Center and the Forum have been scoring major artists lately. An old Harrisburg favorite venue, H*MAC new management, new energy and new acts coming through. Internationally known alt rockers Jimmy Eats World are set to play at H*MAC’s upstairs venue, the Capitol Room. Formed in 1993, lead guitarist and vocalist Jim Adkins got together with drummer Zach Lind, guitarist and vocalist Tom Linton and bassist Rick Burch. A few of their singles rocketed them into stardom in the early 2000s, such as the iconic, “The Middle,” and their highest-charting album from 2006, “Chase This Light,” peaked at number five on the Billboard 200. If you want to support music at H*MAC and catch a wave of nostalgia, this show’s for you.
GRACE POTTER, 11/15, 8PM, THE FORUM, $45
Harrisburg University’s not done serving up unforgettable shows for their concert series, and, this time, the legendary Grace Potter is coming to town. Originally part of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, formed back in 2002, she went solo a few years later with her album, “Original Soul.” The breakup of her band and divorce shortly afterwards led to a brief break before putting herself back on stage in 2004. After successfully getting back into the music game while navigating a new marriage and child, Potter formed the Grand Point North music festival in her hometown of Burlington, Vt., in 2011. The festival was created to feature local businesses and draw major musical acts to the area, like performers the Flaming Lips and the Avett Brothers. The Forum is an excellent venue to enjoy Potter’s abundance of talent and larger-than-life stage presence. Tickets are selling out fast, so be sure to snag them before you miss this opportunity.
BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY, 11/22, 9PM, XL LIVE, $30
This is our third heavy-hitter show this month, and, unsurprisingly, it’s at Harrisburg’s hottest venue—XL Live. Keeping with XL’s trend of hosting the hippest hip hop and raddest rappers, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony will make their way to the big stage. From the Ohio rap scene in the early ‘90s, the bone-themed group consists of rappers Bizzy Bone, Wish Bone, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone and Flesh-n-Bone. The group hit gold right away with their smash hit single, “Thuggish Ruggish Bone,” off of their very first EP. They even won a Grammy back in 1997 for their song, “Tha Crossroads,” a tribute to Eazy-E, a well-known West Coast rapper who originally signed them to their first record deal. Actually, Bone Thugs is the only group to have worked with legendary, departed rappers 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Big Pun and Eazy-E. This is another show you can’t miss around town this month.
Mentionables
Hollan, Nov. 1, Spring Gate Vineyard;
Switch Fu, Nov. 2, River City Blues Club;
Schumann Quartet, Nov. 9, Market Square Presbyterian Church;
Rings of Saturn, Nov. 9, H*MAC Stage on Herr;
Filter, Nov. 16, H*MAC Capitol Room;
Lady Boy Sings the Blues, Nov. 19-27, Open Stage;
Rumpke Mountain Boys, Nov. 22, The Abbey Bar;
Rodrigo y Gabriele, Nov. 30, The Forum
