February is one of Harrisburg’s busiest months for music. Thanks to the annual Millennium Music Conference, hundreds of artists will perform throughout the Harrisburg metro area. While this concentration of live music occurs over only one weekend, there are other notable shows throughout the month. So, check out the venues for the music conference, but don’t miss out on some of the month’s other compelling offerings.
DRUMS AND DRONES (BRIAN CHASE OF YEAH YEAH YEAHS) w/LIVE VIDEO BY URSULA SHERRER, 2/4, 7PM, MIDTOWN CINEMA, $5: Don’t let his affiliation with Yeah Yeah Yeahs fool you. Brian Chase’s Drums and Drones is an ambient compositional project, not artsy post-punk. Rhythmic and without traditional melody, this performance will be visceral and atmospheric. Accompanying him will be a live video performance by Ursula Sherrer, designed to further immerse the audience within Chase’s sonic world. This show will certainly be a little more daring than your typical acoustic guitar-wielding singer-songwriter, but this composer, working on the cutting edge, will reward your patience and open-mindedness.
DRIFTWOOD, 2/6, 9PM, ABBEY BAR, $7/$10: If my previous columns are any indication, there is no shortage of Americana-tinged touring acts coming through our city. But while Driftwood is unmistakably influenced by the old-timey, the band breathes fresh air into this well-trod genre. Rapidly moving between hushed verses and rousing choruses, band members bring a dynamic range and sense of atmosphere that is often missing within the Mumford & Sons crowd. With the addition of musical nods to each member’s classical and jazz experience, Driftwood pushes the boundaries of a genre that is otherwise becoming very predictable.
MILLENNIUM MUSIC CONFERENCE & SHOWCASE, 2/19-2/22, VARIOUS LOCATIONS: Boasting 300 acts over three days, the Millennium Music Conference can be hard to wrap your head around. Thankfully, most nights feature a number of performers, both local and touring, that represent a particular genre or sound. Venues and performers are listed on musicconference.net, along with the price of admission and a note about whether the show is all ages or 21-plus. So whether you like punk rock, singer-songwriter, blues or bluegrass, there is likely a venue showcase that will fit your tastes.
Mentionables: Robert Cray, 2/7, Whitaker Center; Mark Lanky & White Lighters, 2/13, Little Amps Downtown; Kill Matilda, 2/19, HMAC; Big Mean Sound Machine, 2/27, Abbey Bar; Kat Edmonson w/Robert Ellis, 2/27, Whitaker Center
2/4
Drums & Drones
Midtown Cinema
250 Reily St., Harrisburg
Starts at 7 PM
2/6
Driftwood
Abbey Bar
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
Starts at 8 PM
2/13
Mark Lanky & White Lighters
Little Amps Downtown
2nd & State streets, Harrisburg
Starts at 7 PM
2/19
Kill Matilda
HMAC Stage on Herr
268 Herr St., Harrisburg
Starts at 8 PM
1/27
Kat Edmonson w/Robert Ellis
Whitaker Center
222 Market St., Harrisburg
Starts at 8 PM
