There are some excellent shows happening this month, including a brand new concert series, Tiny Park Concerts, launching at Coronet Park in downtown Harrisburg, located near Market Square. Organizer Sara Bozich is curating the series in collaboration with Harristown Enterprises. She shared that “the Tiny Park Concerts series will serve as the park’s signature live music programming, bringing free outdoor concerts to the UPMC Stage on the second Friday of each month from May through September.” I’m looking forward to the kickoff event with DeRose & The Dreadnaughts on May 8––maybe I’ll see you there!
ALT-ROCK
5/5, Silversun Pickups, XL Live
I’ve previously written about my affinity for Silversun Pickups in this column, so I was excited to see the band’s return to Harrisburg on its “Tenterhooks” support tour. This show was originally scheduled for the now-closed HMAC, but due to ticketing system differences, ticketholders need to get the tickets XL Live released for this show. This band’s a fun throwback to early-oughts alt-rock. Listen to “Lazy Eye,” “Panic Switch” or “Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)” to catch a vibe of what you can expect to hear at the concert.
FOLK PUNK
5/11, Susquehanna Folk Music Society presents Mama’s Broke, Fort Hunter
We’re lucky that Canadian folk duo Mama’s Broke have started adding central Pennsylvania to its rotation of tour stops. Amy Lou Keeler and Lisa Maria bring a raw, DIY punk energy to their interpretation of folk music that is haunting and visceral, with a mix of acapella and fiddle that is both gorgeous and harrowing. The band is currently on its “Analog Tour,” and I heavily endorse checking out the 2023 “Tiny Desk Concert” if you’d like to hear and see the pair’s mesmerizing vocals in action.
SLIDIN’ INTO BLUES
5/21, WXPN Welcomes Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, XL Live
Grammy winning-guitarist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram has been celebrated by many as a unique talent heralding in the next era of blues, and is touring in support of his 2025 album, “Hard Road.” The Mississippi artist’s fusion of elements from hip-hop, funk and jazz into blues has created new interpretations of what blues can—and likely will be––for the next generation of musicians and fans. You may also recognize his signature sound from the soundtrack to last year’s wildly acclaimed film, “Sinners,” where he also appeared in a scene. I love his more recent song, “…Bad Like Me,” from his latest record, but I also recommend giving his earlier releases, especially 2019’s “Kingfish,” a good listen.
If you’re a musician and/or promoter, or a fan of a local artist, and you’d like to share some upcoming shows with TheBurg, drop me a line at [email protected].
HONORABLE MENTIONS
5/1 & 5/2, WXPN Welcomes Pigeons Playing PingPong, XL Live
5 /8, Melissa Etheridge, Hershey Theatre
5 /8, DeRose & The Dreadnaughts, Coronet Park
5/10, Emerson Woolf & The Wishbones, The Abbey Bar
5/14, Saintseneca, Capital City Music Hall
5/15, The Lone Bellow, Appell Center for the Performing Arts
5/23, Khalid, GIANT Center
5/27, Jason Mraz, Hershey Theatre
5/31, Darlingside, Appell Center for the Performing Arts
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