September’s here, which means that folks are settling back into their routines. Luckily, Harrisburg’s got a lot of great shows this month to smooth out the return to the workweek.
The annual Dauphin County Jazz & Wine Festival, on Sept. 6 and 7, will certainly help you ease out of summer. There will be performers from the local to the national level, some of PA’s top wineries, and plenty of local craft and food vendors. Fort Hunter is the perfect place for a picnic and performance, so be sure to grab a blanket and some lawn chairs to enjoy two nights of entertainment.
A week later, on Sept. 15, don’t miss the fundraiser, “Music & Healing,” sponsored by the World Surgical Foundation. Their goal is to raise awareness and funding for WSF’s healing work through the power of music with a collaboration with renowned musicians Odin Rathnam and Robert Koenig.
The Pride of the Susquehanna is still sailing strong, featuring two shows this month, Acoustic Stew on Sept. 15 and Shine Delphi on Sept. 29. Enjoy happy hour on the dock starting at 5:30 p.m., then the ship sets sail at 7:30 p.m. for a relaxing tour of our beautiful river.
As usual, we’ve also got some killer indoor shows that you don’t want to miss. So, kick back and get to know some of these talented top picks this month.
THE SUGARHILL GANG, 9/7, 7PM, XL LIVE, $15
Well folks, XL Live has done it again. Continuing to bring quality shows to HBG, hip hop pioneers the Sugarhill Gang will grace the stage with their classic sound. Maybe you like their dancy song, “Apache,” or maybe you know them from their 1979 debut single, “Rappers Delight,” an instant hit with more than 15 million records sold worldwide. If you don’t know either song, they’re both catchy as heck and definitely worth looking up for a peek into this early phenomenon. Many hip hop and rap artists today credit the band for introducing a new culture and form of music, and they’re the first rap group to tour and promote themselves extensively on a global scale. Their songs have been sampled and performed by many famous artists, including Busta Rhymes, Pitbull and 50 Cent. So, there’s a chance you’ll recognize them even if you’re not directly familiar with their music. So much more could be said of this revolutionary band, but this is one show you can’t read about—you’ve got to see for yourself.
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE, 9/15, 8PM, WHITAKER CENTER, $49.50-79.50
I always appreciate a group that can create unique music with influences from many genres. So, of course, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue drew my attention right away. Just when you think you know what you’re listening to, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and his band throw you a curveball with everything from a sudden jazzy trumpet solo to some heavy synthesizer to some funky keys to a ripping guitar line. The music’s energy strikes audiences as very lively, to say the least. Hailing from New Orleans, the home of soul and amazing music generally, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue truly do their hometown justice with their spirited and playful sound. This one’s definitely going to turn dancy, so make sure you wear comfy shoes while you boogie on down!
THE STRUTS, 9/27, 7PM, XL LIVE, $40
Harrisburg University keeps their rad shows rolling this month with glam rockers, The Struts, playing at XL Live. Hailing from Derbyshire, England, this rock quartet got their start in 2009 playing mostly in the U.K. When you listen to their music, you can almost hear the influences of other British bands that had an impact on their sound, like Queen, Def Leppard and Oasis, but with a touch of American rock influences from Aerosmith, The Killers and Michael Jackson. Growing their career while touring throughout England and France in 2014, they opened for another one of their main influences, the Rolling Stones, in Paris. Not long after, their killer live reputation began to spread. Sold-out shows proved that people wanted the combination of the band’s tight sound and the mesmerizing talent of frontman Luke Spiller. They’re still active, cranking out hits and playing memorable shows all over the place. So, be sure to catch their performance while ya can.
Mentionables:
Treehouse & Quasi Kings, Sept. 5, The Abbey Bar;
Stabbing Westward, Sept. 7, H*MAC Capitol Room;
Inwake, Sept. 14, River City Blues Club;
Trina, Sept. 21, XL Live;
Pocket Vinyl, Sept. 23, J.B. Lovedraft’s;
Psychotica, Sept. 26, H*MAC Stage on Herr;
Scythian, Sept. 27, The Abbey Bar;
Don Johnson Project, Sept. 28, River City Blues Club
