In May, the first truly hot days of the year arrive in Harrisburg. When I hit the streets to go to the Broad Street Market during the day, or when I head to a local show at night, I know it’s likely that I’ll break a sweat.
When it comes to music, there are a lot of ways to work up a good sweat. The speedy finger picking and near-shouted vocals of bluegrass conjure up images of hot Appalachian summers. The soulful sound of bluesy chords is reminiscent of the balmy Delta. And sensual and romantic vocals sung over a bass-y beat seem best suited for hot, dark nights. However, know that whichever direction you choose, May in the Burg is a good month to moisten your brow to some excellent music.
COLEBROOK ROAD, 5/7, 8PM, ABBEY BAR, $7/$10: For all of you who think that bluegrass is an old-timey genre, Colebrook Road is out to prove you wrong. While many bluegrass bands rely on old standards to show off their chops, these local boys have made a name for themselves through a combination of incredible musical deftness and a penchant for original composition. Formed here in the midstate, they have taken their talents on the road and garnered praise from some of the leading bluegrass critics and festivals, including winning the 2016 D.C. Bluegrass Union’s Mid Atlantic Bluegrass Band Contest and the 2015 Podunk Bluegrass Festival Band Contest in Hebron, Conn. This month, they take the stage at the Abbey Bar to release their newest recording, “Halfway Between,” joined by featured guests Mountain Ride.
SHAWAN & THE WONTON w/BUZZARD LUCK, 5/14, 8:30PM, RIVER CITY BLUES, FREE: In conversation, Shawan is an unassuming young woman. But, when she starts to sing, her voice drips with a soul that is beyond her years. It doesn’t hurt that she’s backed by an incredibly talented band, inflecting her R&B intonation with jazzy keys and slick saxophone grooves. She’s become something of a local hero, never turning down a show and giving every performance her all. This month, she’ll be joined by York’s equally bluesy Buzzard Luck. The three-piece has mastered the jammy electrical blues that inspired classic rockers such as the Rolling Stones and Led Zep. Combined, both bands are guaranteed to get the crowd moving.
KATE FAUST w/ESKIMO WAV, 5/20, 9PM, STAGE ON HERR, $5: Kate Faust is an electro-backed sensual singer akin to Purity Ring or Niki and the Dove. She discovered her voice while singing in choirs as a student in Catholic school. Now, she sings over polyrhythmic, click-y beats and soft synth pads. Her music is dark but not heavy, romantic but not saccharine. She has a big voice that can be reined in for quieter moments, yet sours when left unrestrained. She hails from Philadelphia and has started to earn the praise of that city’s music critics, including WXPN and Philly’s City Paper. She is touring in support of her new EP “Eros” and will be joined by Eskimo Wav.
Mentionables: Jackson Howard, 5/8, Stage on Herr; Davey O., Suba Tapas Bar, 5/14; Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, 5/20, Whitaker Center; Southern Culture on the Skids, 5/27, Abbey Bar; The April Skies, 5/28, Stage on Herr
