Tag Archives: music

Burg Review: Fleet Foxes shows off instrumental skill, charms audience at HU Presents summer concert

June 25, 2024 | by Kawena Jacobs

Fleet Foxes performed in Riverfront Park on Sunday, June 23 as part of HU Presents’ Summer Concert Series.

Amid smatterings of rain and a thunderstorm sitting on the horizon, Seattle indie-folk band Fleet Foxes delivered a formidable performance on Sunday, making a seven-piece band feel like an orchestra of 30.

The night, hosted by Harrisburg University Presents as part of its Summer Concert Series, began with Brazilian indie singer and guitarist Tim Bernardes, whose impressive falsetto rang out across Riverfront Park like bird calls. His songs, some of which included “BB (Garupa de Moto Amarela)” and “Recomeçar,” were exclusively sung in Portuguese, transporting the audience to his hometown of São Paulo.

While most of the crowd might not have been able to understand the lyrics, they gave plenty of applause after each song—in other words, his musicality was sharp enough to break the language barrier. At around 8:40 p.m., Bernardes said his thanks, then headed off the stage just as the sun ducked beneath the distant mountains.

It wasn’t long before the main act made their presence known, opening with “Sun It Rises,” the first track of their 2008 album “Fleet Foxes.” This was not your average, all-out-energy kind of opener, but rather one that highlighted their tight harmonies and ethereal world-building.

The next songs, “Grown Ocean” and “Ragged Wood,” brought the punch instead, all anthemic toms and lead singer Robin Pecknold’s cut-through-anything tenor. Songs like “Your Protector” and “Third of May / Ōdaigahara” continued the vigor but with more introspection and mystery created by modulating chord progressions and eerie melodies.

Popular track “White Winter Hymnal” was a classic staple on their setlist, while “Blue Ridge Mountains” prompted the loudest audience sing-along.

My personal favorite of the night, which encompassed the folk sound that I consider to be the band at its best—choral oohs and big drums—was “Mykonos.” By that point, a gentle rain was falling, occasionally passing in front of the colorful lights, framing the group in a cinematic nature. They sang hard but not strained, something that can be difficult to keep control of live.

It feels important to note that several members of the band had a constant rotation of instruments cycling through their hands. Take multi-instrumentalist Morgan Henderson, for example, who alone played upright bass, flute, saxophone and percussion at some point in the evening. Whether the song required swift, unnerving woodwind trills or a tasteful shake of the tambourine, the band was on it.

Equally charming as their music were their interactions with the audience. Pecknold was sure to politely thank the crowd twice after each song, and when a fan called out that it was their birthday, the trombonist launched into a comical rendition of the birthday song with the rest of the band joining in by the end.

It was clear that this kind of venue was right where the band belonged—their vibrant lyrical story-telling resonating across the river, trains passing on the bridge above, a faithful audience weathering storms below—because it felt like a scene that they might have written into a song.

For more information about HU Presents and their upcoming concerts, visit their website.

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HU Presents Summer Concert Series to kick off this weekend, adds a fifth show

June 18, 2024 | by Jolie Lloyd

The Brothers Osborne, a duo set to perform in HU Presents’ concert series on Aug. 18.

Harrisburg University Presents today announced an addition to its summer concert lineup, just as the outdoors stage is being built for the season’s first shows this weekend.

Country music duo Brothers Osborne will perform in Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 8 p.m., featuring TJ Osborne and John Osborne, who have been writing and performing together for all their lives.

The pair are the reigning Country Music Association (CMA) and Academy of Country Music (ACM) “Duo of the Year” winners, known for a progressive yet still classic style of country music. Tickets go on sale on Friday.

Coincidentally, HU this week is busily getting ready for its first weekend of music in its 2024 Summer Series.

The first concert, on Friday, June 21 at 8 p.m., will feature country music by Jenny Lewis, the award-winning singer-songwriter. The concert, part of her Joy’all tour, will also feature special guest Dean Johnson.

Fleet Foxes, an American indie folk band from Seattle led by lead singer-songwriter Robin Pecknold, will perform on Sunday, June 23 at 8 p.m.

Psychedelic soul band Black Pumas, led by Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada, will take the stage on Thursday, July 25 at 8 p.m. HU Presents’ website describes the group as “one of the most electrifying new acts to emerge in recent years.”

A concert on Sunday, July 28 at 8 p.m. will feature country singer-songwriter Orville Peck, who is known for his strong musicianship, storytelling songwriting style and signature mask he is never seen without.

“We’re excited to be back in Riverfront Park for a fifth year to share more incredible live music experiences with the region,” said Frank Schofield, director of live entertainment at Harrisburg University. “This year’s lineup will not disappoint. We can’t wait to kick things off with Jenny Lewis and Fleet Foxes. Black Pumas are back in July – this time on the Riverfront Park stage – and we’re thrilled to have Orville Peck refreshed for this new tour.”

For more information about the concert series, the performing artists and to purchase tickets, please visit Harrisburg University Presents’ website.

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3rd & Summer: 3rd in The Burg revs up, heads outdoors in June, July

May 30, 2024 | by Skye Leppo

Mural tours by Sprocket Mural Works.Photo by Michael Yatsko

A beloved part of Harrisburg’s local flavor over the last 15 years is a little night we all lovingly refer to as 3rd in The Burg.

What originated as a way to promote the city’s art scene has changed as Harrisburg’s arts and business landscape shifted, with fewer galleries open but more restaurants and shops stepping up to participate.

TheBurg operates 3rd in The Burg, and we’re eager to continue including more faces and spaces throughout Uptown, Midtown, downtown and in SoMa.

Diving into one of our busiest seasons yet, we’ve rounded up just a few of many features happening in June and July. As we continue refining and evolving 3rd in The Burg, drop us a line with comments and ideas.

3rd in The Burg is sponsored by Friends of Midtown, Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, Explore Harrisburg and Sprocket Mural Works, which, by the way, will guide Midtown Mural Tours during every 3rd in The Burg this summer. Grab tickets at www.sprocketmuralworks.org/product-category/events.

JUNE

This month’s 3rd in The Burg will be held June 21 with a social media takeover from photographer Michael Yatsko (that’s @yatsko for those of you following). Below are a few of the spots where he’ll turn up that night.

SoMa Block Party: Juneteenth Edition
S. 3rd & Market Sts., 5 to 9 p.m.

Young Professionals of Color of Greater Harrisburg (YPOC) and Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP) are celebrating Juneteenth with The Emancipation Celebration. Free to attend, the party stretches along S. 3rd Street between Market and Chestnut streets with live music, libations, food trucks, Hit the Angles 360 Photobooth and more. Head over to La Cultura, 19 1/2 N. 4th St., for the after party from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Susquehanna Art Museum
1301 N. 3rd St., 6 to 8 p.m.

SAM at The Marty will open Elaine Elledge’s solo show, where Elledge will also perform live. You can also check out a reception for “Works in Wax: Contemporary Women Encaustic Artists,” and the five-piece band, The St. Christines, is slated to perform in the greenspace area just north of the museum. Admission at SAM is free during 3rd in the Burg thanks to sponsorship from The Hershey Company.

Music at Appalachian Brewing Co.
50 N. Cameron St., 6 p.m.

A revival effort is brewing at Appalachian Brewing Co. between the Abbey Bar’s return as a music venue and the innovative beers and spirits the company’s released recently. Danny McCoy, who runs music booking for Moon Peak Productions at the Abbey Bar, shared that June kicks off a series of local acoustic music during dinner on 3rd in The Burg nights, adding that drink and food specials also are planned.

Movie Night at the PA State Archives
1681 N. 6th St., 5 to 7 p.m.

The PA State Archives will open to the public to visit the new building and enjoy some of its newly digitized historical films during 3rd in The Burg this summer. Learn more at www.pastatearchives.org.

JULY

Mark your calendars for July 19, with several midsummer celebrations.

Music at the Market
Broad Street Market Courtyard, 1233 N. 3rd St., 6 to 8 p.m.

Harrisburg indie rock outfit The After Hours is headlining Music at the Market, brought to you by Members 1st Federal Credit Union. We’ll be working side by side with volunteers from Members 1st for an evening of community and music. Customize canvas market bags at our art station so you always have a stylish vessel for your produce and pretzels while visiting the market, or bring your kids to check out our children’s entertainment. Arrive early to grab a bite or a cold draft in the market.

Sound @ Found
Found Collab, 25 S. 3rd St., 5 to 8 p.m.

Found Collab’s monthly Sound @ Found features tunes spun by live DJs, alongside artists and fresh beers from some of your favorite local brewers. Note: Found Collab will open during the SoMa Block Party on June 21, sans Sound @ Found.

SoMa Pop-Up
31 S. 3rd St. (former Bricco restaurant)

The monthly SoMa Pop-Up features a rotating cast of culinary and mixology artists, as well as great local musicians. In July, Sara Bozich is bringing in live music from John Rossey, as well as some hoppy bevs courtesy of Englewood Brewing and food from Mellie Bellies.

The Night Market at La Cultura
19 1/2 N. 4th St., 6 to 9 p.m.

Culture & Commerce coworking space transforms into The Night Market at La Cultura during every 3rd in The Burg with a curated selection of cuisine, musicians and DJs, artisans, herbalists and more. Director Elyse Irvis shared that the market will be in the courtyard behind the building in July, and she is still accepting vendor applications. If you’re interested, register at www.booklacultura.as.me/vendorswanted.

An Evening with Carrie Courogen
“Miss May Does Not Exist”
Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St., 7 p.m.

Author Carrie Courogen is visiting for a free Q&A and book signing focused on “Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood’s Hidden Genius.” Learn more at www.midtownscholar.com.

We recommend taking advantage of the free parking downtown after 5 p.m. (Chestnut to State streets), north of State after 7 p.m., and, of course, two-hour free parking at the Broad Street Market.

For more information and to check check out a full list of 3rd in The Burg venues and activities, visit www.thirdintheburg.org, email [email protected] or send us a DM on Instagram or Facebook at @3rdInTheBurg.

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Dauphin County Cultural Fest to return to Harrisburg with music, dance, food

August 16, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Festival attendees watch a performance at a past year’s Cultural Fest.

Music, food and dance from around the world will return to Harrisburg this weekend.

On Saturday, Aug. 19, Dauphin County will host its annual Cultural Fest in Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park to celebrate and showcase diversity.

The free event will offer a lineup of local and national musical and dance performers, from 3 to 10:15 p.m. Stokley, a GRAMMY-nominated former lead vocalist for Mint Condition, will perform, as well as DJ Kool and Adrian Anthony Groupo Hipnosis, among others.

Additionally, small business and craft vendors, as well as human resources and professional development providers, will be on site. There will also be a Children’s Corner with activities for families, from 3 to 7 p.m.

Visitors can try flavors from around the globe at a variety of food trucks that will offer a range of ethnic cuisines.

The riverfront location is new for the festival this year, as it has been held on City Island in recent years and, before that, on a downtown street. This is the 15^th year that the county has hosted the Cultural Fest.

Large bags and umbrellas are prohibited at the event, including backpacks, large purses, clear bags, fanny packs, camera bags, drawstring bags, totes and suitcases.

Attendees can use the ParkMobile app to pay for parking and use the code “LUVHBG” at checkout for four hours of free parking on Saturday. Free parking is also available on City Island on Saturday.

For more information about Cultural Fest, visit their website.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Celtic Skelter: Kilmaine Saints music isn’t only about drinking and fighting, but, yeah, there’s drinking and fighting

February 28, 2023 | by Dan Miller

Kilmaine Saints

In 2009, a Harrisburg-based Celtic punk band formed for the sole purpose of getting free beer. Now, they’re about to release their fourth studio album.

If all goes according to plan, the album will drop in mid to late spring, said Brendan Power, lead singer of the high-energy band, in an interview held, appropriately, downtown at McGrath’s Pub. But all might not go according to plan.

“Being an Irish band, we know what Murphy’s Law can do to you,” said Power, reciting the famous maxim that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

The group’s lineup has changed over the 14 years since bassist (and bagpipes and accordion player) Jon Heller teamed up with original drummer Mike McNaughton to form a new band to get free beer from Harrisburg bars on St. Patrick’s Day. The two founding members knew each other from being in the Harrisburg Pipe & Drum Band.

Turnover has fueled the band’s evolving sound.

“This is the best songwriting and the most diverse background of musicians we’ve had,” Power said.

It’s also Kilmaine Saints’ first full-length release without an outside producer. Band members are doing all the recording and producing at their own pace.

The band took the same approach on an earlier acoustic EP, which served as a dry run for this full album, said guitarist Erich Arndt.

“That’s just another reason why this particular album is so collaborative in nature,” said fiddle player Gary Eurice. “Not only did we all have such a heavy hand in the songwriting but then in the actual execution of getting the album done. We are all individually working on our own tasks.”

Formed on “good whiskey and bad intentions” as noted on the band’s website, Kilmaine Saints has seven members. Besides Arndt, Eurice, Heller and Power, there’s Bill Brown on bagpipes, bouzouki and whistle, Rich Lipski on banjo, mandolin and acoustic guitar, and Tommy Leanza on drums.

Only Power has true Irish roots. He was born in Ireland and moved to the United States at age four. His family still has a house and farm in the old country.

The band is named for a pub in Kilmaine, Ireland, close to Power’s boyhood home. A former band member whose family owned the pub suggested the name.

“We’re definitely not saints,” Power said. “So, it’s kind of an oxymoron to call ourselves that.”

Labor of Love

Much of Kilmaine Saints’ music fits into what Power jokingly calls the four categories of Irish music.

“I’m gonna fight somebody. I’m gonna drink and then fight somebody. I’m gonna sing a song about my family leaving and never coming home, and then we’re gonna sing a song about drinking and fighting somebody,” he said.

But there’s more to Celtic music than that. The songs tell stories of ordinary people and their struggles, sometimes funny and tongue-in-cheek, other times sad and poignant.

Celtic music, even the power punk that is Kilmaine Saints’ bread and butter, has a traditional base reflecting the land and culture from which it is derived, said Eurice, a fiddle player for 20 years.

“I think, instinctively, everybody at some base level loves Celtic music,” he said. “Anytime you are in a bar and a traditional Irish jig comes on, you see people look at each other and smile.”

The band isn’t full-time for any of the members, who have jobs ranging from computer nerd to product rep to painter to, yes, chemical engineer.

“It’s a labor of love,” Power said. “We hope to one day be rock stars by the time we’re 90.”

Several members came to Kilmaine Saints out of the central Pennsylvania punk band scene.

Tired of toiling in cover bands, Lipski responded to a craigslist ad the band posted seeking new members.

“I was drawn more to the harder edge coming from the punk side of it,” he said, citing Dropkick Murphys, a Celtic punk band that’s been around since the mid-‘90s. “These guys have kind of the same sound, so I thought it would be a cool fit.”

Arndt, of Hanover, joined Kilmaine Saints after filling in for a member who had taken leave due to a new baby.

“I’ve always been a pop punk guy,” he said. “This is just pop punk with all kinds of weird instruments.”

Between the new album and reopening of life post-COVID, Kilmaine Saints sounds like a band poised for bigger things.

“There are a lot of big Celtic festivals and Irish festivals around the country,” Eurice said. “We’re hoping the next album kind of breaks down those doors to get us a more national reputation.”

The band is planning a new video. A first-ever European tour—starting in Ireland, of course—could be in the offing. Plans for a trip to the old country fell through a few years ago due to the pandemic.

Kilmaine Saints also looks forward to plenty of live shows to plug the heck out of the new album.

“There is something to be said about the songwriting and how it sounds and the production on an album,” Power said. “But there is also a different experience to seeing it live and see the sweat that goes into it and the energy and the fun we have on stage, not only with the crowd but amongst ourselves.”

For more information on Kilmaine Saints, visit www.kilmainesaints.com.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Carols of Comfort: Joy to the Burg, the Christmas music is come

November 30, 2022 | by Rachel Curry

Doug Wilburne
Photo courtesy of Jerry Kambic, Jerkami Communications Group

To truly understand Joy to the Burg, you have to take a step back.

On Dec. 21, 2019, Steve Schwartz stood with his son as they sold the first album by Joy to the Burg, a local group that spreads Christmas cheer through music and art while raising money to support Harrisburg’s homeless in partnership with Christian Churches United (CCU).

It was the night of 3rd in the Burg, and Schwartz saw beloved local band, No Last Call, walk by.

No Last Call is a 35-person marching band that’s known for showing up in flash-mob style, playing hits, collecting donations and departing. The marching band, including trumpet player Doug Wilburne, had a song on that first-ever album. So, Schwartz exclaimed, “Hey, play your song from Joy to the Burg!”

As No Last Call changed key and played the song, the clock hit 7 p.m. Why was that important? It was the same time that the seasonal walk-in emergency shelter doors opened. There was a risk that the shelter wasn’t going to open at all, but Joy to the Burg was able to raise the money from that initial project in time to get it rolling.

“So, I’m thinking, ‘How cool is this confluence of events?’” Schwartz said. “And I started to cry a little bit.”

Fast forward to 2022, and Joy to the Burg has built something lasting and incredible. Now chaired by Wilburne and supported by a number of other sponsorship committee members (including Schwartz) and Executive Leadership Forum (ELF) members, Joy to the Burg continues to raise money for Harrisburg’s homeless.

“Our band is 100% dedicated to creating fun and joy, and to be able to do that and, at the same time, provide a very meaningful benefit to people in need, is something that just warms our hearts,” Wilburne said.

The album is teeming with music—33 songs, each from a different artist. Well-known local musicians like The Jellybricks, No Last Call, Bob Geiger, Leap of Faith, Shea Quinn, Susquehanna Chorale and others grace the track list. There’s also a special song from Reading native Peter Rogan called “A Home for the Holidays,” which was co-written by Schwartz and Phil Madeira, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter and member of Emmylou Harris’ band. In short, the album will make your holiday party all the more special.

Joy to the Burg’s Christmas music album is available as a digital download and can be purchased online or in person at various local establishments. It comes with more than just a download code—you also score a collectible print of Shea Quinn as Santa Claus, the first in what will be a series as the years go on.

More music isn’t the only addition to this year’s Joy to the Burg endeavor. An element of visual art also has been added by way of a collection of eight greeting cards, each from a different Harrisburg artist. Carol Scott, Stephen Michael Haas, Ross Tyger, Janice Hagstrom Bailor, Nora Carreras, Andrea Minick Rudolph, Lori Sweet and TheBurg’s own cartoonist Brad Gebhart all participated in the project, which you can order online or find in person at various locations.

Alice Anne Schwab, executive director of the Susquehanna Art Museum, facilitated the greeting card project. Schwab has personally worked with CCU on projects for more than 30 years and served as a Joy to the Burg ELF member.

“Susquehanna Art Museum is kind of an anomaly in the community,” Schwab said. “As a non-collecting entity, we are always bringing new world-class exhibitions for the consideration of our community. We often exhibit local artists at the museum, and being involved in the curation of the card project felt like a natural affinity for Susquehanna Art Museum.”

Schwab added that the music and cards are available in the museum’s gift shop.

Also, don’t miss the ABC27 TV special on Dec. 8 at 10 a.m., featuring Joy to the Burg. Days later, on Dec. 11, you can catch them at the Englewood. The first event, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be an “easy-listening brunch,” as Wilburne describes it, with a series of Joy to the Burg musicians playing. Then, from 3 to 8 p.m., visitors can enjoy a large collection of bands playing a five-hour musical extravaganza.

Another event, a pop-up holiday happy hour at Strawberry Square on Dec. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m., will include Joy to the Burg entertainment.

As Schwartz, Wilburne, Schwab and the rest of the hardworking team at Joy to the Burg and CCU continue their efforts to spread Christmas cheer for the greater good of the community, one thing is certain—Joy to the Burg has found a place in Harrisburg’s heart, and it’s here to stay.

For more information, visit www.joytotheburg.com.

If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!

Community Corner: Notable October Events

September 29, 2022 | by Missy Smith

Golf Fundraiser
Oct. 1: Daystar Center for Recovery will host a golf tournament fundraiser at Armitage Golf Course, 800 Orrs Bridge Rd., Mechanicsburg. In addition to the four-person scramble, there will be contests with prizes, a lunch buffet and more. www.daystarrecovery.com

HBG Flea
Oct. 1: Shop the HBG Flea for local art, vintage treasures, curated curios, and unique gifts, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. The mission of the HBG Flea is to create a platform for community growth by bringing artists, small businesses, and patrons together. www.hbgflea.com

Book Fest
Oct. 1: The Chocolate Town Book Festival will be held in Chocolate Town Park, Hershey, 1 to 5 p.m., to connect readers and writers. New York Times national best-selling poet Kate Baer and 50 PA authors will sign and sell books. www.hersheylibrary.org

Scavenger Hunt
Oct. 1-31: Throughout October, hit the trails and explore fall at the Ned Smith Center, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, with a self-guided activity. Pick up a passport from the trailhead kiosk and follow the map to find all the exploration stations. www.nedsmithcenter.org

Pumpkin Fest
Oct. 1-31: Rockhill Trolley Museum and East Broad Top Railroad, 421 Meadow St., Rockhill, will host the Great Pumpkin Patch Express. Enjoy Peanuts-themed activities on a vintage trolley, picking out a pumpkin, shopping with vendors and more. www.eastbroadtop.com

Bus Tour
Oct. 2: Historic Harrisburg Resource Center, 1230 N. 3rd St., hosts its Annual Bus Tour of Local Landmarks, featuring African American heritage sites in Cumberland County, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.historicharrisburg.org

Fall Meet Week
Oct. 3-7: Check out high-performance cars during the Eastern Regional Fall Meet, Hershey’s annual antique car show and festival. View period automobiles, see racecar demonstrations and visit a flea market. On Oct. 4, attend the “Night at the Museum” dinner and reception at the AACA Museum, 161 Museum Dr., Hershey, 6 to 10 p.m. www.hershey.aaca.com

Business Night
Oct. 6: Join the West Shore Chamber of Commerce for the 70th annual Business & Industry Night celebration, 3 to 7 p.m., at the Penn Harris Hotel, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, 3 to 7 p.m. View members’ products and services and join in on the fun with this year’s “The ‘70s” theme. Tickets are $30. www.wschamber.org

Harvestfest
Oct. 7-8: Enjoy the fall season at the 37th Annual Big Valley Harvestfest of fall and winter décor, food, entertainment and activities at Mifflin County Youth Park, 110 W. Logan St., Reedsville. www.visitbigvalley.com

Heritage Fest
Oct. 7-8: Strasburg Heritage Society, 122 S. Decatur St., celebrates its 50th anniversary with Strasburg Heritage Fest. Attend an ice cream social, a movie screening under a large tent, historic tours, presentations and more. Kids can enjoy crafts, face painting and games. www.strasburgheritagesociety.org

Fun Run/Walk
Oct. 8: Join Tri County Community Action (TCCA) at the HACC campus in Harrisburg, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., for the 8K for Kathy Fun Run/Walk, in honor or Kathy Possinger, who served as TCCA executive director from 2010 to 2015. Come dressed as your favorite superhero. www.cactricounty.org

Pop-up Paddle
Oct. 8: Take in the fall scenery as you kayak the Susquehanna during a Pop-Up Paddle, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This half-day, 6-mile float takes paddlers from Milton State Park to the PFBC Chillisquaque Boat Launch. Registration is $20. Limited kayak and canoe rentals are available. www.susquehannagreenway.org

Celebrate Autumn
Oct. 8: Check out beautiful colors on the mountain and explore all that autumn has to offer at the Ned Smith Center, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy guided hikes, crafts, educational programs, a self-guided scavenger hunt, complimentary snacks, local cider and entertainment. www.nedsmithcenter.org

Volunteer Work Day
Oct. 8: Head to Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to enjoy the outdoors and help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tools and work gloves provided. Pre-registration required. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

Senstoberfest
Oct. 8: Try more than 75 beers at Senstoberfest a craft beer sampling at FNB Field, City Island, Harrisburg. The event benefits Harrisburg River Rescue. Tickets are $55 general admission, $75 VIP. www.senatorsbaseball.com.

Fall Fest
Oct. 8: Enjoy Fall Fest at Reeds Gap State Park, 1405 New Lancaster Valley Rd., Milroy, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event includes a hayride, pumpkin painting, a stream study, arrowhead artifacts, a lumberjack demonstration, apple cider, live music and more. www.juniatarivervalley.org

Evening Mixer
Oct. 13: Build new relationships with local business professionals at the West Shore Chamber of Commerce’s October Evening Networking Mixer, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at UPMC Outpatient Center, 2020 Technology Pkwy, Mechanicsburg. The event is free and open to chamber members. www.wschamber.org

Food Rally
Oct. 13: Enjoy fresh, savory foods at the New Cumberland Food Truck & Restaurant Rally every second Thursday of the month, 5 to 8 p.m. Grab dinner from area food trucks or New Cumberland restaurants and enjoy shopping and special promotions at local businesses. www.newcumberlandpa.org

Curiosity Kids
Oct. 13, 27: Kids ages 3 to 6 are invited to learn about fall leaves on Oct. 13 and about color pigments on Oct. 27 at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Curiosity Kids events are included with museum general admission, but space is limited. www.statemuseumpa.org

Over the Edge
Oct. 14: Rappel from the rooftop of 200 N. 3rd St. in downtown Harrisburg between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Raise funds and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region’s one-to-one youth mentoring programs. www.capbigs.org

Stargazing
Oct. 14: Join a Wildwood Park naturalist and the Lykens Valley Children’s Museum for an exciting evening exploring the night sky at Wiconisco Creek Park, 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy STEM and art activities, stargazing with the Harrisburg Astronomical Society and learn about the James Webb Space Telescope. www.explorewildwood.org

Halloween Party
Oct. 15: State Museum of PA, 300 North St., Harrisburg, will host the family-friendly “Great Pumpkin Day,” 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come dressed as your favorite animal, superhero, ghost or museum icon. Play some holiday games, make a craft and more.
www.statemuseumpa.org

Harvest Fest
Oct. 15: Central Penn College, 600 Valley Rd., Summerdale, hosts its annual Fall Harvest Festival, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The festival will feature live music, food trucks, vendors, kids’ games and more. www.centralpenn.edu

Dinner & Concert
Oct. 15: Susquehanna Folk Music Society hosts a harvest dinner and concert with Colin Cutler at Beshore Hill Farm, New Cumberland Collective, 5-9 p.m. www.sfmsfolk.org

Burgers & Brews
Oct. 15: Central Penn College, 600 Valley Rd., Summerdale, is spicing up the fall season with its inaugural Burgers and Brews Music Festival as part of Homecoming weekend, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy gourmet burgers and sliders, a variety of brews and a full lineup of live music. www.centralpenn.edu

Art Tour
Oct. 15-16: The fourth annual Hershey Hummelstown Art Studio Tour features 11 Hershey/Hummelstown artists and studios that will open their spaces to the public. Visitors can tour studios, watch demonstrations and purchase art on Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Oct. 16, 12 to 5 p.m. www.hersheyhummelstownartstudiotour.com

Book Festival
Oct. 19-23: Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, hosts the ninth annual Harrisburg Book Festival with in-person bookstore hours, an outdoor tent sale and virtual author events with award-winning and bestselling authors. www.hbgbookfest.com

3rd in The Burg
Oct. 21: Explore the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event, where you can visit and enjoy galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, from 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Halloween Ball
Oct. 21: Inspired Simplicity Design and PCADV are hosting the annual Halloween Charity Ball at The King Mansion at 2201 N. Front St., Harrisburg, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from the annual gala will benefit the PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence. www.pcadv.org

Charity Walk
Oct. 22: Join the 2022 Homeland Hospice 5K and Memory Walk at the Rossmoyne Business Center in Mechanicsburg, 8 a.m. Registration is $25 for anyone 13 years or older. Funds raised support Homeland Hospice supportive services. www.homelandevents.org

Boatoberfest
Oct. 22: Enjoy Boatoberfest, Pride of the Susquehanna’s fall fundraiser by the riverboat dock on City Island, with beer and cheer of the traditional Bavarian Oktoberfest celebration, 4 to 8 p.m. Drinking, live music, dancing and dining are on tap. Tickets are $60. www.hbgriverboat.org

FAB Night
Oct. 22: Help celebrate LGBT Center of Central PA’s work and honor leaders at “FAB 2021—Connected Across Communities,” at Hershey Lodge, 325 University Dr, Hershey, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. FAB 2021 is a hybrid event, with in-person and free virtual options. www.centralpalgbtcenter.org/FAB

People Project
Oct. 22: Adams County Arts Council hosts The People Project at Mela Kitchen’s Core Theater, 1865 Gettysburg Village Dr., 7 p.m. With “My Place at the Table” as the theme, the event combines music performances, exhibits by Adams County artists, storytelling and a public art collaboration. Exhibits are open to the public, Oct. 21 to 23, during restaurant hours. www.adamsarts.org

Library Talk
Oct. 23: Join Friends of the Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, for a conversation with New Cumberland resident and former Borough Council President John (Jack) Murray, on the history and his remembrances of New Cumberland, 3 p.m. www.cumberlandcountylibraries.org

Nature at Night
Oct. 23: Families can take an after-hours walk through the Olewine Nature Center at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, to watch exhibit hall critters come to life, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Make s’mores and sip apple cider, while enjoying a Halloween story. Dress as a favorite animal or in a costume, and bring a trick-or-treat bag. www.explorewildwoodpark.org

U.S.-Russia Relations
Oct. 27: Jill Dougherty, former CNN foreign correspondent who once headed its Moscow bureau, will address the future of U.S.-Russia relations at a dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Harrisburg. Event is hosted by the Foreign Policy Association of Central Pennsylvania. www.fpaharrisburg.org

Film Friday
Oct. 28: Head to Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, for a screening of “We are the Best,” a film from Sweden, about three girls in 1980s Stockholm who decide to form a punk band. Showings are at 2 and 7 p.m. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Haunted Adventure
Oct. 29: Join the Friends of Fort Hunter for a trip to Philadelphia for three haunting visits—the Eastern State Penitentiary, the home of Edgar Allan Poe and the Continental Tavern, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bring a bag lunch, snacks and beverages. www.forthunter.org

Murder Mystery
Oct. 29: Scottish Rite Theatre presents a Murder Mystery dinner for guests 18 years of age and older at Harrisburg Consistory, 2701 N. 3rd St., 6:30 p.m. Dress for the night is “Roaring ‘20s” theme. Event includes a three-course meal, a bottle of wine and the show. www.valleyofharrisburg.org

Halloween Dance
Oct. 30: The Englewood, 1219 West End Ave., Hershey, hosts a Halloween dance at 4 p.m., with live music, small bites and a cash bar to raise funds for the Downtown Daily Bread, serving low-income and homeless central PA residents. Cost is $30 at the door or in advance online. Costumes are encouraged. www.englewoodhershey.com

Spooky Storytime
Oct. 31: Have some family-friendly Halloween storytime fun at the New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, 6 p.m. Relax and get cozy for story sharing and rhymes the whole family can enjoy. www.newcumberlandlibrary

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Music for the Market: The Millworks to host music festival benefiting the Broad Street Market

June 22, 2022 | by Ellen Frantz

The Millworks

The Millworks soon will turn up the music during a festival to benefit the Broad Street Market.

The Millworks Music Festival will take place on July 9 from 1 to 7 p.m. on the grass lot on 3rd and Verbeke streets in Harrisburg. There will be six musical acts, some of which are local, four food trucks and 12 art vendors, along with a beer tent.

This is the first time The Millworks has hosted the music festival. Tara Chickey, artistic director for The Millworks, said the idea was inspired by the various outdoor events that the restaurant hosted during the pandemic. They decided the event would be a great way to raise funds for their Midtown neighbor, the Broad Street Market, a nonprofit organization.

According to Chickey, The Millworks team “thought a music festival was a lovely idea,” and a great opportunity to use their large outdoor space for a community event.

Performers at the festival will include Big Happy, Lumberob, Weird Year, Jen Starsinic, Slughead and The Great Northeast. Entry to the festival is free.

Chickey encouraged community members to come to the festival to support the market. All vendors will donate 10% of their profits to the Broad Street Market.

“It’s for a good cause,” Chickey said. “Broad Street is so wonderful.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blanket or chairs to sit on. As for what they can expect of the festival, Chickey said that it will be a fun time.

“They can count on hanging out for the day,” Chickey said. “Relax and enjoy. It will be a fun day filled with music, art, beer and good times.”

For more information on the Millworks Music Festival, visit their website.

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Amped Up: HU Presents to bring “best” concert lineup yet to Harrisburg this summer

June 6, 2022 | by Ellen Frantz

Young the Giant concert at Riverfront Park in 2021

Harrisburg’s music scene is set to heat up in the coming months.

This summer, Harrisburg University Presents is ready to bring back its concert series in full volume, after an altered season last year due to the pandemic.

The university is hosting shows across the city, at venues such as Riverfront Park and XL Live, with some concerts even booked in Hershey.

At Riverfront Park, HU Presents will host Death Cab for Cutie, The Roots, LANY, KALEO, Lord Huron, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, and The National. The university will also sponsor Mallrat at the Englewood in Hershey this fall.

HU Director of Live Entertainment and Media Services Frank Schofield said he is excited for all of the coming shows, especially the ones taking place in the “unique” venue of Riverfront Park.

“I’m just looking forward to being with everyone in the summer,” Schofield said. “The talent we’re bringing in is the best we’ve ever had.”

Schofield said that Lord Huron has sold the most tickets so far, but he expects that each show will be a hit. The series spans a wide range of genres, as well, he said.

“They’re all big and unique in their own way,” he said. “They complement one another and have never been in this market before. That’s what’s so awesome.”

The Englewood will host concerts by artists such as Cordovas, Steve Forbert and The New Renditions, Tractor Jerry and the Mud Bucket, and The Minks, as well as a comedy show by Zane Lamprey.

HU Presents will feature Courtney Barnett, The James Hunter Six and Barns Courtney at XL Live. King Yellowman, Helmet, Jackyl and Ani Defranco will also perform at the venue this summer.

Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center is also jam-packed with events for the season. They will hold everything from concerts, such as Lilac, Jimmie Vaughan and Jeremy McComb, to drag brunches to comedy shows featuring cast member Creed Bratton from “The Office.”

For Harrisburg University Presents concert dates and tickets, visit their website.

The Englewood is located at 1219 Research Blvd., Hummelstown. To view their lineup of events, visit their website.

Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center is located at 1110 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website.

XL Live is located at 801 S. 10th St., Harrisburg. To see a list of shows and purchase tickets, visit their website.

Siblings in Song: Veteran area musicians debut their new band, album

December 29, 2021 | by Jeff Falk

Image by Stella Talamo. Courtesy of Time Brothers.

There are thousands of aspiring musical artists across the United States, many of whom have never released an album. The act of creating, producing and recording an album demands stepping out of one’s comfort zone, putting oneself out there.

It also requires a certain degree of simply “going for it.”

The Time Brothers’ recent release of their first album, “October,” features all of the above. But it also includes the meshing of musical styles and the fruits of experience.

And of course, timing.

“It’s definitely a life accomplishment for a musician,” said Matt Wurst of Harrisburg, one of the two Time Brothers. “It really comes down to the originals. It’s not easy to be a fully original band. It’s hard to get people to like it. But if they do like it, hopefully it’s something to take forward.”

A Bridge

While an album may be a simple collection of songs, the process of creating an album and creating a track are two very similar processes. They both begin with inspiration and motivation, take on momentum with creativity and repetition, and conclude with approval and satisfaction.

“My style of songwriting comes from life experiences,” said Wurst, 37. “You bring it raw to band rehearsal. You play a little bit of it and try to decide if you like it or not. There are a couple of tricks to the trade. If you like it, then you just keep fine-tuning it and polishing it.”

York resident Jim Grinnen is the other Time Brother. Backed by the experience of creating an album with two other members of the one-time electric band, Blind Ellis, he and Wurst released the nine-track “October” in October 2021.

“It wasn’t a quick process,” Wurst said. “When we started recording, we had three originals, and then we wrote the other tracks as we went along. It was kind of like we were building a bridge as we crossed it.”

The Time Brothers started work on “October” in spring 2020, and it took 18 months to complete. The album was recorded at the Green Room Studios in Uptown Harrisburg and incorporated the collective talents of seven other local musicians, as well as a studio engineer.

“It is a daunting task. You can’t take it lightly,” Wurst said. “The other album that Jim and I worked on together was more raw. With this one, we were more confident on how to approach it and less self-conscious.”

Five of the tracks on “October” originated from Grinnen’s fertile imagination, while the other four came from Wurst. But each contributed something to every song, both creatively and musically.

“We’re a little bit of yin and yang,” said Wurst. “We come from different perspectives. We both have our strengths and weaknesses. We know our roles. Jim comes from a more folk and acoustic background, and I come from a more western background. I think we gel pretty well together.”

Those complementary styles interact well on the album. But there’s something more fundamental, more powerful about the synchronized sounds created by a duet.

“It’s a little more simple and basic than a four-member band, and I think that comes through in the album,” Wurst said. “There’s some light percussion in the background, and it creates this mellow, folk, acoustic sound that can be very accommodating to the ear. We kind of learn from each other, and we reciprocate back and forth with our different styles.”

Share Our Story

For Grinnen and Wurst, their band is very much a side hustle, an after-hours gig. By day, Grinnen is a teacher in the Baltimore area, and Wurst is an advisor to the chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

“Both Jim and I have full-time careers, but you need to have something to keep you balanced, and, for me, that’s music,” Wurst said. “It’s also helped me make a lot of friends. We don’t take it too seriously, but something like this couldn’t work if we didn’t work well together.”

For now, the Time Brothers have no concrete plans for a follow-up to their debut album. But they’re not averse to walking through the doors that “October” may open for them.

Wurst would be happy, he said, if the album helped them get more gigs in the area and thrilled if it led to some airtime on WXPN, a non-commercial music station out of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

“It was a nice result. We’re pretty proud of it,” Wurst said. “We just want to share our music, share our story and hopefully get people to like our album.”

“October” is available through major internet streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora and Deezer.

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