Here is a listing of area live music and online happenings for the weekend and week of Friday, March 12 through Thursday, March 18.
Due to COVID-19-related restrictions, many live music venues across the area are still not able to host performances at this time. The listing below includes both area live public shows and online live-streaming shows; keep checking back, as this listing will be updated as new shows are announced.
If you are attending a public show, be aware that seating and admission may be limited due to restrictions, and masks and social distancing may be required. Please respect others’ personal space if they wish to socially distance from others.
For online performances, if a “virtual tip jar” situation is available during live streams, please consider tipping these performers, and support them during this time when they cannot earn income playing shows at public venues. Websites for these performers are also listed; please consider purchasing their music digitally or via CD, which is another way to SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC!
Last year at this time, the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic – just days before St. Patrick’s Day – shut down and changed many aspects of daily life, including entertainment and gatherings. Most St. Patrick’s Day public festivities were quickly shelved for 2020. Popular Boston-based Celtic punk rock band, the Dropkick Murphys, converted their annual St. Patrick’s Day show into a free online virtual concert event that drew hundreds of thousands of viewers worldwide, and provided some musical joy for a world suddenly relegated to indoor life and social distancing.
A year later, hopes grow for normalcy to eventually return as COVID-19 vaccines make the rounds and the spread of the disease starts to diminish. And St. Patrick’s Day won’t look quite as bleak this year, as at least a few celebrations are scheduled to happen within the next several days. See the list below for such shows that have been announced. Remember that seating and admission may be limited due to COVID-19 protocols, and masks may be required.
And for those who aren’t quite ready to return to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in public spaces, the Dropkick Murphys are staging another virtual concert, their “Still Locked Down” live stream concert, on Wednesday evening starting at 7 p.m. through the website www.dkmstream.com. The group will honor audience requests, plus play songs from their forthcoming new album “Turn Up the Dial,” which will be released on April 30. Admission to the virtual concert is again free; virtual donation opportunities will be available, with proceeds going to charity.
FRIDAY 3/12:
PUBLIC SHOW: Bob Helbig at Huntingdon Moose, Huntingdon (starts 4 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: “Friday Wine Down” with Freedom Rocks at Oak Spring Winery, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Charlie McClanahan at Bella Terra Vineyards (formerly Briar Valley Winery), Bedford (starts 6 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: The Frick Brothers at Trixie’s Pub, Johnstown (starts 6 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Coffee House with Who We Are at Champion Life Church, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: ReWired at the UVA Club, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Nuthin’ Fancy at Heroes Tavern, Nanty Glo (starts 7 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Lauren & Joe at The Break Room, Twin Rocks (starts 7 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: The Evergreens at Woodside Bar & Grill, Johnstown (starts 8 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: The Desperadoes at Southmont Gardens, Johnstown (starts 11 p.m.)
ONLINE: Berks County Quarantine Open Mic (various performers) (Facebook, starts 5 p.m.)
ONLINE: Ted McCloskey & Molly Countermine live stream (Facebook, starts 7 p.m.)
(Website: www.tedmccloskey.com)
ONLINE: Norman Nardini w/Harry Bottoms live stream (Facebook, starts 7 p.m.)
(Website: www.normannardini.com)
ONLINE: Neon Swing X-perience at Palace Theatre, Greensburg (starts 8 p.m., registration required through Palace Theatre’s website or Facebook page)
SATURDAY 3/13:
PUBLIC SHOW: Brian Harshberger at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 1 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Rue Moyer at Bella Terra Vineyards (formerly Briar Valley Winery), Bedford (starts 6 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Kimberly Dawn & Johann at Altoona Grand Hotel (Grouse’s Nest), Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Ken & Andy at Heroes Tavern, Nanty Glo (starts 7 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Dany Vavrek at Stadium Pub & Grille, Johnstown (starts 7 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Clay Bowser at the First Catholic Slovak Bandhall, Johnstown (starts 7 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: From Within at Croatian Club, Smoke Run (starts 7 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Buckshot Tea Party at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: The Boomers at Newburg Fire Association Social Hall, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Irish Night with Full Kilt at Tre Ragazzi, Cresson (starts 8 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Donny Burns (acoustic) at We Are Inn (Lobby Grille), Philipsburg (starts 8 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: K4 Kountry at Steele’s Tavern, Hopewell (starts 8 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Russ Wilburn at Woodside Bar & Grill, Johnstown (starts 8 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Van Waylon at Freight Station, Johnstown (starts 8 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Downshift at The Grove, Strongstown (starts 8 p.m.)
ONLINE: Berks County Quarantine Open Mic (various performers) (Facebook, starts 5 p.m.)
ONLINE: Jack Servello live stream (Facebook, starts 7 p.m.)
ONLINE: Saturday Night Livestream with Kelly and Mark of Biscuit Jam (Facebook, starts 7 p.m.)
ONLINE: Jeffrey Gaines Facebook Live Concert (Facebook, starts 7 p.m.; tickets $9.99)
(Website: www.jeffreygaines.com)
SUNDAY 3/14:
PUBLIC SHOW: Open Mic with Dany Vavrek at Woodside Bar & Grill, Johnstown (starts 3 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: The Band OZ at Newburg Fire Association Social Hall, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Orfeo (Latin/Spanish/Brazilian duo) at Pine Grove Hall, Pine Grove Mills (starts 7 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: Felix & the Hurricanes at Black & Gold Tavern, Altoona (starts 7:30 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: The Desperadoes at Southmont Gardens, Johnstown (starts 8 p.m.)
ONLINE: John “JT” Thompson live stream (Facebook, starts 1 p.m.)
(Website: www.jtblues.com)
MONDAY 3/15:
(no shows announced)
TUESDAY 3/16:
PUBLIC SHOW: “Rage of the Irish” fundraiser for Mass N Tha Grass Festival at JOOS, Altoona; featuring Crazed Visions, Nik Mik, The Returners and John Peacefire (starts 6 p.m., $5 admission)
ONLINE: Brother Jack’s Happy Hour Live Stream (Facebook, starts 4 p.m.)
ONLINE: Chad Patterson Live on Facebook (Facebook, starts 7 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY 3/17:
PUBLIC SHOW: “St. Paddy’s on the Paddy-O” with Full Kilt at Zach’s Sports & Spirits, Altoona (starts 6 p.m., $8 cover due to capacity restrictions)
PUBLIC SHOW: Jam Night with The Frick Brothers at The Break Room, Twin Rocks (starts 7 p.m.)
PUBLIC SHOW: St. Patrick’s Celebration with Shallow 9 at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
ONLINE: “Car-Tunes” with Charlie Barath Facebook Live Stream (Facebook, starts 6 p.m.)
(Website: www.reverbnation.com/charliebarath)
ONLINE: Dropkick Murphys St. Patrick’s Day “Still Locked Down” Live Stream (free admission, starts 7 p.m. through www.dkmstream.com)
THURSDAY 3/18:
ONLINE: Berks County Quarantine Open Mic (various performers) (Facebook, starts 5 p.m.)
ONLINE: Bob Helbig Live Stream (Facebook, starts 7 p.m.)
ONLINE: Blues Society of Central PA presents Virtual Jam (starts 7 p.m. at www.bscpblues.com)
ONLINE: “Virtually in the Palace (VIP) Experience” with Colin Southfield & the Mushroom Country Band live stream (The Palace Theatre’s and Westmoreland Cultural Trust’s Facebook pages, starts 7 p.m.)
(Website: www.eastcoastturnaround.com)
(NOTE: More shows may be added to this list as information becomes available. Feel free to check back.)
To report additional shows or corrections to this listing, email information to jptheprofessor@gmail.com. Deadline to submit information for the initial posting is each Friday morning at 9 a.m.
