Happy 250th Birthday to the good old USA! As we head out this month to celebrate, remember to be smart and drive safe. We all want to have a good time, but please do so responsibly. There are still lots of great summer events left to enjoy, so here are some things happening around the area.
Briggs Farm Blues Festival is just days away, and there is still time to get your tickets online or even at the gate for all those last-minute stragglers looking for something to do. This event, which was featured in last issue’s article, is a must-attend for blues and Americana fanatics.
Pappy T’s Pub and Lounge has been supporting local live music for over 20 years. They have Open Mic nights every Thursday and every 2nd and 4th Sunday. They also have live music Fridays and Saturdays, making them another great no-cover venue.This month they are bringing another full lineup with TJ Chupick and Therapy Barn on the 10th and 11th, Known Tomorrow on the 18th, the mighty SIX BAR BREAK on the 24th, and The Eddie Bluestone Trio on the 31st. They are starting August off with Not All There on the 1st. Pappy T’s has food specials, music trivia, free music—what else could you ask for? Sidenote: Pappy T’s recently popped up while I was watching a YouTube video produced by the Pennsylvania Dirtbags. This crew traverses the state by bicycle on different routes each year. This year, during the “Overalls Route,” they stopped at Pappy T’s, where they all stayed out a bit too late enjoying the awesome food and great vibes. If you are into cycling, check out the video on YouTube by searching “Overalls Route.”
The Eagle Hotel in Fredericksburg is hosting “Cheaters Never Prosper Trivia” every Monday in July, along with food and drink specials all month long. They will be featuring Mycena Worley on the 3rd, Hannah Noel on the 10th, and Crash & Cross Acoustic on the 11th. They finish out the month with Vince Rollins on the 17th, Roger Bowyer on the 18th, Rob Mordan on the 25th, a Rachel Rock favorite, Derek Henry on the 25th, and The Neighborly on the 31st. Once again, The Eagle is a no-cover affair for some great live music action.
TGM Sound Productions and Deer Run Camping Resort are hosting a Country Rock Weekend July 23rd, 24th, and 25th. The weekend features Revelry Band on Thursday, Maya Talarico and Latimore Sky on Friday, and Steel Hemlock, Shane Fregm & 74 Junction, Holly & The Howlers, Red Flag Rodeo, and Dave Bray USA on Saturday. You can camp for the weekend or just come out to enjoy the music. Deer Run has events all summer long, including some awesome RC car and boat racing. If you are looking for good family fun, head down to Deer Run. They have a full month of events including soapbox derbies, RC racing, kids and adult games, and bands—there is something for everyone at Deer Run Camping Resort.
For all the metalheads out there, “Battery Masters of Metallica” will be performing live at Funky Claud’s Nightclub on Saturday, August 1st, in Altoona, PA. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Doors open at 7 PM, and the show starts at 10 PM. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through Funky Claud’s by contacting the bar at 814-296-2680.
Just a friendly reminder this month: PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MUSIC STORE. I know the internet makes it easy to find whatever you’re looking for, but remember our local shops need your support now more than ever. Imagine a world where you can’t walk in and browse walls of vintage and new guitars and basses, drum sets galore, the smell of instruments and fresh strings, the dazzling paint jobs, or that feeling of playing “Stairway to Heaven” for the shop owner so they can see just how good you are.We are blessed to have so many great shops in the area. Take a day, drive around, and check out their inventory. Shops like Player’s Exchange, BL Custom Guitars, Woodshed Guitar Works, Guitars on George, Guitars On Main, Guitar Villa, Creter Guitar Shop, and Dale’s Drums all help keep music alive in our communities. If you want DiMarzio pickups, you can find some of the best online at Mikes-music-shop.com. They are constantly shipping orders out and supporting musicians everywhere.
Well, that’s it for this month. I hope you all have a safe and wonderful America 250 weekend. Remember to get out and support your local music-loving venues and shops—they need the love.
If you would like to support our small business, we would love to help you get the word out about what you are doing and what you have coming up. Yes, we need support too. As the cost of everything rises, we have kept our rates the same for more years than I care to count. To see just how affordable they are, give me a call or text at 717-636-4203 or send an email to joshnoll@pamusician.net.Thank you all for the support, and we will see you next month!