Here is a listing of Altoona area live music happenings for the weekend and week of Friday, December 7 through Thursday, December 13.
Christmas season often means Toys for Tots benefits on the area music scene, and one will take place on an Altoona stage Friday night. Local country performers 100 Proof will provide the entertainment as Chewy’s Pizza hosts a Toys For Tots benefit beginning at 9 p.m. Donation at the door is either $10 or a toy of equal or greater value. Besides the music, the benefit will also feature an ugly sweater contest and basket giveaways.
Although the event is sold out, the Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society presents their annual Kringlefest celebration on Friday night, with music from the Alex Meixner Band. A Grammy-nominated performer now based in Florida, the Allentown native and his band will perform a lively mixture of polka, country, folk sounds and more.
If you don’t mind a one-hour roadtrip, two shows this weekend may be worthy of your attention. On Saturday evening, Johnstown’s Venue Of Merging Arts (VOMA) will present a special edition of their “Blues Gathering” event, featuring Pittsburgh’s Jimmy Adler and Charlie Barath with their band. Both musicians are among the top echelon of Pittsburgh blues performers. Beginning at 7 p.m., the performance will combine Adler’s guitar finesse and fun brand of jump and classic blues with Barath’s greasy blues harmonica style. Both performers have represented the Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania at the annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Admission to the performance is $10, and the event is BYOB.
And if you want some sauce and gumbo with your blues music, you may be interested in checking out a unique performer in Clearfield on Sunday evening. Known as “The Sauce Boss,” Florida-based performer Bill Wharton will perform and cook onstage at the same time at the 120 Pub & Grub (near the Route 879/Interstate 80 interchange near Clearfield) starting at 7 p.m. Wharton will sing, play slide guitar and bass drum as he does his brand of swamp-flavored blues and boogie, while cooking up gumbo using his own brand Liquid Summer Hot Sauce (which will be available for sale). At the end of the performance, attendees will get to enjoy a free bowl of the gumbo. Admission to this performance is $15 per person. (Wharton performed in Altoona once, entertaining and serving his gumbo at Penn State Altoona’s Port Sky Cafe in October, 2002.)
For outdoor shows, in the event of inclement weather, please call or use social media to check ahead to make sure the show is still taking place, especially if you are driving any distance to attend.
Check out and support the area live music! And if you celebrate heavily while doing so, please designate a sober driver or call a taxi to get you home.
FRIDAY NIGHT 12/7:
Happy Hour (Tom Fix & Sarah Mellott) at Altoona Grand Hotel, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
Toys for Tots Benefit featuring 100 Proof at Chewy’s Pizza, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
The Boomers at Bavarian Aid Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
This Albatross at Newburg Firehall, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
“Kringlefest” with Alex Meixner Band at Unter Uns, Altoona (starts 7 p.m., SOLD OUT)
Casey Gray & Tyler Shultz at The Dog House, Bellwood (starts 9 p.m.)
TV Blonde at Huntingdon Elks, Huntingdon (starts 7 p.m.)
First Friday Open Mic at A.C. Darby Studio, Huntingdon (starts 6:30 p.m.)
2nd Street at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 6:30 p.m.)
Krazy Kat Daddies at Patton American Legion, Patton (starts 9:30 p.m.)
Danny Haynes at Our Station House, Ebensburg (starts 8:30 p.m.)
SATURDAY NIGHT 12/8:
Triple Threat at Family Pizza & Pub, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
Glory Days, Chapter 5 and Science Penguin at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 10 p.m.)
Joe & Lauren at Holiday Bowl, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Bodacious B at Trianon Bar & Grill, Altoona (starts 10 p.m.)
Washington Slept Here at Newburg Firehall, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Night Train at Bavarian Aid Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
Greg Burley at U.S. Hotel, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)
Bill Young at Argonne Cafe, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)
Downshift at Steele’s Tavern, Hopewell (starts 10 p.m.)
This Albatross at Bloody Run Social Club, Everett (starts 9:30 p.m.)
Star 69 at Everett VFW, Everett (starts 9 p.m.)
The Boomers at Patton VFW, Patton (starts 9 p.m.)
Ruff Tymes at Jamestown PNA, Portage (starts 8 p.m.)
Michael Christopher Band at Castle Pub, Ebensburg (starts 10 p.m.)
Atomic Blonde at Ebensburg Moose, Ebensburg (starts 8 p.m.)
Backlash at Philipsburg American Legion, Philipsburg (starts 9 p.m.)
SUNDAY 12/9:
Second Sunday Ukulele Jam at Hollidaysburg Area Public Library (Children’s Room), Hollidaysburg (starts 2 p.m.)
SUNDAY NIGHT 12/9:
Matt Burns at Family Pizza & Pub, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)
The Band OZ at Newburg Firehall, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)
Felix & the Hurricanes at Black & Gold Tavern, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
TUESDAY NIGHT 12/11:
Adam D and friends at D’Ottavio’s Gran Sasso, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)
“Tuesday Night Therapy” at Bedford Tavern, Bedford (starts 6 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY NIGHT 12/12:
Open Mic Night at Unter Uns, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
THURSDAY NIGHT 12/13:
Steve Summerhill at Jethro’s, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)
Conner Gilbert at Holiday Bowl, Altoona (starts 8:30 p.m.)
Open Stage Night at Green Bean Coffee, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)
Dan Stonerook at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
(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.