Here is a listing of Altoona area live music happenings for the weekend and week of Friday, April 12 through Thursday, April 18.
Among this weekend’s live music highlights is Penn State Altoona’s annual “Ivyside Off the Rails: Music and Art Festival,” which will happen Sunday evening at Altoona’s Railroaders Museum. Headlining this year’s event will be Bradenton, Florida-based national recording group We The Kings. Formed in 2005, We The Kings – currently singer/guitarist Travis Clark, guitarist Hunter Thomsen, his bassist brother Drew Thomsen, drummer Danny Duncan and keyboardist Coley O’Toole – the group signed with EMI Records subsidiary S-Curve Records in 2007, and proceeded to release several successful singles, including “We’ll Be A Dream,” “Check Yes Juliet,” “Heaven Can Wait” and “Say You Like Me.” The group also has headlined the Vans Warped Tour. Opening the show will be popular Reading-based pop/rock/dance party band Go Go Gadjet. The event will also feature art and art activities, food vendors, a beer tent and more. The doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets for the general public are $20 per person, and free for Penn State Altoona students. The festival is presented by Penn State Altoona’s Campus Activities Board and sponsored by CAB and the Student Activities Fee. UPDATE as of 8 p.m. on Friday night: This concert has been cancelled due to impending bad weather being forecast for Sunday. Organizers are exploring the possibility of rescheduling this concert for the fall.
If you are in the Bedford area, eight area bands and artists will donate their talents during the “GymStock” event, which takes place on Saturday night at the Bedford Elks. Proceeds from the event will benefit Jim Simmons and Summit Quest Gym. The music starts at 6 p.m., and performing will be Fully Loaded, Letters From Tomorrow, Lone River Gypsies, Jackson Monsour & Friends, Previously Apparent, Hickory Bottom Band, Chad Patterson and Coltt Winter Lepley. Donation at the door is $10 per person, and food and refreshments will be available.
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 4/12:
Conner Gilbert at Family Pizza & Pub, Altoona (starts 8:30 p.m.)
Casey Grey & Tyler Shultz at Holiday Bowl (Strike Zone Bar & Grill), Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Bill Ferrell at UVA Club, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)
Flashpoint at Bavarian Aid Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
Washington Slept Here at Newburg Fire Association Social Hall, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Matt Pletcher at The Dog House, Bellwood (starts 9 p.m.)
Greg Burley at Allegheny Creamery & Crepes, Hollidaysburg (starts 6 p.m.)
Dylan E. Miller at U.S. Hotel, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)
Chris Rattie & the New Rebels and Nate Gates at Hungry Duck, Roaring Spring (starts 8 p.m.)
Second Edition at Woodbury Community Center, Woodbury (starts 8 p.m.)
Derek Heidel at Huntingdon Elks, Huntingdon (starts 6 p.m.)
Phil McCaulley at Jamestown Rod & Gun Club, Portage (starts 9:30 p.m.)
Crossroads at Ebensburg VFW, Ebensburg (starts 8:30 p.m.)
White Shadow at Ebensburg Moose, Ebensburg (starts 8 p.m.)
SATURDAY NIGHT 4/13:
Last Stand at Family Pizza & Pub, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
The Filthy Lowdown, Downshift and The Zero Club at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Lauren & Joe at Holiday Bowl (Strike Zone Bar & Grille), Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
The Silencers at Newburg Fire Association Social Hall, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Felix & the Hurricanes at Heidelberg Country Club, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Cottonmouth at Hookies Fire Company, Tyrone (starts 9 p.m.)
The Evergreens at Argonne Cafe, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)
Lauren & Joe at Blue Knob Clubhouse, Blue Knob Ski Resort (adult Easter egg hunt, starts 8 p.m.)
“Gymstock” at Bedford Elks, Bedford; featuring Fully Loaded, Letters From Tomorrow, Lone River Gypsies, Jackson Monsour & Friends, Previously Apparent, Hickory Bottom Band, Chad Patterson and Coltt Winter Lepley (starts 6 p.m., proceeds benefit Jim Simmons and Summit Quest Gym)
White Shadow at Alum Bank Firehall, Alum Bank (starts 6:30 p.m.)
This Albatross at Huntingdon Elks, Huntingdon (starts 8 p.m.)
Railtowne at Steele’s Tavern, Hopewell (starts 10 p.m.)
Urban Myth at Saxton Sportsmen’s Association, Saxton (starts 9 p.m.)
Krazy Kat Daddies at SOKOLS Club, Lilly (starts 9 p.m.)
Ed N’Born at Northern Cambria VFW, Northern Cambria (starts 9:30 p.m.)
53 South at Sankertown VFW, Sankertown (starts 9:30 p.m.)
Bodacious B at Portage Italian Club, Portage (starts 9 p.m.)
4th Street at American Legion, Philipsburg (starts 9 p.m.)
SUNDAY AFTERNOON 4/14:
“Second Sunday Ukulele Jam” at Greenbean Coffee House, Altoona (starts 2 p.m.)
SUNDAY NIGHT 4/14:
“Ivyside Off the Rails: Music and Art Festival at Railroaders Museum, Altoona; featuring We The Kings and Go Go Gadjet (starts 6 p.m., general admission tickets $20/person) – CANCELLED due to impending bad weather; may be rescheduled for fall
Phil Steele at Family Pizza & Pub, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)
The Band OZ at Newburg Fire Association Social Hall, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)
Felix & the Hurricanes at Black & Gold Tavern, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
TUESDAY 4/16:
“Tuesday Night Therapy” at Bedford Tavern, Bedford (starts 6 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY NIGHT 4/17:
Open Mic Night at Unter Uns, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
THURSDAY NIGHT 4/18:
Open Stage Night at Green Bean Coffee, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)
Steve Summerhill at Jethro’s, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)
Ed N’Born at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
Full Kilt at Molly Maguire’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.