Entering its fifth year, Paint Pittston Pink still offers fresh ideas and new events
PITTSTON — In 2014, Barb Sciandra and Qiana Lehman organized the first-ever Paint Pittston Pink event. Five years later, the event has grown bigger and better than either of those women could have imagined. “It’s kind of amazing,” said Lehman. “I think when we started the idea, we thought it’d be something we could continue […]
Electric City Music Conference set to rock Scranton
By Hartt Lang | [email protected] Clear your schedules, ladies and gentleman, the Electric City Music Conference is in town. The 5th annual Electric City Music Conference is a three-day event with an awards show on Thursday night and live performances and panel discussions taking place at more than 15 venues this weekend in the Electric City. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday with the Steamtown Music Awards at the V Spot in Scranton. A $5 cover gets you into the show. Nominees get in for free. A new award will be presented this year, Steward of the Scene, to Wilkes-Barre’s new all-age music venue, Karl Hall. “The health and success of a local music scene revolves around all-age venues like Karl Hall, without them the scene greatly suffers” said Joe Caviston, one of the organizers of the ECMC. “We’re stoked to be able to honor them. For the complete listing of Steamtown Music Award nominees and winners visit www.electriccitymusicconference.com. What can we expect from the three-day event? “Anyone who attends the Electric City Music Conference should first and foremost expect to see high level live performances,” said Caviston. “We put a ton of time into selecting the bands and crafting the room schedules. It’s important that the rooms work and make sense.” The live performances will take place in a number of venues across Scranton on Friday and Saturday, featuring musicians from all over the country. “We have bands performing from Michigan, Texas, New Jersey, Virginia, New York, Missouri and even Canada,” Caviston said. “There are many signed bands performing and even an act from RCA records which will be the first major label artist to perform at the ECMC.” On top of having a beyond impressive line-up, the ECMC is easy on your wallets as well. “We strive to keep the event affordable,” said Caviston. “It’s only $5 to get into each room or $10 for a Hopper pass to get into every room.” Celebrating the local music community and giving back Five years strong, the Electric City Music Conference doesn’t show any sign of stopping. The event has grown immensely since 2013, now with more tha 150 acts. The conference wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the dedication and determination of Joe Caviston and Ken Norton. “Our wives and family are all part of this team too,” Caviston said. “They help out at all turns and put up with the long hours and insanity that goes along with it.” New to the team this year is Steve Zampano from Paradise Audio, who will be overseeing all of the sound guys and sound systems for the performance rooms. “We also have an amazing crew of door workers, stage managers, sound guys, venue owners and bands that make this entire event happen,” said Caviston. Thanks to widespread community support, the Electric City Music Conference will be able to donate approximately $2,000 to the Four Diamonds Foundation, a program that assists childhood cancer patients that are being treated at the Penn State Children’s Hospital. An undeniable buzz “There’s an energy in the city that weekend that is hard to duplicate,” Caviston said. “This year, the level of national talent that we have attracted is outstanding.” There’s no doubt there’s an undeniable buzz that comes to NEPA when the Electric City Music Conference is in town. “I don’t know if we ever expected it to become something that people looked forward to so much,” said Caviston. “I knew it would be successful because I think that in order to have such a crazy idea succeed, you need to have confidence in your vision.” “We’ve truly become a part of the NEPA music community’s life,” Caviston said. “That means so much to us.” IF YOU GO What: Steamtown Music Awards and Electric City Music Conference When: Thursday, Sept. 13 through Saturday, Sept. 15 Where: Scranton Cover: Most venues have a $5 cover with a $10 Hopper pass. See www.electriccitymusicconference.com for performancetimes, venue locations and additional event information.
‘Mamma Mia’ brings ABBA tunes to Music Box
SWOYERSVILLE — “When I wake up in the morning,” Amanda Alfano said, “the first thing I do is sing.” Until a few weeks ago, it could have been any song. But recently, the 18-year-old vocalist from Scranton has been devoted to the music of ABBA, music she’ll be singing onstage when she portrays Sophie, the […]
Foghat guitarist looks forward to ‘great show’ in Wilkes-Barre
WILKES-BARRE — Foghat might be an English rock band, but lead guitarist Bryan Bassett will be returning to his home state for the band’s performance this week at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. Bassett, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, has been a regular member of the blues rock group since […]
Get set for La Festa Italiana
SCRANTON – Courthouse Square will host more than 80 vendors serving up Italian food and continuous live entertainment as the Electric City annual celebration of all things Italiana returns this weekend. La Festa Italiana will be held Friday through Monday. There is no admission charge. A new this year is the Jersey Pizza Boys – […]
Area teen hosting anti-bulling rap show at Woodlands
PLAINS TWP. — A hip-hop show this week will be taking the genre back to its block party, pro-community roots, thanks to the planning of an area high school student who thinks something needs to be done about bullying. #STOPTHEBULL is an all-ages show, taking place inside Club Evolution at The Woodlands Inn and Resort […]
Romeo Delight bringing Van Halen show to Woodlands
Buddy Blachard was quick to point out on a recent telephone interview that he and his bandmates don’t actually think they are the members of Van Halen. But when Blachard, the lead singer of VH tribute band Romeo Delight, was asked about how fans react to his band, he certainly seemed to be channeling his […]
What the star of ‘BlacKkKlansman’ learned from the real black cop who infiltrated the KKK
LOS ANGELES — “Now, you’re with the L.A. Times?” Ron Stallworth asked, his eyes narrowing on the voice recorder that has been placed in front of him. “What’s the angle on your story?” Over his 32 years in law enforcement, Stallworth says, he developed a suspicion of journalists. Once, he gave a television reporter an […]
Second annual LGBTQ picnic held in Kirby Park
WILKES-BARRE – Wearing a strapless, animal-print dress with a fierce cat-eye liner, Trixy Valentine mingled with guests and took some photos underneath the Martz Pavilion at Kirby Park. Valentine was just one of dozens of attendees who partook in the second annual Wilkes-Barre Pride Picnic on Sunday. Known also as Jacob Kelly, the Berwick resident […]
Pittston Tomato Festival: 35th annual event gets underway Thursday, Aug. 16
PITTSTON — After 34 years, the Pittston Tomato Festival has taken on a life of its own. From its original location on Kennedy Boulevard to its current home in the Upper Tomato Festival Lot on Main Street, the event draws tens of thousands of people each year, and offers entertainment, local vendors — and of […]