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Celebrating the Spud, Cassville Oktoberfest This Weekend!

Here is a listing of Altoona area live music happenings for the weekend and week of Friday, September 27 through Thursday, September October 3.

Now that the calendar has gearshifted into the fall season, fall festivals will provide some live music highlights for the next few weeks before temperatures turn colder.

Of course, one of the biggest early fall festivals is Ebensburg’s annual celebration of the spud, Potatofest, which takes place Saturday throughout the central downtown area. Potato-based edibles will provide an obvious highlight, as well as numerous craft and other vendors, children’s activities, wine-tasting at Dauntless Fire Company, and live music on four stages. See the listing below for Potatofest’s musical itinerary. Admission is free, and shuttle bus service is available from five locations throughout Ebensburg.

Meanwhile in Huntingdon County, Cassville’s annual Oktoberfest celebration happens from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. The celebration will include food and craft vendors, children’s activities and live music on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s music includes local country favorites Chris Woodward & Shindiggin’ at 1 p.m., and – coming home from his current base of Nashville – Huntingdon County native, singer and songwriter Doug Forshey, teaming with local folk/bluegrass performers The Crooked Line starting at 5 p.m. Sunday’s music will be provided by The Fabulous Flashbacks starting at 1:30 p.m. Admission to Cassville Oktoberfest is free.

Also on Sunday, one of the area’s longest-running bands – Second Edition – marks their 50th anniversary milestone. Herm Arnold and Barry Aungst started the Williamsburg-based group in May, 1969; initially calling the group Black Mountain Express before changing the name to Second Edition in 1970. Second Edition recorded and issued two 45 rpm records and a full-length record album during their first two years. The group has continued to play rock and roll ever since, with various musicians coming and going through the years. The current line-up – Herm on vocals, guitar and keys, Lonnie Aungst on guitar and vocals, Randy Lang on drums and Big Jim on bass – will mark half a century of Second Edition beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Williamsburg Community Center. Admission charge will be a covered dish, snack or soft drink contribution.

For ukulele fans, a unique performer will be passing through the area and sharing his skills and music on Wednesday evening. “Alaska’s Ukulele Wild Man,” Ukulele Russ, will bring his One Man Frontier Band to the Hollidaysburg Area Public Library for a workshop and concert starting at 6:30 p.m. Russ will conduct a workshop on the skill of palm muting, before performing a concert afterward. His repertoire spans rock’n’roll, funk, bluegrass and hip-hop. Admission to the event is $20 per person for both the workshop and concert, or $10 for just the concert. The event is presented by the Allegheny Ukulele Kollective.

While the Hurricanes are away, the music will still play…For fans of Felix & the Hurricanes’ weekly Sunday night performance at the Black & Gold Tavern, the group is on the road in North Carolina this weekend, so the Hurricanes’ regular Sunday bass player, Pat McGinnis, plus associates Chuck Knepper and Randy Servello, will provide the music this Sunday night starting at 9 p.m.

And after a hiatus, a weekly open mic returns to action this Tuesday, as Open Mic Night reconvenes at D’Ottavio’s Gran Sasso in Hollidaysburg. The Backyard Rockers’ lead singer and guitarist, Rich Dasch, will again host the open mic in the newly-renovated venue starting at 8 p.m. The event is open to all musicians, from beginners to accomplished performers. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

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 9/27:

Brother Jack’s Lost Cause at Railroad City Brewing Company, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)

Wilted, Ghost Music and Tom Nevers Field at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

Jampact at Bavarian Aid Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

Night Train at Newburg Fire Association Social Hall, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

Jack Squat at Bullpen Lounge, Tyrone (starts 9 p.m.)

Fully Loaded at Bedford Speedway, Bedford (outside Jordan Hall, starts 10 p.m.)

Partners in Crime at Bloody Run Social Club (Redman), Everett (starts 8 p.m.)

Second Edition at Huntingdon American Legion, Huntingdon (starts 8 p.m.)

Pink Cigarette and Kevo Can’t Dance at RiverBilly’s, Huntingdon (starts 9 p.m.)

Ron “Music Man” Balestino at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 6:30 p.m.)

The Piranha Brothers at Patton American Legion, Patton (starts 8:30 p.m.)

Bill Ferrell at Hagen’s Irish Pub, Chest Springs (starts 9 p.m.)

Reboot at Philipsburg American Legion, Philipsburg (starts 9 p.m.)

SATURDAY 9/28:

Potatofest, downtown Ebensburg (free admission):

– Main Tent: 10 a.m. – The Evergreens, 12:30 p.m. – Miss Melanie & the Double Somethings, 3 p.m. – Metro

– Penn Eben Park: 10:30 a.m. – Tree the Band, 12:30 p.m. – Full Kilt, 3 p.m. – Zero Club

– Memorial Park Tent: 1 p.m. – Walt & Jackie

– South Center Street Tent: 11 a.m. – Ken & Den, 1 p.m. – Sam & Joe, 3 p.m. – Bruce Schettig

Cassville Oktoberfest, Cassville; featuring Chris Woodward & Shindiggin’ (1 p.m.) and Doug Forshey with The Crooked Line (5 p.m.) (free admission)

Jackson Monsour at Olde Bedford Beer Festival, Legion Home, Everett (starts 1 p.m.)

SATURDAY NIGHT 9/28:

Ed N’Born at Trianon Bar & Grille, Altoona (starts 10 p.m.)

4th Street at Bavarian Aid Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

Back in the Day at Newburg Fire Association Social Hall, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

Cottonmouth at Hookies Firemans Club, Tyrone (starts 8 p.m.)

Greg Burley at U.S. Hotel, Hollidaysburg (starts 7 p.m.)

Matt Wagner at Olde Bedford Brewing Co., Bedford (starts 6 p.m.)

R2B2 at Huntingdon Elks, Huntingdon (starts 7 p.m.)

Urban Myth at Steele’s Tavern, Hopewell (starts 10 p.m.)

2nd Street at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 6:30 p.m.)

Hotwax at Tre Regazzi, Cresson (starts 9 p.m.)

Rokkandy at Patton VFW, Patton (starts 10 p.m.)

Acoustic Stew at Castle Pub, Ebensburg (starts 10 p.m.)

KB & the Crew at Dunlo Slovak Club, Dunlo (starts 9 p.m.)

Zero Tolerance at Osceola Hotel, Osceola Mills (starts 9:30 p.m.)

SUNDAY 9/29:

Second Edition at Williamsburg Community Center, Williamsburg (50th anniversary/reunion show, starts 1 p.m., admission is covered dish, snacks or soft drinks)

Cassville Oktoberfest, Cassville; featuring The Fabulous Flashbacks (starts 1:30 p.m., free admission)

Kenny Jubas at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 2 p.m.)

SUNDAY NIGHT 9/29:

Lauren & Joe at Family Pizza & Pub, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)

White Shadow at Altoona Grand Hotel, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)

Pat McGinnis & Friends at Black & Gold Tavern, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

TUESDAY NIGHT 10/1:

Open Mic with Rich Dasch at D’Ottavio’s Gran Sasso, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 10/2:

Ukulele Russ and His One Man Frontier Band (workshop/concert) at Hollidaysburg Area Public Library Hollidaysburg (starts 6:30 p.m.; admission is $20/workshop and concert, $10/concert)

Open Mic Night at Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

THURSDAY NIGHT 10/3:

Open Stage at Greenbean Coffee House, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)

Open Mic Night at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 6:30 p.m.)

Greg Burley at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

Steve Summerhill at Jethro’s, Altoona (starts 7 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.

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