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Late Summer Festivals, Fairs, Benefits and More!

Here is a listing of Altoona area live music happenings for the weekend and week of Friday, September 6 through Thursday, September 12.

As summer nears its end, numerous outdoor festivals and other events continue to highlight the live music schedule for this weekend and upcoming week.

The annual Cresson Catholic Community Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at the St. Aloysius Church grounds in Cresson, featuring food and craft vendors, prize giveaways, rummage and bake sales, and children’s activities. Both days feature live music; see the listing below for further details. Admission is free.

The Northern Appalachian Folk Festival returns to downtown Indiana on Friday night and Saturday. Food and craft vendors, exhibits and live music will take place, with The Clarks headlining on Saturday. Check the listing below for the festival’s complete live music itinerary.

Getting a jump on the Oktoberfest season is Altoona’s Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society, which presents its annual Oktoberfest celebration on Friday night and Saturday. Special food menus, a VW car show, dancers and live music will take place, with music happening both outside and inside. See the listing below for more details.

The annual Cookport Fair gets under way next week, with live music happening nightly beginning on Monday. Again, see the schedule below to find out who takes the stage each night.

Several highlights occur indoors during the next seven days. The Freedom Fighters Outdoors Benefit will take place Saturday afternoon and evening at Altoona’s Bavarian Aid Society (in the upstairs hall). Proceeds benefit Freedom Fighters Outdoors, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for wounded veterans to take them on hunting and fishing excursions. Live music, giveaways and other activities will be a part of the benefit, which starts at 3 p.m. Donation at the door is $10 per person.

Also indoors, McGarveys raises musical “hell” on Saturday night, pairing two popular devilishly entertaining bands: Michigan’s fire-and-brimstone roots punk wildmen the Goddamn Gallows, and New York City’s dark-themed third wave ska pioneers Mephiskapheles. Both provide fun and action-packed performances. Local punk rockers The Flannels will open the show, which starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $15 at the door.

After relocating for a summer residency at McGarvey’s, Open Stage night returns to Altoona’s Greenbean Coffee House on Thursday evening. Entertainers are welcomed to sign up and perform three-song sets before a receptive audience, while enjoying the venue’s tasty assortment of coffees. Admission is free, and all ages are welcome.

And the third time will hopefully be the charm for local variety rock and pop foursome Rokkandy this Sunday evening at Valley View Park Amphitheater. The group’s originally-scheduled show date and subsequent make-up rain date at the venue were both scuttled by stormy weather; but the weather forecast looks very favorable for the group’s third try this Sunday evening. Music begins at 6 p.m.; admission is free, and those attending are welcome to bring folding chairs and/or blankets as Rokkandy performs their mix of rock, pop and dance hit songs. Admission is free.

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 9/6:

Northern Appalachian Folk Festival, downtown Indiana; featuring Coastal Remedy (5:45 p.m.), Jason Gamble (7 p.m.) and Brownie Mary (8:30 p.m.) (free admission)

This Albatross at Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society, Altoona (Oktoberfest celebration, outside, starts 7 p.m.) (open to the public)

Flashpoint at Bavarian Aid Society, Altoona (starts 8:30 p.m.)

4th Street at Newburg Fire Association Social Hall, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

Stormy at U.S. Hotel, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)

Brian Harshberger at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 6:30 p.m.)

Felix & the Hurricanes at Lilly American Legion, Lilly (starts 8 p.m.)

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

SATURDAY 9/7:

2nd Annual “Brew-Grass Festival” at Blue Knob Clubhouse, Blue Knob All Seasons Resort; featuring Mountain City Grass (starts 1 p.m.)

Oktoberfest at Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society, Altoona; featuring Kelly Hylton (Elvis tribute, outside, 3 p.m.), Autobahn (outside, 6 p.m.) and Shallow 9 (inside, 9 p.m.) (open to the public)

Cresson Catholic Community Festival at St. Aloysius Church Grounds, Cresson; featuring Felix & the Hurricanes (1 p.m.) and Strings Radio (5 p.m.) free admission)

Freedom Fighters Outdoors Benefit at Bavarian Aid Society (upstairs), Altoona; featuring 53 South (3:30 p.m.), Steve Todaro (5 p.m.), Reboot (6:30 p.m.), Quarterstick (8 p.m.) and This Albatross (9:30 p.m.) (starts 3 p.m., $10 donation)

Northern Appalachian Folk Festival, downtown Indiana; featuring The Evergreens (1:15 p.m.), Abafasi Wimmins African Drumming Ensemble (2:30 p.m.), Mike Stout (3:45 p.m.), Grist for the Mill (5 p.m.), Jim Donovan & the Sun King Warriors (6:15 p.m.), The Jukehouse Bombers (7:30 p.m.) and The Clarks (8:45 p.m.) (free admission)

SATURDAY NIGHT 9/7:

Goddamn Gallows, Mephiskapheles and The Flannels at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

Shallow 9 at Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society, Altoona (Oktoberfest celebration, inside, starts 9 p.m.) (open to the public)

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

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

Wilted at Argonne Cafe, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)

Jae Smith at Olde Bedford Brewing Co., Bedford (starts 6 p.m.)

Phil McCaulley at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 6:30 p.m.)

Low Voltage at Barnesboro VFW, Northern Cambria (starts 9 p.m., open to the public)

Talisman at Mosscreek Bar & Grill, Northern Cambria (starts 9:30 p.m.)

Ed N’Born at Sunshine Mine Inn, Coalport (starts 9 p.m.)

Krazy Kat Daddies at Beaverdale American Legion, Beaverdale (starts 9 p.m.)

SUNDAY 9/8:

Cresson Catholic Community Festival at St. Aloysius Church Grounds, Cresson; featuring Rosie & the Jammers (2 p.m.) free admission)

SUNDAY NIGHT 9/8:

Rokkandy at Valley View Amphitheater, Altoona (starts 5 p.m.)

The Band OZ at Newburg Fire Association Social Hall, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)

White Shadow at Patton VFW, Patton (starts 7 p.m.)

Felix & the Hurricanes at Black & Gold Tavern, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

MONDAY NIGHT 9/9:

Scott Shelby at Cookport Fair, Cookport (Midway Stage, starts 7:30 p.m.)

TUESDAY NIGHT 9/10:

Cookport Fair, Cookport; featuring Clay Bowser (Midway Stage) and Belairs (Main Stage) (both start 7:30 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 9/11:

Cookport Fair, Cookport; featuring Mark Garrick (Midway Stage) and Keystone State Quartet (Main Stage) (both start 7:30 p.m.)

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

THURSDAY 9/12:

Cookport Fair, Cookport; featuring Simple Pleasures (Main Stage, 2 p.m.), Paul Stephenson (Main Stage, 3 p.m.) and Kelly Hylton (Elvis tribute) (Midway Stage, 8 p.m.)

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

THURSDAY NIGHT 9/12:

Cookport Fair, Cookport; featuring Clay Bowser (Midway Stage) and Belairs (Main Stage) (both start 7:30 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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