Chasing the music in 2014 has been quite an adventure. Some shows are boldly etched in the frozen glacier that is my mind, while others fade in and out like a warm summer breeze. During the Polar Votex’s last year, several venues provided us comfortable, warm places to listen. The Macungie Institute home of Listen Live Music, a very cool space, was built in an era when auditoriums were made for acoustics and the LLM folks use it to it’s potential with both open mics and concerts. Check out their schedule at www.listenlivemusic.org. We got to several shows at Boyertown’s Historic State Theater. Again, an old building with great acoustics and bands appear to really enjoy playing there. Go to www.statetheaterboyertown.com and help Kevin and the crew get the word out. Around the corner and down the street The Other Farm Brewing Company hosts many shows throughout the week. I got to be there for the Jazz and Blues Jam on a Wednesday night. The number of talented folks that showed up for this was amazing and so was the music. www.theotherfarmbrewingcompany.com usually has their latest info posted. If you want to have some food with your music or visa – versa, we went to some places that can make that dream come true. One of the new places that comes to mind is Divots over in the Green Hills area. They just started hosting live music again in this incarnation of the establishment and the food is killer. The Sandtrap also changed names this year to The Creekside Sports Bar & Grill they moved the stage but the kept the menu. Score. Bowl Grill rocks some good grub and music and if you can stay awake till the music starts Blind Hartman’s Tavern does too. Even though we didn’t get to eat there, Ron’s Crooked Hill deserves mention because even stuffed as we were when we got there the food going by made us went to eat again. If you’re just looking for good food with a rock n roll atmosphere CD’s Place in Boyertown is where we go. If you go for one of their special after hours meals on a Thursday or Friday you may be lucky enough to catch owner Chris Dietz in a singing mood and the man can jam.
My personal favorite time of year is when we can take the music outside. The beautiful Hex Hollow Music is one of my favorite places to jam outdoors. Steve Walker’s setup is unique and very welcoming to all who make the journey to Barto. Having had the privilege to help organize not one, but two outdoor events this year, bring the stage at The Oley Fairgrounds and the beautiful outdoor spaces at The Boyertown Park to mind as two more of my favorite places to play and listen outside. We got to visit the picnic grove at The Knights of Columbus in Stowe this year and I think it works nicely as a place to have an outdoor event. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Knoebels and the Bloomsburg Fair, even though they are not local, they do sometimes feature some local talent. Musikfest also fits in that category and the Steel Stacks is one of my favorite big name outdoor venues, but, Musikfest’s heart and soul beats loudest on the Northside of town and if you want to experience local live music at it’s best, that’s the place to go. One of the best surprises we got this year was going out to the Evergreen Club (listed as a Fleetwood Address). It’s laid out similar to the Reading Liederkranz and has a HUGE covered pavilion area and stage. It was just a fun place.
There are still a couple of weeks left in 2014 to see what else I can chase down and 2015 is beckoning. I will be out and about and I have a lot of places that we haven’t been to yet. There are also new ones popping up on my radar every week WTIM has blown up into a consistent 900, plus, word article, documenting as many local shows and venues as physically possible. The world of live local music is not only alive and kicking, but, in my opinion, picking up momentum. I am honored to be able to ride this wave with you all. Till the next time Listen Up because listening down is just too hard to do ….