UNDERGROUND MICROPHONE
JP Biondo, Host
JP Biondo is a 31-year-old singer/songwriter from Scranton, Pennsylvania and is known mostly for being a member of the experimental bluegrass band “Cabinet”. But Biondos’ latest work, which will be released towards the end of 2018, is a solo album by the name of “Blue Radio”. The album showcases the Americana and Folk styles that he has been honing for the last 15 years.
As one of the primary songwriters of Cabinet, JP spent his time with the band blending writing influences from the classics. The Beatles, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, and Jim Croce; to name a few. But there are hints of more modern influences that also expose themselves through his melodies. Ideas drawn from the likes of Sufjan Stevens, The Shins, and Jack Johnson, also find their way into his music.
His songs explore the personal struggles, emotions, and life lessons that come along with the challenge of being a musician in today’s world. But his willingness to expose his own ups and downs through song gives any listener the chance to relate; musician or not.
In his own words, “I like to think that my tunes provoke the feeling of when you’re having a deep conversation with an old friend over a few beers in your quiet little hometown hole in the wall.”
Biondo has played countless numbers of shows across the U.S. including performances at large scale festivals and historic theaters such as “The Capitol” in Port Chester, N.Y. “The Tower” in Upper Darby, PA and “The Bluebird” in Denver, CO.
Bret Alexander
Bret is a singer/songwriter/producer based in Northeastern Pennsylvania. His career began as a studio engineer in the late ’80s. Here he met the members of what would become the band The Badlees. The Badlees were signed to Polydor/A&M in 1995 with Bret playing the role of principle songwriter/guitarist/multi-instrumentalist. Their self-produced album “River Songs” yielded two hit singles, “Fear of Falling” and “Angeline Is Coming Home” in 1996. He has toured and shared the stage with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, Bob Seger, The Allman Brothers, Edwin McCain, Live, The Gin Blossoms, and countless others. His work has been featured on The Winter Olympic Games, MTV, The Real World, Extra, The VMAs, and various films and TV shows.
Today, he continues to perform solo and with his new band, Gentleman East as well as producing, writing, and performing with several other independent artists. In 2015, Bret was the recipient of The Lifetime Achievement Award from The Electric City Music Conference.
Current projects include contributing music for the film “All in Time” and music supervision for the BMX film “Heroes Of Dirt”. Bret released the collaborative effort, Alexander Leaman’s “Second Story Music” online in July of 2016. An acoustic compilation with songwriter Lex Zaleta called “Two Souls In Flight” was released online in May 2017.
https://www.bretalexanderonline.com/music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8niSnOrGM1g
Dave Brown
Singer/songwriter Dave Brown & The Dishonest Fiddlers are an up and coming Americana/Roots band from Northeast Pennsylvania.
Traditional folk and bluegrass music are obvious influences that have helped to forge a unique, homegrown sound atop a solid musical foundation. Socially conscious songwriting and old-timey sensibilities are certain to open even the most discerning ear.
Dave’s lyrics and delivery are heartfelt and authentic. Behind him lies a top-shelf string band who are a force to be reckoned with.
Bandmembers
Dave Brown (guitar/vocals/harmonica)
David Hampton (lead guitar)
Jami Novak (percussion)
Todd Kopec (fiddle)
Dennis Walrath (upright bass)
http://www.thedishonestfiddlers.com/tour/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDishonestFiddlers/videos/the-tv-store-dave-brown-2016/1050837611691409/
Tori Viccica
West Pittston Native, Tori Viccica entered the Northeast Pennsylvania music scene just a and has maintained a steady schedule of shows She’s 16 years old and is already recognized as a formidable player among her peers. Classic Rock has served as a major influence in her writing You can catch Tori on Facebook and her YouTube channel for current music posts with her and her band.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-jgRDAUyX0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8tmdGo8gKs
Also joining us will be AJ Cimino!
ABOUT UGM:
Underground Microphone is NEPA’s premier LIVE performance series which features our region’s finest talent. Each week we bring you an exclusive up close and personal lineup of poetry, comedy, music and more! Voted 2017’s Best New Event by readers of Electric City, Underground Microphone offers the unique experience that honors the Weekday Warrior! Reward yourself with an evening out downtown or a quick drink and entertainment after work.
Located in the Lower Level, the Raymond Hood Room is transformed into a listening room café where artists and their work are respected and supported. This very special space is named after the architect who designed the Scranton Cultural Center in the 1920s. Hood is widely known for his Art Deco and Neo Gothic design style which is evident throughout the entire building. Nationally recognized works include 30 Rockefeller Plaza, American Radiator Building, Daily News, The Emporis, Tribune Tower and The Ocean Forest Hotel in Myrtle Beach among others.
Doors open at 6:00 PM and entertainment starts at 7:00 PM!
No Cover – Cash Bar for 21+ – Valid ID required
Exceptional Entertainment — Classic Atmosphere
Artists: For anyone interested in performing: there are no rules. We encourage free form prose, poetry, stand up, improv and original music. It’s the perfect space to test out new material or projects. For information on how you can become involved, contact Maria at marias@sccmt.org or (570) 346-7369 x102.
Guests: Please be reminded that since this is a performance space, we do ask that you keep the conversation to a whisper. We recognize that this is a social setting, and there is ample lobby space for interacting and networking.
Sponsored by United Gilsonite Laboratories and LT Verrastro. Supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.
Take a tour of the Scranton Cultural Center housed at the historic Masonic Temple and Scottish Rite Cathedral. Tours meet in the main lobby at 10:00am and take approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Tours are free, however donations to the Scranton Cultural Center are appreciated.
Can’t make the tour this week, try the audio tour via the SCC Tour Skill on your Alexa Device.
UNDERGROUND MICROPHONE
ABOUT UGM:
Underground Microphone is NEPA’s premier LIVE performance series which features our region’s finest talent. Each week we bring you an exclusive up close and personal lineup of poetry, comedy, music and more! Voted 2017’s Best New Event by readers of Electric City, Underground Microphone offers the unique experience that honors the Weekday Warrior! Reward yourself with an evening out downtown or a quick drink and entertainment after work.
Located in the Lower Level, the Raymond Hood Room is transformed into a listening room café where artists and their work are respected and supported. This very special space is named after the architect who designed the Scranton Cultural Center in the 1920s. Hood is widely known for his Art Deco and Neo Gothic design style which is evident throughout the entire building. Nationally recognized works include 30 Rockefeller Plaza, American Radiator Building, Daily News, The Emporis, Tribune Tower and The Ocean Forest Hotel in Myrtle Beach among others.
Doors open at 6:00 PM and entertainment starts at 7:00 PM!
No Cover – Cash Bar for 21+ – Valid ID required
Exceptional Entertainment — Classic Atmosphere
Artists: For anyone interested in performing: there are no rules. We encourage free form prose, poetry, stand up, improv and original music. It’s the perfect space to test out new material or projects. For information on how you can become involved, contact Maria at marias@sccmt.org or (570) 346-7369 x102.
Guests: Please be reminded that since this is a performance space, we do ask that you keep the conversation to a whisper. We recognize that this is a social setting, and there is ample lobby space for interacting and networking.
Sponsored by United Gilsonite Laboratories and LT Verrastro. Supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the Scranton Cultural Center way! Join us in our Grand Ballroom for cold drinks, good food and great fun! We’ll feature music by Old Friends Celtic Band as well as some very special guests from along the parade route!
Admission is free and families are welcome! Food & Drinks available for purchase.
Sponsored by United Gilsonite Laboratories, Kane is Able and LT Verrastro.
UNDERGROUND MICROPHONE
ABOUT UGM:
Underground Microphone is NEPA’s premier LIVE performance series which features our region’s finest talent. Each week we bring you an exclusive up close and personal lineup of poetry, comedy, music and more! Voted 2017’s Best New Event by readers of Electric City, Underground Microphone offers the unique experience that honors the Weekday Warrior! Reward yourself with an evening out downtown or a quick drink and entertainment after work.
Located in the Lower Level, the Raymond Hood Room is transformed into a listening room café where artists and their work are respected and supported. This very special space is named after the architect who designed the Scranton Cultural Center in the 1920s. Hood is widely known for his Art Deco and Neo Gothic design style which is evident throughout the entire building. Nationally recognized works include 30 Rockefeller Plaza, American Radiator Building, Daily News, The Emporis, Tribune Tower and The Ocean Forest Hotel in Myrtle Beach among others.
Doors open at 6:00 PM and entertainment starts at 7:00 PM!
No Cover – Cash Bar for 21+ – Valid ID required
Exceptional Entertainment — Classic Atmosphere
Artists: For anyone interested in performing: there are no rules. We encourage free form prose, poetry, stand up, improv and original music. It’s the perfect space to test out new material or projects. For information on how you can become involved, contact Maria at marias@sccmt.org or (570) 346-7369 x102.
Guests: Please be reminded that since this is a performance space, we do ask that you keep the conversation to a whisper. We recognize that this is a social setting, and there is ample lobby space for interacting and networking.
Sponsored by United Gilsonite Laboratories and LT Verrastro. Supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.
2nd Annual Steamtown String Fling!
Doors at 6:30 PM | Show at 7 PM
Tickets: $25 Advance, $30 Day of Show
Live from its Grand Ballroom, the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple is proud to present the Steamtown String Fling on Friday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m.! The 2nd Annual Steamtown String Fling features cherry picked regional Bluegrass and Folk- Americana players, now back from touring national festivals. Don’t miss this high energy night of acoustic music in the Electric City!
FEATURING
Dave Brown and The Dishonest Fiddlers
WITH
Serene Green
Sara Hulse
Peck and Penn
Nick & Braids
and Alan K. Stout, Emcee!
There will be no sitting still with this star studded lineup of Regional Bluegrass, Folk and Americana players. This night of mandolins, violins, upright bass, banjos and guitars will not disappoint!
The 2nd Annual Steamtown String Fling is sponsored by United Gilsonite Laboratories, UGI and LT Verrastro Inc. Supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts
(Choose the correct show listing ‘with Workshop’ at 10:00am)
$9.00 per person includes the Workshop ($4.00) and Show ($5.00)
(all entrants must have a ticket to the workshop – parents too)
10:00am Workshop Begins / General Admission
11:00am Show Begins / General Admission / Shopland Hall
Participants in the workshop will create a artpiece/craft inspired by that morning’s show that they can take with them to the performance. The workshop is the perfect pairing for a morning of activity and fun.
Wiggles and Giggles Craft Workshop at 10:00 AM
The Times-Tribune Children’s Series PRESENTS
“Chocolate Milk Por Favor”
A Stars Within Reach production
Please select either “Show with 10am Workshop” or “Show Only” When ordering.
Seating is General Admission, First Come, First Served. Floor seating, Chair and Bench Seating Available.
based on the book by Maria Dismondy
Johnny is a big fan of school but that all changes when the new kid, Gabe arrives. Gabe doesn’t speak any English, and that doesn’t stop Johnny from going out of his way to be unkind. What will Johnny do when Gabe starts to make new friends? Will he join in the fun of making a new friend or turn the other way?
Johnny realizes a powerful message in this story where student differences are celebrated. Read to find out how chocolate milk plays a major role in the discovery of the real universal language.
Grades: Pre-K – 4th
Performance: 55 minutes
Curriculum connections: Family Relationships, Anti-Bullying, Literature Based, Values Based, Musical, Language/Communication Skills, Values-Based
Click Here to download the ArtsPower Study Budy Study Guide for this show for the classroom or home learning connection.
UNDERGROUND MICROPHONE
Rich Janov, Host
Rich Janov is deep underground East End music royalty. His folk/blues-hybryd brand of pickin’ licks and singin’ slick poems tickles the soul in all the good spots. Hot tracks soon to be released….
Stephen Faubel
Stephen Faubel is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, music teacher from Hawley and NEPA. His main instruments are piano/keyboards and voice, and also plays guitar, ukulele, bass, etc… Steve plays keys with The Village Idiots, Friends of the Family, The Casper Band, and Petty Theft. His original music ranges from folk, bluegrass, reggae, gospel, jazz and space piano music, weaving honest, soulful lyrics with improvisational explorations. In 2016 he released his first solo album “Serenity”. Steve is excited to return to the studio in 2019 to undertake his next solo original record.
Aaron McCurdy
Aaron McCurdy is a Mountain Top native who first picked up a guitar when he was 8 years old. He has been playing on the NEPA music scene since age 16, when he used to have to convince bar patrons to sponsor him since he was underage. Since then, he has played on PA Live and Mountain Sky Music Festival with Katie Kelly in “The Clamstopmpers”, and also co-wrote their EP “Dwayne” which was released in 2016. Aaron plays lead guitar and sings with “The Wells River Band”, who recently won country act of the year at the 2018 Steamtown Music Awards. Other current projects include the traditional folk duo “Plausible Possums”, and the all-eras cover band “Downside UP”. Aaron is also a solo artist, playing original music on guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, and tin whistle. He can be seen from time to time sitting in with friends he has made over the years, such as “Oldies Rockin ‘ Duo”, “The Charming Beards”, and Rich Janov. By day, Aaron is a mild-mannered social worker, a not-for-moral reasons vegetarian, and a committed Scofflaw with a cooking problem.
Brandon Cook
Brandon Cook is a Wilkes-Barre based singer-songwriter. Self-taught on various instruments he has crafted an original 40 song catalogue that is colorful and inspired. After recording in Austin TX 05’ he found his calling. Nowadays he plays bass and writes with the STMA winning band Zayre Mountain. In the process of finishing their sophomore album he’s still transfixed by music and is always honing his song’s and Solo act so his musical visions can be enjoyed by as many ear holes as possible.
Gabby Borges
Awkwardly strumming an Epiphone guitar that was much too big for her body, ten-year-old Gabby Borges began writing music in the small town of Hawley, PA. At that time, she wrote about the essentials: her friends and the unrequited love that every middle-schooler experiences. As she grew older her writing ability grew as well. High school years brought confusion with life, and with that came dozens of folk-punk tunes that helped her endure. She was inspired by artists such as Bob Dylan, Kimya Dawson, Amy Winehouse, and the Front Bottoms. Although the lyrics came pouring out of her, she never felt the overwhelming need to share them. Then came the end of high school, where every graduate was expected to know what they want to do with their lives. Gabby new what she wanted to do: music. She gathered her life experiences and wrote her most honest originals and recorded her first album “Linoleum Complex” and released it in April of 2017. She has also just released her Sophomore effort “If My Eyes Could Talk”. She has played locally in Scranton, Philly and New York City and wants to continue to grow her fan-base.
ABOUT UGM:
Underground Microphone is NEPA’s premier LIVE performance series which features our region’s finest talent. Each week we bring you an exclusive up close and personal lineup of poetry, comedy, music and more! Voted 2017’s Best New Event by readers of Electric City, Underground Microphone offers the unique experience that honors the Weekday Warrior! Reward yourself with an evening out downtown or a quick drink and entertainment after work.
Located in the Lower Level, the Raymond Hood Room is transformed into a listening room café where artists and their work are respected and supported. This very special space is named after the architect who designed the Scranton Cultural Center in the 1920s. Hood is widely known for his Art Deco and Neo Gothic design style which is evident throughout the entire building. Nationally recognized works include 30 Rockefeller Plaza, American Radiator Building, Daily News, The Emporis, Tribune Tower and The Ocean Forest Hotel in Myrtle Beach among others.
Doors open at 6:00 PM and entertainment starts at 7:00 PM!
No Cover – Cash Bar for 21+ – Valid ID required
Exceptional Entertainment — Classic Atmosphere
Artists: For anyone interested in performing: there are no rules. We encourage free form prose, poetry, stand up, improv and original music. It’s the perfect space to test out new material or projects. For information on how you can become involved, contact Maria at marias@sccmt.org or (570) 346-7369 x102.
Guests: Please be reminded that since this is a performance space, we do ask that you keep the conversation to a whisper. We recognize that this is a social setting, and there is ample lobby space for interacting and networking.
Sponsored by United Gilsonite Laboratories and LT Verrastro. Supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.
Take a tour of the Scranton Cultural Center housed at the historic Masonic Temple and Scottish Rite Cathedral. Tours meet in the main lobby at 10:00am and take approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Tours are free, however donations to the Scranton Cultural Center are appreciated.
Can’t make the tour this week, try the audio tour via the SCC Tour Skill on your Alexa Device.