Jason C. Klose

I'm an Arts & Entertainment writer with over a decade of experience in print and online media - covering music, drama, comedy, and visual arts. I am always looking for new and exciting projects.

The Daily Item •

Musicians compete for Rock Gods title in Battle of the Bands

Six local bands are ready to take the stage for Battle of the Bands at Rock God’s Block Party 2026 from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday at Rock God Brewing Company, 459 Rooney Ave., Danville.

A day-long, no-holds-barred, high-energy battle will be waged between No Limitations, Diversifyed, Axe Dungeon, The Just Alright Band, ZZR and Sharkslut. Every attendee gets one vote and can purchase extra votes for $1 - up to 20 votes total. At the end of the evening, only one band will earn the title of Rock God's Rock Gods.
The Daily Item •

Years of friendship add to Cannonfire's fun on stage

Local rock trio Cannonfire returns to the Sunbury Social Club, 352 E. Drive, Sunbury, with their diverse blend of classic rock anthems at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Fronted by a rare singing drummer in Jim Heberling, Cannonfire is rounded out by guitarist and backing vocalist Scott Burger and bassist and backing vocalist Bruce Tuttle.

The classic rock trio is backed by decades of shared musical history. Tuttle and Heberling have been best friends since their high school days, when they cut their teeth in their very first band, Starfire.
The Daily Item •

Fiddle player ready to share songs at Weis Center

Bluegrass/Americana artist Bronwyn is kicking off the Weis Center for the Performing Arts' 2026 season at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, at Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg.

A fiddle player and instrumentalist, Bronwyn is a two-time International Bluegrass Music Association Fiddle Player of the Year as well as a Grammy winner for her work with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway. Her recent solo album, "I Built a World," showcases her evolution from a side musician into a singer-songwriter and bandleader.

A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Bronwyn recalls her early violin lessons as her first musical memory. Her Irish ancestry and family heritage shaped her early career as a musician, as she was exposed to traditional Irish music at a very young age.
The Daily Item •

Audience invited to get lost in the tunes at Listening Room

The Listening Room series, a collaboration between the CommUnity Zone and the Local Music Collective, continues with percussion soloist Urie Kline and the jazz trio Flack, Hickey & Saracoglu, at 7 pm., September 9, at the CommUnity Zone, 328 Market St., Lewisburg.

Launching his new venture as a soloist, Kline is an experienced percussionist who utilizes songs, rhythms, and instruments from around the world. Joining Kline will be the trio of Flack, Hickey & Saracoglu, featuring bassist Bill Flack, songwriter and guitarist Michael Hickey, and Turkish-born percussionist Safa Saracoglu.
The Daily Item •

Peaceful Outlaws plays music to heal themselves, others

The Bloomsburg acoustic duo and national touring act Peaceful Outlaws returns to Mifflinburg at 4 p.m. Sunday, for a performance at the Forest House Hotel, 10410 Buffalo Road, Mifflinburg.

Peaceful Outlaws, also known as Fury and Strock, features Dani Lynn Fury on harmonica and vocals and Richard Strock on guitar and vocals. Performing primarily on the East Coast and in the Southwest, the duo has performed all across the country with its take on rock, country and Americana. For each performance, Fury and Strock bring a dynamic set with their tight harmonies, heartfelt delivery and a style that creates a warm, hometown atmosphere.
The Daily Item •

Country artist, 3 Doors Down member back in Valley for Showin' Out in Shamokin

Country music recording artist and U.S. Air Force veteran Ryan Daniel and special guest Chet Roberts of 3 Doors Down return to the Valley to headline the downtown concert event, Showin' Out in Shamokin 2.0 at 2 p.m. Saturday at 23 East Independence St., Shamokin.

Also appearing on stage at this free event will be 1980s cover band Fast Times at Shermer High and the edgy 1990s-and-up band Broken Fayth. Headliners Daniel and Roberts will take the stage at 8 p.m.

Currently on his "Adrenaline Rush Tour 2026," Daniel has released multiple albums including, "Back For More" and "Y'all Ain't Ready for This," collaborating with Roberts and 3 Doors Down. His latest singles "Already Gone" and "Backroads and Bonfires" are streaming on all major platforms.
The Daily Item •

New faces ready to take the stage at FarmFest

The FarmFest Music Festival returns for its 5th annual two-day event of music, family fun and community on Friday and Saturday, August 7-8 at The Farm in Bloom, 284 W. Fort McClure Blvd., Bloomsburg.

This year's lineup features more than 12 bands performing on two stages, including nationally known party band The Amish Outlaws, along with The Heartstrings, The Rocky Allen Band, The Sylvan Dell Stranglers, Last Call Beautiful, Light Up the Moon, plus many additional artists representing the best in local and regional music.

This year's FarmFest is highlighted by two solo newcomers who are eager to showcase their musical talents - Nashville recording artist and singer-songwriter Jenny Grace and acoustic Indie artist and singer-songwriter Jon Hayes.
The Daily Item •

Rockstar Revolution aims to entertain at fire company

Popular hair metal band Rockstar Revolution will heat up the annual Summer Bash at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at Continental Fire Company #3, 331 Meadow Lane, Danville.

The band's current lineup is comprised of Chris Adams (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Ronnie DeFrain (lead guitar and backing vocals), Gary Kessock (lead guitar and backing vocals), Rick Alexander (bass and backing vocals), and Bruce Harris (drums, lead and backing vocals).

Rockstar Revolution's major musical influences include Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, Rush, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Poison and Kiss.

"Since our ages range from 37-60, all of us grew up listening to and/or playing the '80s genre of music," Adams said. "For me personally, my first memory was seeing videos on MTV and VH1 from Aerosmith, Def Leppard, INXS, Bon Jovi and Poison."
StateCollege.com •

A Partnership That Benefits Students, Businesses, and the Community

Penn State Smeal and the Downtown State College Improvement District partner to provide hands-on learning for students and new opportunities for local businesses

The Penn State Smeal College of Business and the Downtown State College Improvement District (DSCID) have launched a six-week pilot partnership that serves as a replicable model for how universities and communities can collaborate to strengthen student learning while directly supporting local economic vitality.
The Daily Item •

River Valley Film Festival returns with opportunities to celebrate, engage with filmmaking

Presented by Lycoming Arts, the 2nd Annual River Valley Film Festival returns to downtown Williamsport from Friday to Sunday at Williamsport AMC Classic 11, 300 W. Fourth St.

Now in its second year, the River Valley Film Festival looks to build on the success of the inaugural event, which brought international independent films, engaged audiences and a strong sense of community to Williamsport.

The River Valley Film Festival was inspired by director and founder Cory Baney's love for the independent film community that he worked with in Los Angeles. When he moved to L.A. in 2014, the plan was always to find something to bring back to the local community, as Baney loves his hometown of Williamsport.

"It was in August 2019, while visiting home, that I was talking with family about the festivals and films I was working with in L.A. and how much I really loved the communities they build," he recalled. "Then it struck me - I should bring that community to Williamsport. Thus, the River Valley Film Festival was born."
The Daily Item •

Allison and John Acoustic set for Covered Bridge Brewhaus debut

Allison and John Acoustic is ready to have fun with audiences at 8 p.m. Friday, July 10, at its Covered Bridge Brewhaus debut, 506 N. 8th St., Shamokin.

Allison and John Acoustic are a duo consisting of Harrisburg vocalist Allison Bordlemay on vocals and Shamokin native and veteran musician John Derk on guitar, piano and vocals.

Bordlemay and Derk formed the act about a year ago while playing in a band in the Harrisburg area. A few of the area venues they performed at approached them to see if they'd be interested in coming back as a duo.
The Daily Item •

Merely Players ready to entertain at Whispering Oaks

Local acoustic duo Merely Players will perform Thursday, July 2 at 6:30 p.m., at Whispering Oaks Vineyard, 1306 State Route 61, Sunbury.

Featuring Jake Schmoyer on acoustic guitar/keys and Mackenzie Laudenslager on lead vocals, Merely Players plays Top 40 hits from past to present.

Schmoyer and Laudenslager knew each other from playing in rock bands and knew they would work well together on an acoustic project.

"The name comes from the Shakespeare quote, 'All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players,'" Laudenslager said. "We liked it because the idea of our duo is merely to play enjoyable music for people."
StateCollege.com •

Keeping the Oompah Alive: State College Little German Band Marks More Than 60 Years of Music, Tradition and Community

The State College Little German Band, the oldest continually performing community band in Centre County, is composed of a wide variety 35 local musicians, music educators and retirees playing a wide variety of Bavarian-style music, including marches, waltzes and polkas. Dressed in traditional Bavarian attire, the band incorporates such instruments as the bass horn (tuba), trombone, clarinet, trumpet and drums. Aside...
StateCollege.com •

Barash Award for Human Service Recipients Making a Difference in Centre County

The 2025 and 2026 honorees reflect a longstanding tradition of volunteerism, civic engagement, and public service.

By Jason C. Klose

Created in 1975 by the family of the late Sy Barash, a beloved State College businessman and philanthropist in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the Barash Award for Human Service honors a full-time member of the faculty, staff or student body on the Penn State University Park campus who, apart from their regular responsibilities, has contributed the most to public service...
The Daily Item •

Creative writing class spurs Milton High School student to publish novel

Given a creative writing assignment meant to build his craft and writing self-discipline, one Milton Area High School student decided to push himself further.

Skyler Guffey completed the course's novel project and decided to move forward and independently publish his book. Guffey's novel, "The Kings Gauntlet," was published on Amazon last month.

Guffey said he has always been interested in writing ever since he was a little kid, and his cousins were early proponents in his life for writing.
The Daily Item •

Axe & Fiddle to bring its signature sound to Rusty Rail

Local duo Axe & Fiddle returns to the stage at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 22 at Rusty Rail Brewing Company, 5 N. 8th St. Mifflinburg.

Axe & Fiddle is an acoustic duo featuring Jason Yoder on guitar/vocals and Caleb Minium on fiddle. Their sets include Yoder's originals songs along with covers of classic rock, folk, blues and Americana by artists like Muddy Waters, Chris Stapleton, Tom Petty, The Cranberries, Led Zeppelin, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, Zach Bryan, Bob Dylan and many more.

Yoder and Minium attended high school together and played together some during that time. But after about 20 years, they decided to jam after reconnecting one night with a group of good friends.
The Daily Item •

Sweeney, Hickey ready for Blues, Brews & BBQ Week show

The duo John Sweeney & Mike Hickey will return to the stage at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16 for the Blues, Brews & BBQ Week at Old Forge Brewing Company, 532 Mill St., Danville.

A singer, harmonica and guitar player from Bloomsburg, John Sweeney specializes in blues and performs a wide variety of styles, including roots rock, Americana, folk and jazz. Sweeney mixes old and new sounds to bring authentic and soulful interpretations to the tunes he brings. In addition to Sweeney & Hickey, Sweeney plays with Scott Douglas in the duo Sweeney & Douglas, and with the Hellbenders, a blues-based rock group which includes Kevin Ball, Todd Egger and Todd Preston.

Also from Bloomsburg, Mike Hickey is an electric and acoustic guitarist and singer who plays many styles and currently performs with Sweeney & Hickey, Blue River Soul featuring Karen Meeks, and with bassist Bill Flack and percussionist Safa Saracoglu in the trio Flack, Hickey and Saracoglu.
The Daily Item •

Acoustic band Junction Road ready to rock

Junction Road, a four-piece acoustic band from Winfield, returns to the Historic Meiserville Inn, 3679 PA-104, Mount Pleasant Mills, at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Comprised of Terry Heim (drums/guitar), Tim Payne (lead guitar/harmonica/vocals), Lynn Bowersox (bass guitar) and Neil Klinger (rhythm guitar/drums/vocals), Junction Road are four guys who are all on the same page with what they do and play music because they love it.
Load More