Billy Strings Extends Headline Tour Through December Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Billy Strings will continue his extensive headline tour through the end of the year including a newly confirmed show at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA on Friday, November 19th at 8:30pm. Tickets for the Wilkes-Barre show go on-sale this Friday, July 16th at 10:00am at Ticketmaster.com and in person at the NBT Bank Box Office at Mohegan Sun Arena. Full details can be found at billystrings.com/tour. The new dates add to a landmark year for Strings, who was recently named Breakthrough Artist of the Pandemic at the 2021 Pollstar Awards after continuing to perform consistently, both in-person and virtually. Reflecting on his recent shows, Pollstar declares, “The hottest hand in jamgrass mastered pandemic touring…in a fraught year, Strings and those around him parlayed that fervor into the rare pandemic success story, blazing trails in livestreaming, drive-in touring and socially distanced podded shows while remaining true to their core values of authenticity and fan engagement.” Additionally, Relix featured Strings on the cover of their April/May issue praising, “Strings’ exuberance speaks to the boundless, resourceful spirit of his music…beyond his technical mastery, it’s his authenticity that continues to animate his music and, in turn, the fans who are drawn to that music.” Furthering his recent success, Strings taped his PBS “Austin City Limits” debut last week, which will appear as part of the legendary program’s upcoming 47th season, and recently released two new collaborations: “Wargasm” featuring special guest RMR, and a new version of Bill Monroe favorite, “Midnight on the Stormy Deep,” with bluegrass legend Del McCoury, of which Jambands praises, “Their live performance swells with fine mandolin and guitar runs, as the 82-year-old and 28-year-old harmonize their respective high tenor and soulful euphonious voices.” Adding to an already triumphant career, Strings won Best Bluegrass Album at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards forhisacclaimed 2019 record, Home. Released on Rounder Records, Home was produced by Glenn Brown and furthers Strings’ reputation as “one of string music’s most dynamic young stars” (Rolling Stone). Of the album, The Associated Press proclaims, “it is his creative musical storytelling, paired with solid vocals on Home that should seal the deal, pleasing fans of the genre and creating some new ones…the perfect blend of pure talent and pluck,” while The Wall Street Journal praises, “Billy Strings has clearly emerged as a premier guitar flatpicker of this era.” Strings and the album also topped Billboard’s 2020 year-end chart in both Bluegrass categories: Top Bluegrass Artists and Top Bluegrass Albums Michigan-born and now Nashville-based, Strings arrived on the music scene as one of the most compelling new artists with the release of his 2017 debut LP, Turmoil & Tinfoil. Since his debut, Strings has been awarded Guitar Player of the Year and New Artist of the Year at the 2019 International Bluegrass Music Awards, selected as one of Rolling Stone’s 2017 “New Country Artists to Know” and performed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and PBS’ “Bluegrass Underground.” Often playing over 200 shows per year, Strings keeps the improvisational tradition of bluegrass alive while incorporating elements of several diverse genres. WXPN’s World Café declares, “a bona fide phenom…with his virtuosic guitar playing front and center, Strings fuses bluegrass to psych rock, country and jam music, without fussing over what bluegrass should be.
NET Credit Union Sponsors Local Event NET Credit Union is the event sponsor for The Lackawanna Historical Society’s “Afternoon Tea” event on July 31st. The Lackawanna Historical Society will host the event on the Caitlin House’s front porch with Fiddlesticks Tea Company, a tea company located in Odessa, NY. Founded in 1886, The Lackawanna Historical Society provides the community with local history through its museums, libraries, exhibits and programs. The Lackawanna Historical Society is located in the Caitlin House, which is the former residence of early Scranton financier and his wife, George H. and Helen Caitlin. The Caitlin House is one of Scranton’s architectural treasures. To learn more about the “Afternoon Tea” event and The Lackawanna Historical Society, please contact 570-344-3841, email lackawannahistory@gmail.com or visit http://www.lackawannahistory.org/
Mohegan Sun Pocono Gets Ready to Celebrate Hot Summer Fun 2021 Mohegan Sun Pocono (MSP) is gearing up for the most thrilling time of year with Hot Summer Fun promotions and activities. From July 1st through August 31st, MSP guests can take part in exciting giveaways and drawings as well as double up on Status Points every Monday, catch incredible tribute bands every Thursday, win up to $10,000 every Friday and more. Beginning July 1st, Mohegan Sun Pocono will feature the $250,000 Blackbeard’s Bounty Giveaway where Momentum members can take part in a gaming promotion akin to a popular fast food restaurant’s Monopoly game. Throughout the month, Momentum members will receive game piece stickers each day they earn at least two Status Points to complete their Blackbeard’s Bounty Treasure Map. The first Momentum member to complete their full Blackbeard’s Bounty Treasure Map wins $25,000! Stickers can be printed at the two Blackbeard’s Bounty Kiosks located next to the Promotions booth and on July 31st, join Mohegan Sun Pocono for the second chance, Walk the Plank giveaway, for your chance to win $10,000 cash! July 1st – August 31st: Every Monday brings the opportunity for Double Status Points at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Momentum members just need to play their favorite poker game, slot machine or table game and their Status Points will double for that day! Join us Monday, July 5th for a Double-Double, where Momentum members will earn 2X Status Points and Momentum dollars by playing their favorite game. On Tuesdays, Momentum members can bring a friend to sign up for Momentum, and both friends will receive $10.00 in Free Slot Play. A free Hot Summer Fun 2021 t-shirt giveaway will also be taking place every Wednesday in July and August. The first 500 Momentum members to earn at least one Status Point will be eligible to receive the t-shirt, which will be a different color each week. Visit each week to collect all eight! Thursdays during Hot Summer Fun are certain to be a crowd pleaser. The always exhilarating Party on the Patio takes place every Thursday night through early September, featuring incredible tribute bands playing outside at the racetrack apron on the Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. As a bonus, guests who wear their HOT SUMMER FUN 2021 t-shirt on Thursdays will receive $20.00 in Free Slot Play! Guests who are wearing any Mohegan Sun Pocono HOT SUMMER FUN tee will also receive $10.00. Thursdays (and Fridays) will also allow Momentum members playing Blackjack from 2:00pm -10:00pm to gain entry into the weekly $5,000 Suit Yourself drawing set to take place on Saturday’s in July. Fridays during July & August will also feature a Spin it to Win it Giveaway, where Momentum members on-property will be randomly selected to try their hand at spinning and winning major prizes, with a top prize of $10,000 in cash! Saturdays will offer Momentum members one final day to gain entry into the Suit Yourself Sweepstakes by playing Blackjack from 2:00-10:00pm. At 10:30pm on Saturdays, a drawing will take place that will leave one lucky guest walking away with $5,000 in cash. (If this prize is not claimed, it rolls over to the following week). *The Suit Yourself Giveaway only takes place in the month of July Rounding out the week-long Hot Summer Fun 2021 promotions is the Play & Eat promo, where guests who earn four Status Points can print a $15.00 dining voucher at any Promotional Kiosk. Throughout August at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Momentum members can also take part in the $250,000 Surfing for Cash Giveaway. This gaming promotion allows guests who earn five Status Points to print a voucher at any Promotional Kiosk and register at the Promotions booth for a chance at taking home the top prize of $250,000 in cash. Mohegan Sun Pocono’s Momentum rewards program is free-to-sign-up on-site at Mohegan Sun Pocono’s Player’s Club booth. Momentum is a 21+ program, and allows guests to quickly elevate their status, which comes with added rewards. More information is available at mohegansunpocono.com/momentum
Scranton Cultural Center to Host Second Free Outdoor Summer Concert The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple will host its second free outdoor summer concert with Erin Malloy & Friends on July 9. Erin Malloy will be joined by Jim Waltich (piano), Tommy Hamilton (saxophone), Doug Smith (bass), Mark Montella (drums) and Denise LaBamba (percussion). The show will take place outside the Scranton Cultural Center at 420 N. Washington Avenue. “We had a great turnout for our first show with Young Lion, and we are looking forward to featuring Erin Malloy,” said Deborah Moran Peterson, SCC Executive Director. “We have enjoyed being able to connect with our audiences virtually through the past year, but we are so grateful to be able to welcome back our community with this free concert series.” All current CDC Guidelines will be followed at each performance with any updates being shared via social media. All performances will run from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM; a cash bar with light fare will open at 6:00 PM prior to each show. Additional performers in the series include The Mule Team (August 13) and Blind Choice (September 10). To learn more about the Scranton Cultural Center and its upcoming events, visit SCCMT.org. The free outdoor summer concert series is sponsored by LT Verrastro, Truly Hard Seltzer, UGI Utilities Inc. and Fidelity Bank. It is supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.
Andrew Mazza Diesel Jam 2021 to be Held at the Circle Drive-In The Andrew Mazza Diesel Jam 2021 will take place on Saturday, July 10, 2021, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Circle Drive-in located on the Scranton-Carbondale Highway in Scranton, PA. Diesel Jam supports The Andrew Mazza Foundation, the Diesel Truck Technology Program at Johnson College, & scholarships for Johnson College & high school students. Diesel Jam is a celebration of the truck community, featuring a diesel, gas, & antique truck show, mobile dyno runs, industry vendors, apparel vendors, food vendors, live entertainment & more. It is an all-day (rain or shine) family-friendly event. All trucks are invited to participate & prizes will be awarded for Best in Show, Best Big Rig, Best Tow, Best Pick Up, and Best Antique & Diesel Jam People’s Choice. Additionally, cash prizes for the mobile dyno are $1,000 for Highest Overall Horsepower and Guess Your Horsepower prizes for 1st Place – $800, 2nd Place – $500, 3rd Place – $200, 4th and 5th Place – $100 each. Early registration is no longer available. Day of event registration & truck check-in will begin at 8 a.m. on July 10th, registration will be limited & the fee is $35 per registration. An additional $100 fee is required to register for the mobile dyno. The Andrew Mazza Foundation started in 2016, supports & enriches the community through Andrew’s passions & hobbies. Proceeds raised from Diesel Jam will enhance & expand the Diesel Truck Technology Program at Johnson, provide both high school & Johnson College students with scholarships, & serve the community in which Andrew called home. Proceeds also aid The Andrew Mazza Foundation in hosting their annual Truck-or-Treat community Halloween event in Clifford for children & families in various local school districts. The Diesel Truck Technology program at Johnson College prepares students as entry-level technicians with the latest information on diagnosis, repair procedures, preventative maintenance, & necessary safety applications in diesel technology. The program graduates more than 20 students each year who have an immediate impact on the diesel truck industry, especially in northeast Pennsylvania. To learn more about Johnson College’s Diesel Truck Technology program visit Johnson.edu, call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, or email enroll@johnson.edu. For more information, including how to become an event sponsor or vendor, please contact Dawn Ziegler at (570) 313-0369, Andrewmazzafoundation@gmail.com, or visit andrewmazzafoundation.com/diesel-jam.
