Exciting news! This newsletter is a guest post by local writer Andrea Murrell. We hope you enjoy it!
Credit: Gorinto Productions/Helen Valásquez Photography
Alas, the holiday season is well behind us. Most New Year’s resolutions have likely lost their shine, it’s cold and colorless outside, and the first day of spring still feels at least a light year away. After 20 years of living in Happy Valley, I’ve learned to lean on an assortment of ways to melt the winter gloom, but listening to live music might be the only remedy that has never failed me.
While outdoor concerts in the warm summer air are hard to beat, winter shows offer opportunities to warm up your heart and soul during a quieter and more reflective time. Similar to spending time outside, live music has even been shown to improve one’s mood and contribute to one’s sense of community more than recorded music does.
I consider myself lucky to have seen so many of my favorite artists right here in Centre County. The Bryce Jordan Center, with its impressive capacity of over 15,000, brought Weezer right to my doorstep when I was a college student, and more recently delivered legends like Paul McCartney and rapidly rising stars such as Billy Strings. Acoustic shows have been heavenly at the State Theatre where you can see and hear almost every detail of a concert among no more than 600 fans, and no more than a few dozen in The Attic, their smaller upstairs space. I still thank my friend Erin for suggesting we see Brandi Carlile here in 2010 who I had yet to hear of. Just a few rows from the stage, it only took a few minutes before I was completely awestruck by Carlile’s voice as she sang what have become some of my favorite songs of all time.
Many of my most memorable live music experiences, however, have unfolded in local restaurants, pubs and community spaces that collectively host shows for all moods and musical tastes most days of the week. Finding the right fit involves scanning the community calendars, checking artists’socials and websites, and relying on texts from friends who might see something I’ve missed. Earlier performances are better for my schedule and I also appreciate venues where I can truly hear the music without too much competing noise. One factor I haven’t paid much attention to until recently is whether or not there is a cost for tickets or a cover charge. After a conversation with a musician and friend, though, I understand how this detail might impact which songs you hear during a show and even the overall energy of the crowd. For example, since ticketed events are attended by people intentionally there to hear their music, performers might play more of their original music throughout a set. Non-ticketed performances also have their benefits, of course, offering unexpected opportunities to see an artist for the first time or sing along to your favorite feel-good songs while enjoying a bite to eat or drink.
Whether it’s a large or small venue, ticketed or free, there is no wrong way to enjoy live music. Noting that the appetite for a variety of music venues and genres is ever-expanding across Happy Valley, I couldn’t be more excited to see these emerging music-centered spaces for live performances thrive and grow:
Alla Spina at HiWay
Newly opened this summer, Alla Spina at HiWay on W. College Ave. is an aperitivo bar and listening lounge that was conceptualized with guests’ listening experience top of mind. I had the pleasure of being in the audience for a performance by Kate & Jules recently and heard this firsthand. In addition to a cozy setting with studio-quality acoustics, the 7 p.m. start time for shows and ample parking has me regularly checking Alla Spina’s event calendar to see what performances are on tap in the coming weeks.
Kate & Jules perform at Alla Spina at HiWay on January 9, 2026. The newly opened space was intentionally designed and built like a recording studio from the ground up for acoustics that deliver a “crystal clear, pristine sound” ideal for live music, listening parties and other experiences according to Dante’s Director J.P. Mills.
Manny’s
Previously The Saloon, this unique downtown performance space aims to host events and performances outside of a more traditional bar scene. Open to all ages, Manny’s aims to foster a welcoming environment while offering “top-tier sound, immersive experiences, and celebrations of artistic expression” according to its website, and I couldn’t describe the recent performance by Sonny Songh, Qais Essar, and Tabla any more accurately. Run by Gorinto Productions, Manny’s celebrated its first anniversary this January, and is already gaining healthy traction and visibility across the community.
Sangat featuring Sonny Songh and Qais Essar performing at Manny’s Live Performance Space on Hiester St. in State College on January 9, 2026. Credit: Gorinto Productions/Helen Valásquez Photography
Pine Grove Hall
Since 2020, Pine Grove Hall has been bringing amazing locally-sourced food, craft cocktails, and an ambiance that will transport you in time and place to a 1920s nightclub lounge in New York City to Pine Grove Mills, PA. PGH blends its celebration of local food and musicians beautifully by carefully tending to every detail of guests’ experience, from carefully selected menu offerings to stunning stage lighting and robust acoustics. Upstairs, the venue also hosts a monthly series called No Filter, an insightful mix of music and storytelling dedicated to the “rhythms, relationships, and realities of sustaining a local music scene.”
Sam Christensen and Steve Christensen performing during a No Filter show in the upstairs area of Pine Grove Hall on December 17, 2025. Credit: Jud Mantz
Live music is like a deep breath that gives listeners the opportunity to pause and take in something new and refreshing. Music is medicine, and Happy Valley is brimming with talent waiting to warm us up and cheer us up in what I would argue are some of the most charming venues in Pennsylvania!
Catch a variety of live music at these local venues:
Bellefonte
Boalsburg Area
State College
Millheim, Pine Grove Mills, Lewistown, Philipsburg:
(Did we miss anyone? Reach out and let us know!)
Andrea Murrell’s writing is inspired by nature and all the people she’s lucky to know and love. She especially enjoys exploring how connections between the natural world and local creatives shape the character of the region she’s so fortunate to call home.
