On January 13, 2018, at 7:30 p.m., students, teachers, and alumni of the Uptown Music Collective, will take the stage of the Community Arts Center for one night only to pay tribute to the genre of music known as “southern rock” with their performance, Southbound. The performance will feature over 40 performers ripping through an exciting and highly entertaining set of some of the genre’s most beloved songs. All of the show’s income will go directly to support the school’s Scholarship Program, making it possible for all deserving students to have the opportunity to connect with the life-changing power of music. This performance is sponsored in part by Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, UPMC Susquehanna, and River Valley Transit.

The musical style known as “southern rock” came about through the blending of traditional southern blues, gospel, and soul music. Mixed with a heaping spoonful of country, boogie, and a few cups of gritty rock music. The prototype for the style was laid out in the sounds of 60’s rock bands like Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band, and Canned Heat. However, the sound style truly came into being in the 1970’s through the sound and songs of bands like the Allman Brothers, Lynard Skynard, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Outlaws, and The Charlie Daniels Band. This driving, guitar-heavy music, became a radio staple in the classic rock era of the 1970s, with songs like Sweet Home Alabama, Can’t You See, Ramblin’ Man, and Free Bird, among many others that were vying for airtime on the AOR Radio stations of the time period.

“Southern rock songs were a big part of my early musical diet,” stated Dave Brumbaugh, Executive Director of the Uptown Music Collective. “The melodic guitar solos, big choruses, and relentless rhythm was exciting and inspired me to improve my guitar playing and to develop my ability to improvise so that I could produce solos as memorable and attention-grabbing. I was surprised however when my students picked this style as something they wanted to explore. I can tell you right now that they are extremely excited about this show, and when they finally take the stage to perform it, it’s definitely going to be something really special.”
Another factor that makes this performance unique is the inclusion of Collective teachers and alumni on a few of the songs. “We are excited to have the opportunity to perform onstage with our students, it’s not something that we do often in public,” said Brumbaugh. “That combined with the return of a few of our alumni like Chris Kohler and Dylan Rockoff (both of Clyde Frog), as well as Brennan Hepler, Tess Clutter, Keely Krause, Levi Stover, Kendall Palmatier, will make this a really special night.”

Southbound: A Tribute to Southern Rock will feature Collective students who have been diligently preparing for this event for over two months. Along with the live music, there will be a professional grade light and sound show organized by the students themselves. As with all Uptown Music Collective performances, the students are not only the performers but also direct the show. There is also a group of younger students, called “Tech Monkeys” who will serve as stage technicians and spotlight operators. The cast for the show is drawn from the Uptown Music Collective’s much-heralded Special Performance Group 1. The students have set a goal to get 1000 people see this one-night event.

This show is being produced by Collective Senior, Nate Schreffler (Sullivan County High School). It is directed by Uptown Music Collective seniors Gage Avery (Hughesville High School) & Justin Warrender (WAHS) along with a leadership committee that includes UMC students Chloe Taylor (Montoursville Area H.S.), Alexis Carnevale (WAHS), Cade Palmatier (Jersey Shore H.S.), David Chubirka (Montoursville Area H.S), David Montis (St, John Neumann), Enso Tran (WAHS), Isabella Cole (Loyalsock Township H.S.), Izzy Brumbaugh (WAHS), Emily LaCerra (Loyalsock Township H.S.), and Tate Berkey (Danville H.S.).

“I am very excited going into this show because I love the music, and the guitar work in many of these songs is incredible,” said UMC Student Cade Palmatier, 15, Jersey Shore H.S. “I am excited to play with the alumni, many of which I knew when I was younger, and to play with the teachers, who have guided my skill and musicianship for many years.”

Additional sponsors for this performance include The Schluter Family, The Rockoff Family, State Farm Agent Kellen Moore, The Lockard Agency, and Fast Signs. Media sponsors include Lamar Advertising, NorthCentralPa.com, The Graphic Hive, 99.3 FM WZXR, and all of Backyard Broadcasting. Tickets for the performance are $15.00 in advance and $20.00 on performance nights. Advance tickets are available at the Community Arts Center (Box Office, Website, & App), Alabaster Coffee, K&S Music, Buttorff’s Hardware, Catch-All Self Storage, Rupert’s Specialty Meats, Way Cool Beans, Hoyer’s Photo, CS Sports, and the Uptown Music Collective.

For the complete list of ticket vendors, sponsors, and other details about the show visit uptownmusic.org or call 570-329-0888. Also, check out Collective’s official Facebook page, as well as other Collective social media outlets for teasers, previews, behind the scenes info and more from the performance.