Hello Everyone,
Here is the recap of the April 20 edition of “The Homegrown Rocker,” which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM on Q94 Classic Rock (www.q94classicrock.com), and from 10 PM to midnight on 107.1 and 101.3 Jack FM (www.1071jack.fm)!
This week, we welcomed into our studio this week’s guest, Clarion-based singer and songwriter Samantha Sears! We learned about Samantha, her musical roots and career, her songs and creative process, and live show – plus she brought along acoustic guitar and ukulele and played several of her songs live in the studio! We also debuted new songs from Allison Borek, Alea Reid and Mysterytrain, updated “Local Music News” and dug out a 1992 song from State College’s Bob Timney for this week’s “Local Music Flashback!” (For those who missed the program, a four-part podcast of this show is available for listening or download from Q94’s website, www.q94classicrock.com. Click on “The Professor’s Classroom,” and then scroll down to “Homegrown Rocker Podcast” and look for the four show segments marked with the date, 042025.)
Here is this week’s playlist:
HOUR ONE:
SCREECH OWL – “Grit”
TRADING PAINT – “Brighter Shade of Blue”
SAMANTHA SEARS – “Change” (performed live in the studio)
ALLISON BOREK – “Hellos and Smiles” (new)
SAMANTHA SEARS – “Through Waiting”
BUFFALO ROSE – “Machine Man”
SAMANTHA SEARS – “Serendipity” (performed live in the studio)
SAMANTHA PRESS – “When Crickets Cry”
MATT OTIS & THE SOUND – “Capable of Love”
ALEA REID – “Best Friend” (new)
HOUR TWO:
THE PENNSOULVANIANS – “Pilgrimage”
MSJR featuring DEREK WOODS – “Burnin'”
SAMANTHA SEARS – “The One” (performed live in the studio)
ETHAN ECKENROAD – “Chase the Sun”
SAMANTHA SEARS – “Unfallen” (performed live in the studio)
BOB TIMNEY – “It Can’t Rain on Me” (1992, Local Music Flashback)
SAMANTHA SEARS – “Smokin’ Gun” (performed live in the studio)
THE PLATELETS – “Steelworker’s Soul”
MYSTERYTRAIN – “What Would It Take” (new)
BRANDON GIUFFRE – “To You”
For our next program, we will speak via phone with members of Pittsburgh-based Americana and folk-rooted group Buffalo Rose! Singers Margot Jezerc and Lucy Clabby will share the Buffalo Rose story, plus talk about their music, their live show, creative process and more, plus preview their upcoming May 2 show at the Indiana Theater! And we’ll hear some of their recorded songs! Plus we’ll update “Local Music News,” dig a “Local Music Flashback” from the archive and debut a few more new local and regional tunes! Hear the “Homegrown Rocker” this Sunday night (April 27) on Q94 Classic Rock – 94.3 FM and online at www.q94classicrock.com, and on 107.1 and 101.3 Jack FM, online at www.1071jack.fm!
MAY 4 – MSJR with Derek Woods
MAY 18 – James Grove (Acoustic Altoona)
MAY 25 – Memorial Day Special
JUNE 15 – Father’s Day Special
JUNE 22 – Allison Borek
AUG. 10 – Billy Davis
DEC. 14 – Dr. Barry Atticks (Lilla Jul Rockeband)
(All dates are subject to changes as circumstances warrant.)
Bands and artists wanting to submit news items for “Local Music News” may email their news to homegrownrocker@gmail.com. Indicate “MUSIC NEWS” in the subject heading!
Bands and artists interested in having music aired on the show are invited to send their broadcast-quality recordings to: The Homegrown Rocker, 2513 6th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602 (ATTN: Jim Price). You can also email digital song files or inquiries about the show to homegrownrocker@gmail.com; and submit digital song files through the link on “The Professor’s Classroom” page. And bands and musicians interested in being guests on the program can email their interest to homegrownrocker@gmail.com as well!
Jim Price
In Local Music News…
Johnstown’s Flood City Music Festival has announced the first two performances in this year’s High Mark Blue Cross Blue Shield Free Summer Concert Series. The concerts will take place at People’s Natural Gas Park in Johnstown. The first show will be on Friday, June 20, with headliners Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers with special guests The Desperadoes. The second concert will happen on Saturday, July 5, and will feature western Maryland bluegrass performers The Plate Scrapers with special guests the Hickory Bottom Band. Both concerts will begin at 7 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m. A third concert in the series will soon be announced.
We remind you that the Fourth annual Blair Creators Festival takes place on Saturday, April 26 in and around downtown Altoona’s Heritage Plaza. Presented by ArtsAltoona and Penn State Altoona’s Sheetz Fellows Program, the event will feature a day-long slate of local artists, live music, food trucks, vendors and community. The festival kicks off at 11 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m., and admission is free. Live music performers this year include Toy, Felix & the Hurricanes, the Dom Frucella Band, Stephanie & the Wild Hearts, Search Party, Ethan Eckenroad, Tom Nevers Field and Sweet Desire.
