The Happy Valley hills are alive with the sounds of talented musicians making music year-round. From acoustic duos to big rock bands, the area is home to a wide range of singers, guitar players, songwriters, and more who make entertaining Centre County a special experience.
Following is a sampling of those musicians. Scan the QR codes to find out where they’re playing, listen to their music, or learn more about them.
Anchor & Arrow
anchorandarrowmusic.com
From acoustic covers in local restaurants and bars to zen music for yoga sessions, Anchor & Arrow, a husband and wife music duo, has built a repertoire of familiar songs with a unique sound.
“We play covers, but we try to make them as different as we can,” Jennifer Henry-Dashem explains. “We like to combine a bunch of songs. There are so many songs that have the same chord progressions, so we can make a mashup of 20 songs at a time if we wanted to.”
Their presence in the community has become a family affair. Playing at venues like Titan Hollow, The Hideaway (a new speakeasy in downtown State College), and HiWay Pizza has introduced them to a close-knit circle of friends and fellow musicians.
“We’ve met so many great friends who come out regularly,” Henry-Dashem adds. “It’s like family when we play at HiWay Pizza.”
However, the duo doesn’t just perform for audiences grabbing a drink or a meal in the local food and drink scene.
“I have been a yoga teacher for about 17 years and I always struggle to find the kind of music I want for my classes,” Henry-Dashem says. This conundrum led the duo into a new style of music.
“For the yoga sessions, I bring with me what’s called live looping and backing tracks,” explains Matt Dashem, the other half of the duo.
“I bring some very basic beats and pre-programmed percussion that I lay down as the base of things and then use keyboards and synthesizers to create a drone-like sound to fill the space,” he says. “Then I play the guitar. Whatever comes to my mind.
“I like to use alternate tuning and challenge myself to play in ways I don’t normally play,” he shares. “It’s more creative. It’s more laid-back, but still a lot of fun.”
Anchor & Arrow performs their yoga and live music sessions at The Hideaway every Saturday at 11:11 a.m.
As Anchor & Arrow evolves, the duo is excited to explore new sounds and continue connecting with the community.
“It’s those moments where you connect with the people you are performing for that keep you going,” Henry-Dashem says. “Seeing people be so happy, so uninhibited, throwing their head back and dancing — it’s indescribable.”
Biscuit Jam
facebook.com/BiscuitJam.Band
Biscuit Jam, a duo specializing in an Americana sound, has evolved over the years from its roots in acoustic rock to become a staple in the State College music scene. The band’s origins trace back to the early 2000s, when a friend of Mark Hill invited him to perform with him.
Hill had played electric guitar in an ’80s rock band as a teenager and then taken years off from performing, spending time in the military and completing a PhD before that friend “let the tiger out of the cage” again, he shares.
After years performing with his friends, Hill crossed paths with Kelly Countermine, and the duo quickly combined their talents to evolve Biscuit Jam into what it is known as today.
Their music blends classic Americana with influences ranging from Johnny Cash to R.E.M., and together they work to create an intimate, engaging atmosphere for their audience.
“We’re not about being background music,” says Hill, who plays a wide range of instruments including mandolin, ukulele, and harmonica. “We want to keep the energy up and involve the crowd — make it a fun, interactive experience. Unless the venue really calls for it, we want the performance to be fun and involved.”
Countermine shares that creating that experience and level of involvement sometimes entails handing out shakers for the audience to play or selecting songs that will encourage sing-alongs.
“What stands out to me is the interaction. It’s not just about playing; it’s about creating a shared experience with the audience, making them feel like part of their music,” Countermine says.
Hops & Vines
hopsnvinesband.com
Known for their unique blend of ’80s and ’90s hits with a twist, local duo Jonathan McVerry, known as “Hops,” and Christie Clancy, known as “Vines,” have made a name for themselves at local wineries, breweries, and distilleries, bringing a lively and eclectic sound to venues across the region.
Clancy’s musical journey began as a wedding singer, and she later joined several rock bands over the years before finding her perfect musical match in McVerry.
McVerry met Clancy while reviewing a band she was in at the time for a local newspaper. When Clancy discovered he could play guitar, she floated the idea of playing acoustic songs together at open mic nights.
“We both have full-time jobs, so we would rush home after work, practice a bunch of songs, and then head to the Gamble Mill to try them out,” Clancy shares. After many open mic nights and gigs, the duo decided to go all in with their act, organically finding their name through the very venues they were performing at.
“We both drink beer and wine, and we found ourselves performing in places like wineries, breweries, and distilleries,” Clancy shares. The name stuck, and the duo took to referring to each other as “Hops” and “Vines.”
One of the highlights of their performances is the relaxed atmosphere they create, often accompanied by a stream of “dad jokes and puns,” according to McVerry, though the duo fervently debates whether or not the jokes are worthy of a round of applause or collective audience groan.
“For the record, my jokes are pretty good,” McVerry jokes. ”Make sure to include that.”
“Hops has said I’ve had about three funny jokes for over the last 11 years,” Clancy adds. “So I lean into those. One of my favorite jokes is, ‘The more you drink, the better we sound, and the better you sound.’”
The duo’s playful energy fosters an inclusive atmosphere that resonates with their audience, encouraging sing-alongs and plenty of smiles. As they continue to play in local venues, they look forward to meeting new faces and sharing their passion for music with even more people.
“We’re really proud to be part of the local music scene,” McVerry says, “and we’re excited for what’s to come.”
Kate & Jules
facebook.com/p/Kate-Jules-61556294938328/
Though musicians Kate Twoey and Julian Allatt had crossed paths over the years, it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that the duo officially formed as Kate & Jules. The two had studied music for years, with Allatt learning piano and guitar as a kid and Twoey being born into a musical family where she was “singing before she was speaking,” she shares. When Allatt’s family moved into Twoey’s neighborhood, the two performers decided to fully take the leap into making music together.
“When we were first starting, we sat down, had a drink, and hung out and just talked about and listened to music to decide what we liked,” explains Allatt, who works as a lawyer by day.
Though the musicians had performed with other artists in the area over the years, they found that merging Allatt’s guitar background and Twoey’s singing abilities was the perfect fit for what they wanted to achieve. And their friendship helped to keep performing as a fun aspect of their lives.
“When you start playing with new people, you have to get to know their personalities and playing styles, their cues,” Twoey says. “We pick songs to try out, and talk through who will play what and figure out how it will fit — and it doesn’t always work, but then sometimes we finish a song and are like, ‘We nailed that.’ So we know we can bring it to people.”
“I find that’s one of the coolest things about playing music. You know, even at our age, we’re still learning,” Allatt adds. “I’m still building and I’m still getting better.”
The duo plays a wide range of songs, Twoey notes, sharing that “we don’t have a certain genre that we stick to. We play Elton John and then we play a new blues artist like Marcus King, and then we play a folk song, then Bob Dylan. We’ve reworked U2. We just really like a lot of different music.”
Regardless of the songs they perform, though, the duo notes what makes their performances unique is the “brother-and-sister-like dynamic of picking at each other over the microphones” during their show.
“People want to hear that. They want to see the parts that go into making music and us interacting with each other,” Allatt shares. “It makes them feel like they are a part of the set and not just listening to it.”
The duo performs monthly at Boal City Brewing in Boalsburg, and will perform at Titan Hollow on Thursday, May 15.
My Hero Zero
For over 15 years, My Hero Zero has been a staple of the local music scene, blending high-energy performances with moments of deep connection to their audiences. The band, originally formed in State College, has undergone changes over the years, but at its core, it remains a group of friends bound together by a shared passion for music.
The band’s origins trace back to a time when drummer-turned-frontman Jason Olcese started as a solo acoustic artist.
“I started playing drums when I was 5 years old,” Olcese says. “Then, as I was learning guitar, I began to write songs.”
While studying at Penn State, Olcese would play his music along College Avenue. After years performing solo, Olcese connected with My Hero Zero band members, though the performers in the band have changed over the years.
Despite these changes, the band has formed a loyal following of fans both in State College and in the other states where they regularly tour. Though the band plays across Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey, they maintain a deep connection to State College.
“The energy from the students and returning alumni is incredible,” Olcese says, sharing more about the experience performing in State College. “It’s a unique feeling — playing for people who are always excited to be a part of the show.”
This local connection is also seen through their studio, Hero House Studios, which serves as both a recording space and a hub for local musicians. “We work with Penn State students and local artists,” Olcese explains. “It’s where I feel most connected to the State College music scene.”
Though the band performs covers of popular hits, in 2024 they released the album “Echoes of an Open Heart,” which features original music that blends different styles.
Ted McCloskey & the Hi-Fi’s
Music has always been an important part of Ted McCloskey & the Hi-Fi’s’ lead musician’s life. Growing up in a musical family, McCloskey was surrounded by melodies and rhythms, and his journey with music began early.
“My father was a musician, so I was around music all the time,” he shares. He started with the saxophone at a young age but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit. He found his true passion when he picked up a guitar in his early teens.
“I just fell in love with it,” he remembers. “I would rehearse for hours, and that’s when I really got hooked.”
Over the years, he played in various bands, each experience helping shape his sound. After releasing a record in 2003, he realized the need for a band to perform his songs with him.
“We all knew each other, and sometimes we’d play together in different projects,” McCloskey says. “But I needed musicians to perform that record, and that was the moment we became the band we are today.”
Since then, McCloskey has created multiple records and the band plays multiple performances together throughout the week at crowd-favorite locations like Zeno’s Pub, Elk Creek Café, and The Phyrst.
“As a band, we are high energy. But each performance is different. Sometimes you want people to dance; other times you want people to just listen and enjoy,” McCloskey explains. “There is a lot of moving around. It’s upbeat, but you have to play off of the crowd.
“When we’re performing, we’re feeding off the energy of the audience,” he says. “If they’re into something, we’ll extend that part of the song. It’s a give-and-take between us and the crowd. Each venue has its own vibe, and we try to adapt to it.”
Regardless of the venue or the audience, McCloskey notes, every experience is a reminder that music is more than sound.
“Music is magic — it has a healing power that not much else can match.” T&G
Jessi Blanarik is a State College-based freelance writer.
