Live music in Wilkes-Barre, PA

The Scranton Jazz Festival is a three-day music celebration that turns Downtown Scranton into a lively hub for jazz and more. Expect performances from more than 80 musicians across 20-plus venues, with styles like jazz, blues, swing, and world beat taking over the streets. A highlight is the free Jazz Walk, where you can stroll downtown and catch live sets at local restaurants, lounges, and other stops along the route. The festival also kicks off with a First Friday-style citywide celebration, featuring artisan vendors, family-friendly activities, and live music throughout downtown.

The Rootes Duo brings a summer debut to Farmers Inn and Tavern with acoustic covers of hit songs from the 1990s through today. The performance features familiar favorites across decades in an unplugged style.

At The Ritz in Scranton, H.R. of Bad Brains joins The Human Rights Movement for a live set that blends heavyweight reggae rhythms with messages of uplift and the charged energy long associated with Bad Brains. It is a seldom-seen appearance from a foundational voice in punk and reggae. This is an all-ages event. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Supporting acts will be announced.

H.R. brings their reggae-leaning punk and roots reggae sound to The Ritz Theater for a live show. The performance starts at 8:00 PM, with tickets available through the listed ticket sources.

The Medley Movement brings people together for a full day of in-person energy and connection. Attendees can dance, connect with others, or simply enjoy the lively atmosphere. The focus is on fresh, shared experiences that celebrate movement and community.

If your child missed a previous session, this combo class gathers favorite moments from across Music and Me and welcomes song and activity requests. Designed for children up to age 4, it offers singing, dancing, and hands-on instrument play in a caregiver and child friendly setting. Each class accommodates up to 15 children with their caregivers. Registration is processed in the order received, and tickets are nontransferable.

This event features live music.

The Scranton Jazz Festival presents the Dirty Dozen Brass Band at The Theater at North, spotlighting a New Orleans brass tradition blended with bebop jazz, funk, and R&B and soul. Founded in 1977 and recognized with a Grammy Award, the group describes its distinctive mix as a musical gumbo. Their far-reaching career includes tours across five continents and more than thirty countries, a dozen studio albums, and collaborations with artists such as Modest Mouse, Widespread Panic, and Norah Jones. The lineup features Roger Lewis on baritone sax and vocals, Gregory Davis on trumpet and vocals, Kirk Joseph on sousaphone, Trevarri Huff-Boone on tenor sax and vocals, Stephen Walker on trombone and vocals, Julian Addison on drums, and Takeshi Shimmura on guitar. Tickets are priced from $40 to $55, plus fees.

Dance Hall Devils are set to play at The VSpot after a stretch with fewer appearances this year due to family commitments, touring, and everyday life. The announcement encourages sharing beers with the band and includes a friendly reminder to tip the bartenders.

At The Theater at North, acclaimed tribute artist Ted Vigil leads a heartfelt celebration of John Denver’s music. Recognized as the country’s top John Denver interpreter, Vigil captures the singer’s look and voice with a realism that Denver’s former lead guitarist Steve Weisberg has praised. The set features favorites like Take Me Home, Country Roads, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Annie’s Song, Rocky Mountain High, Calypso, Thank God I’m a Country Boy, and Sunshine on My Shoulders, with more classics rounding out the show. Multi-instrumentalist Theresa Britt appears with Vigil. Based in the Texas Hill Country, she performs as a violinist, fiddler, guitarist, and vocalist, has more than two decades of experience in country and western swing bands, plays with regional Texas orchestras and string quartets, arranges and composes for string orchestra, and is also a singer and songwriter. Her recent focus is the Dirty Rotten Swing Band, a project with a rotating roster that blends Western Swing, jazz, and blues. Tickets are $35 to $40 plus fees, available online and at the box office.

This event features music performed live.

Enjoy a live performance by Ron Carter at the Scranton Cultural Center. The show is scheduled for 6:00 PM, and ticketing is available through Ticketmaster.

For more than a decade, this free open mic has been a fixture in Northeastern Pennsylvania, bringing diverse performers and lively crowds to The V-Spot in Scranton. Musicians, comedians, actors, performance artists, magicians, and others take the stage to share their work, connect with fellow artists, and reach new audiences, with added exposure from live streaming and event photography. Even touring bands sometimes drop in for a set between gigs. Sign-ups are collected first, with a small number accepted later, and arriving early is the best way to secure a spot. Each performer gets a set on a brightly lit stage equipped with a soundboard, two microphones, two standard instrument cables, and a Mapex house drum kit with five pieces. Full bands can take the stage. Performers using pre-recorded music or backing tracks may bring a phone or laptop to plug directly into the soundboard. Any other gear should be brought by the artist. Original work is encouraged. All participants appear in the live stream on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, although some platforms restrict copyrighted tracks, so certain sets may not appear in the stream. Downloadable photos of every act are posted in the NEPA Scene Open Mic Facebook group for artists to use in their own promotion. Participants must be 18 or older. Those ages 18 to 20 must attend with a parent or legal guardian, and both must present valid IDs to enter the venue.

Enjoy a tribute to The Eagles with Best of the Eagles during Party on the Patio, part of a weekly Thursday outdoor concert series. The evening features free live entertainment hosted by The River 105. NEPA, along with food truck bites from local favorites.