Country at the Campus, and Some Guy Named Bongiovi

Both Penn State’s University Park campus and Penn State Altoona present some marquee live musical entertainment to highlight activity on area stages this weekend.

Country takes the stage at Penn State Altoona’s Slep Center on Friday night with a double-bill featuring the Natalie Stovall Band and Pistol Peg & the Beer Kegs. Based out of Nashville and the winner of Campus Active Magazine’s 2012 Entertainer of the Year honors as a college campus performer, Natalie Stovall and her band bring their brand of country rock back to Penn State Altoona, three years after her first appearance there in 2009. Brandishing fiddle, Stovall has performed nationally for the Grand Old Opry and the Oprah Winfrey Show, and plays a relentless touring schedule at college campuses around the country. Local favorites Pistol Peg & the Beer Kegs – who themselves pack area venues with their lively modern country mix – will kick off the music at 9 p.m.; Stovall takes the stage at 10. The event is part of Penn State Altoona’s “Down in the Dark” nighttime entertainment series for the student body.

Meanwhile, University Park prepares for the crowd onslaught on Saturday evening as Bon Jovi invades the Bryce Jordan Center – which has been renamed the Bon Jovi Center for this weekend to celebrate the singer and group’s return. Part of the “Because We Can – The Tour,” Bon Jovi is on the road in support of the forthcoming new album “What About Now,” to be released next month. Tickets are still available, and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Support live music this weekend! And if you plan to celebrate heavily while doing so, please designate a driver or call a cab!

Here is a full listing for live music on area stages this weekend and the coming week:

FRIDAY NIGHT:

Randy Jackson, Stephen Johnopolos and Joe Carlin at Raphael’s Steakhouse, Altoona (starts 6:30 p.m.)

Born & the Beanstalk at the Celtic Knot, Bellwood (starts 7 p.m.)

Ground Crew at Underdogs, Bellwood (starts 7 p.m.)

Natalie Stovall Band with Pistol Peg & the Beer Kegs at Slep Center, Penn State Altoona (starts 9 p.m., all ages)

Screamin’ Ugly at Aldo’s, Altoona

kBand at Ramada Inn Cosmopolitan Lounge, Altoona

Terry’s Band at Heidelberg Club, Altoona (9 p.m., members and guests)

Michael O’Brian Band at Olde Keg Inn, Portage

Juke Left at Jay’s Place, Ebensburg

Bodacious B at Blue Knob Clubhouse, Blue Knob Ski Resort (starts 8:30 p.m.)

Wentle & Kevo at Johnny’s Bar, Huntingdon

SATURDAY NIGHT:

Bon Jovi at Bryce Jordan Center, University Park

Randy Jackson, Stephen Johnopolos and Joe Carlin at Raphael’s Steakhouse, Altoona (starts 6:30 p.m.)

Emily’s Toybox at 4D’s Lounge, Altoona

The Whatleys and Heroes & Hooligans at Aldo’s, Altoona

A.X.E. at Family Pizza & Pub, Altoona

Half Tempted at Shaw’s, Altoona

Pistol Peg & the Beer Kegs at Champs Sports Bar, Altoona

The Sharptones at the Heidelberg Club, Altoona

Kip Woodring at the Bullpen Lounge, Tyrone

Saving Jake and The Good Seeds at Glenn’s Place, Claysburg

Wyldsyde at Blue Knob Clubhouse, Blue Knob Ski Resort

Force Of Habit at Huntingdon Moose, Huntingdon

White Shadow at Williamsburg American Legion, Williamsburg

Fueled By Ignorance (F.B.I.) at Bedford Moose, Bedford

Felix & the Hurricanes at Iron Horse Café, Gallitzin

Locked and Loaded at Mug Shots, Gallitzin

Untyed at Magoo’s, Cresson

Acoustic Stew at 5th Avenue Pub, Patton

R2B2 at Davey’s, Hastings

Screamin’ Ugly at Yesterday’s Party, Ebensburg

Juke Left at Castle Pub, Ebensburg

Fuse at The Grove, Belsano

The Ozone Rangers at Mad Hatters, St. Boniface

Ganister at City Hotel, Northern Cambria

Sunset Strip at Barnesboro VFW, Northern Cambria (Polish Christmas Party, starts 8 p.m.)

SUNDAY NIGHT:

Felix & the Hurricanes at Shaw’s Bar, Altoona

Ty & Pletcher at 4D’s Lounge, Altoona (upstairs)

TUESDAY NIGHT:

Open Mic Night at the Ramada Cosmopolitan Lounge, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

Ty Ayers (acoustic) at 4D’s Lounge, Altoona

WEDNESDAY NIGHT:

The Country Gentlemen at Clair’s Ashville Inn, Ashville (starts 6 p.m.)

Wertz & Pletcher at 4D’s Lounge (upstairs), Altoona

Open Mic/Jam Night at Pellegrine’s, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

Open Mic/Jam Night at Mug Shots, Gallitzin (starts 8 p.m.)

THURSDAY NIGHT:

Steve Summerhill at Jethro’s, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)

Michael O’Brian Band at Molly Maguires, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

Born & the Beanstalk at the Belmar Hotel, Altoona

(More shows may be added to this list as information becomes available. Feel free to check back.)

To report additional shows or corrections to this listing, email information to jptheprofessor@gmail.com.