Bucktown Music Fest kicks off 2024 concert series

By Steve Svetovich

The 2024 Bucktown Music Fest is kicking off another summer of free music on the streets of Dunmore, beginning this month through September.

Dunmore’s Brian McGurl and Tom Hallinan once again are co-chairmen for the annual event.

This year, the series will feature 10 concerts with 20 different bands performing.

In addition to eight of the concerts held at Dunmore Corners, two of the free shows will be held at different sites: the 400 block of Chestnut Street near the Fireside Martini Grill, and the 1600 block of Clay Avenue near Buddy Clarke’s Tavern.

Daddy-O and the Sax Maniacs and the East Coast Trio kick things off Sunday, June 9, at 5 p.m,, at Dunmore Corners. The 12-piece highly energized  Daddy-O features Nick Costanzo,and Sal Scrimalli, of Dunmore. The band is a long time local favorite.

The East Coast Trio consists of Dunmore’s McGurl, Phil Rossi and Chuck Scrimalli, with their blend of folk and jazzy rhythm and blues.

Black Tie Stereo and The 335, a classic rock cover band, will blast out onto Drinker Street Sunday, June 23, at 5 p.m. This will be the popular Black Tie Stereo’s first time appearance at the Bucktown Music Fest. Both bands are sure to be big hits.

The Bucktown Music Fest will make its way to the corners of Chestnut, Elm and Pine Streets Sunday, July 7. There, outside of the Chestnut Street Tavern and Martini Fireside Grill, Dunmore’s Joe Ferguson opens up festivities with Rattlin’ Bones. EJ the DJ will be on hand between sets to perform fan favorites. Headlining will be Friends of Family, featuring Dunmore’s James McGurl and Nick Bush.

The Saturday, July 13, show will feature two very popular Dunmore bands, Strangers Rock and QBall. Strangers Rock will open at Dunmore Corners at 5 p.m. featuring Dunmore’s P.J. Stoko on bass guitar. Watch him enthusiastically jam with talented guitarist Bob Taylor, who is originally from Green Ridge. Chuck Gudaitis is the hard rocking drummer. Strangers Rock plays the Stones to the Ramones and everything in between. 

QBall, featuring Dunmore’s McGurl and the highly-talented John Quinn, will bring their quartet with the music of Journey, Tom Petty, The Doors, The Beatles, Bowie, and other classics.

The Fabulous Fortunes and The Luongo Brothers will perform at Dunmore Corners on Sunday, July 21, beginning at 5 p.m. The Fabulous Fortunes are led by longtime local music legend Stan Svetovich, now in his 77th year of performing, on drums. The group has performed throughout the years in Northeast PA and the Pocono Mountains region and also includes Jack Mead, Tom Gavern, Firp Edmunds, and Stan’s grandson Ryan Svetovich, Dunmore.

Nick and Pat Luongo are two more luminaries in the local music scene who have long been associated with classy entertainment. The duo always  shows their audience a great time.

Country bluegrass favorite Old Friends and POP (Past Our Prime) will perform Saturday, July 28, at Dunmore Corners, at 5 p.m. 

Old Friends, featuring Jack Bordo, has been performing for the past 50 years with high harmonies, guitar, twanging banjo and harmonica. POP features Joe Pappa, Phoebe Beckage, Tom Boylan, Sean Loughney, and Lenny Carlucci, all of Dunmore.

Mike Kwaitek and his band along with Corner Pocket Blues will perform at Dunmore Corners Sunday, August 4, at 5 p.m. Kwaitek is a longtime Dunmore favorite who will perform electrifying versions of Elton John, Billy Joel and other favorites. 

Corner Pocket Blues consists of Dunmore natives Dan Cox, Jim Kernan, Joe Pannick, and noted sax player Jack Garvey.

The Wanabees, featuring Ron Pascoe and Fran Festa, and a Friend of the Gypsy perform Sunday, August 18, at Dunmore Corners, beginning at 5 p.m. The Wanabees perform classic rock from the 50’s to the 80’s and have a huge local following. Ron and Fran are sure to entertain the crowd. Friend of the Gypsy perform a mix of a Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, classic rock and jam band favorites and are  

The popular Picture Perfect will bring its 11-piece band to the 1600 block of Clay Avenue off Green Ridge Street Sunday, August 25, at 5 p.m. The wedding, show and party band will perform outside of Buddy Clarke’s Tavern. Jim Cullen, Jack Bordo, and Sharon Ambrosia will open the show.

The finale for the 2024 Bucktown Music Fest is set for Sunday, September 8, at Dunmore Corners, at 5 p.m. Shindig/Dunmore’s Got Talent will feature numerous Dunmore musicians performing on the showmobile stage. These shows have offered memorable performances over the past few years. The Dunmore Music Fest invites anyone who can sing and play an instrument to perform in this event. Anyone interested in performing can contact McGurl via email at: mcgurl@gmail.com.

New this year are vendors for arts and crafts. Food vendors from local restaurants will once again be a constant at the events. A Bounce House for children will be set up along East Drinker Street June 9 and 23.

“I love being active in my community and enjoy helping people whenever possible,” said Hallinan. “Dunmore Music Fest is a great opportunity for the whole town to enjoy free entertainment and a fabulous social event with friends and neighbors.”

Hallinan, a Dunmore councilman for the past 11 years, is a Dunmore High School graduate. He attended Penn State and retired after 35 years working for the PA Department of Transportation. He was assistant county manager for Susquehanna County. 

He and his wife Alicia, a Dunmore police officer, have been married for 35 years. The couple has four children: Atty. Meghan Hallinan, 33; Molly Hallinan Smith, 31; Tommy Hallinan, 26, and the late Kelcey Hallinan who passed away in 2013.

Tom is past president of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Association and member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and San Cataldo Club. He is co-chairman for the annual food drive for ICC in memory of Father Sica and coached biddy basketball in Dunmore.

“This town is unbelievable when you think of all the people who donate to make these free concerts happen,” said McGurl. “The events themselves are so great. Everyone comes together enjoying the music and each other’s company, young and old, generations of families, all in the heart of the town.”

McGurl grew up in Dunmore and attended St. Mary’s Grade School before his family moved to Clarks Summit. The Abington Heights graduate received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Scranton in 1980 as well as an master of science degree in education from the University of Scranton in 1991. 

McGurl was a crisis intervention specialist for the NEIU from 1985 through 1997 and a teacher in the Dunmore school district from 1997 through 2003. He was drama director for the Dunmore School District from 2004 to 2019.

He and his wife Dawn have four sons: John, Joseph, Michael (and wife Emily) and James (and wife Rose). The couple has one grandchild, Abigail Grace.

McGurl has been performing in the local music scene for the past 50 years. The talented keyboard player has been performing with the popular group QBall since 2018. He performed with East Coast in the 1980’s. He has been with the East Coast Trio since 2002 and performed with the Hometown Boys in 1980’s and 1990’s.

“The Bucktown Music Fest concert series has become a cherished summer tradition in Dunmore, bringing vibrant music and community spirit to the borough, ” said Dunmore Mayor Max Conway. “Special thanks to Dunmore councilman Tom Hallinan and Brian McGurl for their dedicated organization and effort in making this event a success year after year.”