As the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out local gigs this spring and summer, local teacher, historian and musician Van Wagner has remained busy writing more of his regionally inspired songs and creating a new album. He shares some valuable lessons he has learned over the past several months, gives advice for musicians who feel they are spinning their wheels during this time of uncertainty and gives us a taste of new songs that have yet to be released to the public.

Keeping the Beat

Van Wagner

Pulling from five decades of experience playing throughout the Valley with numerous artists, Kimbo Reichley incorporates a wide variety of styles and experiences into each song he records in his personal studio. He shares some of the lessons learned, memorable moments playing in gigs from China to Memphis and even on the beaches of Maryland and talks about the impact of COVID-19 on the local music scene.

Kimbo Reichley

Some of the region's most active musicians as live performances begin to return within a minefield of COVID-19 concern, Ann Kerstetter and her band members say they appreciate the venues are finding ways to keep the live music playing as they continue to struggle for survival.

Ann Kerstetter

Singer, musician, composer and teacher Jen Wagner developed a passion for all aspects of music during her time in the Lewisburg Area School District and as a member of the Susquehanna Valley Chorale's Children's Choir. Now a teacher at the Milton Hershey School, she led a group of students in song at the White House and more recently composed a piece performed by students from various schools in a video that has gone viral online.

Jen Wagner

After numerous weeks without playing live music, Brandon Barnhart was one of the first local musicians to share in a public venue after the COVID-19 outbreak, bringing years of experiences with numerous bands and a more recent solo career.

Brandon Barnhart

From rescue efforts at Ground Zero in New York City during the attacks of 9/11 to helping his premature daughter endure 36 surgeries, Dave Miller has plenty of inspiration for the songs he writes.

Dave Miller

The recipe for success for those who aspire to start their own band boils down to the fundamentals, according to Jamie Rodgers, of Middle Road Acoustic. “The more you play — the more you practice — the better you get,” he said. “Find the people you have fun around, put the time in, and be sure to enjoy the process.”

Middle Road Accustic

Using a cell phone placed on a pillow, Scott and Cathy Douglas recorded the song "Danny Boy" at their Central Pennsylvania home in mid-March as a way to have some fun during quarantine, then shared it online. The response led to a series of 50 daily music posts as the couple hopes to cheer up and inspire people during an uncertain time.

Scott and Cathy Douglas

Life seemed a little surreal for 9-year-old Antonio Andrade when he first saw the Beatles' famous appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. Two years later, he acquired his father’s old guitar and was signed up for his first lessons. He stuck with it ever since, working to improve his playing and ultimately the path led him to a new album that was recently released called “Lucky in Love.”

Antonio Andrade

Addicted to a variety of drugs and alcohol, a 21-year-old Allan Scott vaguely remembers praying out to God for help while drunk one night. Later, well on the way to recovery, he joined a music-based church program and honed his skills, ultimately forming a band that ministers to people who feel they have no where else to turn and have fallen too far to have worth. The band now performs 100 shows throughout the country, including a number of performances for inmates at penitentiaries in Pennsylvania and beyond.

Allan Scott

Mifflinburg 4th grade teacher Mark Alexander has adapted to the times by offering weekly Friday night performances on Facebook, giving away gift cards he buys from small businesses in the Central Susquehanna Valley region of Central Pennsylvania as a way to help them sustain through the coronavirus quarantines.

Mark Alexander

Codi and Joe Gaboff met during their senior year at Susquehanna University and quickly bonded over the band Rancid and other similar interests in music. The two have since started a family, created the Codi and Joe Show group and currently offer weekly live online music videos from their home while they wait for more opportunities to play live shows at venues across the Central Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania.

Codi and Joe Gaboff

Tim Latshaw's 47-year music career started with a family jam session as a child before he formed the band "Lite Switch" with two of his closest friends at age 13. He's been writing and playing music ever since.

Tim Latshaw

John Messner, of Danville, Pa., spent more than 20 years as the lead vocalist for Christian rock band, Saline, and shared the stage with well-known contemporary Christian music personas. Today, his musical journey continues as a local music pastor and songwriter.

John Messner

For the past four decades, Woody Wolfe has inspired countless patients at several hospitals in Philadelphia and Central Pennsylvania, using his music as therapy to help them navigate life-threatening trials.

Woody Wolfe

This podcast takes you just behind the stage to connect with the local musicians, vocalists and songwriters who are keeping the beat in the Central Susquehanna Valley.

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Keeping the Beat

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