Visitors to Happy Valley should get excited about all the small-venue live music available, in addition to the big shows at the Bryce Jordan Center or in Beaver Stadium. Travelers might be surprised to know that the live music scene here is bigger than meets the eye, with great local and visiting acts at venues in many #HappyValleyPA communities.

We recently sat down with Casey Walke, of Spaces in Between Productions, to talk more about what’s happening in Happy Valley.

To kick us off, can you tell me a little bit about yourself and Spaces in Between?

I’m a producer/multi-instrumentalist, have a home studio in an Amish-built barn near Colyer Lake, and occasionally play live. I was one of the first recipients of the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Programs through the PA Council on the Arts and created Spaces In Between Productions for live music community-building events and recorded soundtrack music for commercial/marketing use.

What’s the live music scene like here in Happy Valley? Where can the top venues and shows be found?

With Penn State, there is a vibrant DIY scene where new bands are forming each semester. There’s the classic State College downtown bar scene where you can catch a cover band playing to 50 to several hundred students any given night. Breweries and cideries host singer-songwriters and bands throughout Happy Valley and community spaces like 3 Dots Downtown, the State Theatre, farmers markets, arts festivals, and pop-up events host local and touring acts.

What do you think makes our region unique when it comes to experiencing this kind of entertainment?

Happy Valley has amazing spaces throughout the region. Whether it’s a revitalized factory space like Titan Hollow or a historic building like Pine Grove Hall and then the beautiful outdoor spaces like University Wine Company, JL Farm & Cidery, and Talleyrand Park in Bellefonte to an urban block party vibe like Arts Fest and Pop Up Ave there’s really something for everyone. Especially if you are from an urban area there are so many opportunities to be in an amazing country setting with beautiful mountains and valleys as your backdrop.

How is Spaces in Between working to make live music more accessible?

For my day job, I work in disability services and when in-person events started opening up I thought about all of the individuals that are unable to attend local live music events because of various reasons. I applied for the Creative Entrepreneur Grant to bring local live music to them through live streams and recordings while showcasing original music and unique spaces in Happy Valley. So now we can bring the local coffee shop, pub, or community space to them. I have links to the venues, bands, and local businesses that sponsor so people can connect to the community on social media. Since our first show at The Gamble Mill in 2022 we’ve reached over 250k people through social media and my website.

How can locals and travelers alike support live music in Happy Valley?

Many local musicians will never be able to tour and bring their music to other regions but we can support them by following on social media, signing up for their mailing lists, and listening to their albums. The best music discovery still comes from recommendations so share a new song from a local band with your friends.

Casey’s top venue picks across Happy Valley:

Pine Grove Hall for an intimate stage housed with an amazing sound system in an early twentieth-century art nouveau-inspired upscale casual restaurant vibe. They feature a little of every genre: classical, jazz, bluegrass, and rock.

Elk Creek Cafe & Aleworks for a homey pub vibe with fantastic local and touring Americana/ Roots Rock bands.

3 Dots Downtown with Gorinto Productions hosts a super eclectic mix from DJs to experimental to world music in various community spaces around Happy Valley.

The Band Junkies paved the way to showcase an eclectic mix of local musicians with First Fridays and Live after 5 on Wednesdays in Downtown State College and at pubs and wineries throughout Centre County. I went to my first show at The State Theatre and was blown away by the quality of the production for top-notch touring artists.

Watch for pop-up events throughout the summer in beautiful outdoor spaces in Happy Valley like Rooted Farmstead and in front of The Gamble Mill.