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Achieving all wins on road courses, the New Zealand naive is being talked about as an all-time great in NASCAR road races.

Dominique Kozuch contributed to this set of photos.

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A new creative venue blending art, performance, community, and curated retail is set to open in Scranton’s Pine Brook neighborhood.

Strange Birds will host its official opening weekend with a series of events on Friday, May 8 through Sunday, May 10, offering an early look into this multi-use creative space designed to bring people together through live entertainment, visual art, workshops, community gatherings, and unique retail experiences.

Founded by local creatives Theresa O’Connor and Charley Rude, Strange Birds (1141 Capouse Ave., Scranton) will serve as a welcoming home for LGBTQ+ artists, performers, and audiences seeking something fresh, inclusive, and inspiring in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The “queer space for queer art by queer artists” is located next to The Retro Cafe, across from On&On.

“We wanted to create a space where creativity feels accessible, exciting, and connected to community,” the owners said. “Strange Birds is a safe place for people who want to experience something different.”

Strange Birds opening weekend schedule

Friday, May 8 from 6 p.m.-10 p.m.: “Take Flight” opening reception
An evening launch party featuring visual art, music by Pucker Up! and Esta Coda, poetry, and a first look at the colorful atmosphere of Strange Birds. Tickets are $20 and on sale now via Eventbrite.

Saturday, May 9 at 6 p.m.: Dark Side Burlesque presents “Hornithology”
A bird-themed burlesque and drag tribute that guarantees a special evening of bold live performances. Tickets are $25 and on sale now via Eventbrite.

Sunday, May 10 at 11 a.m.: Mother’s Day Drag Brunch
A high-energy brunch featuring dazzling performances, music, and great food. Memphis Devine and DJ NapSnaxXx will celebrate Mother’s Day with a little sparkle, a lot of love, and just the right amount of chaos. Tickets are $40 and on sale now via Eventbrite.

During these events, guests can also explore retail offerings like vintage finds, handmade goods, artwork, and one-of-a-kind items from local makers.

Strange Birds plans to offer ongoing programming, classes, markets, and special events throughout the year, creating a vibrant new destination for Scranton residents and visitors alike where culture, self-expression, and connections through art can thrive.

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Offering a true alternative voice in local media, the multi-camera show is the only live streaming, in-person podcast of its kind in the area, produced in high definition on NEPA Scene’s Facebook page, YouTube channel, and Instagram on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.

Host Rich Howells, the founder and editor of NEPA Scene, encourages viewers to tune in during the interview, which typically runs between an hour and two hours, to add their own questions and comments that will be addressed by the end of the episode.

The NEPA Scene Podcast is made possible by Center City Print, bringing ideas to life in three locations – Scranton, Kingston, and Hazleton. These one-stop shops are locally owned and operated, providing high-quality print products at affordable prices. From business cards, brochures, and banners to posters, flyers, and tickets, their custom design solutions and exceptional customer service can make any project a reality. Use promo code NEPASCENE in person or online at centercityprint.com for 10 percent off.

In Episode 234, we sat down with vocalist Travis Antoniello and drummer James Slattery of Wilkes-Barre chaotic metalcore/mathcore band Toothless. They recently released their debut full-length album “Past Futures,” so we talked about each track on the record and its themes of “history repeating, disillusionment, self-destruction, manipulation, and the psychological weight of navigating a world buried in misinformation;” refining their complex sound; recording outside the area at Silver Bullet Studios and working with Silent Pendulum Records; their first three EPs and creating music together for over a decade; the local metal scene; members of the band also playing in Sleepsculptor; Travis donating his long hair to Wigs for Kids; upcoming shows at Poppy’s Tavern in Hatfield, Barbed Wire Fest at Bonk’s Bar in Philadelphia, and The V-Spot in Scranton on Friday, June 26 with No Fight No Victory, Bedroom Floor, and When Hell Ascends Tonight; and more.

The post NEPA SCENE PODCAST: Wilkes-Barre chaotic metalcore/mathcore band Toothless looks into ‘Past Futures’ appeared first on NEPA Scene.

The award ceremony is part of the 13th annual Electric City Music Conference, set to take place Thursday, Sept. 10 through Saturday, Sept. 12 in Scranton. The three-day event will showcase the very best of local, regional, and national music talent while providing valuable opportunities for education, networking, and collaboration.

Nominations are open to the public via electriccitymusicconference.com and will feature more than 35 categories recognizing musicians, bands, venues, and industry professionals. Fans are encouraged to support their favorite artists, and musicians may also nominate themselves. Following the nomination period, a committee of local music experts will review submissions to determine award winners, alongside a fan-driven People’s Choice Award in each category.

The festivities kick off on Thursday, Sept. 10 with the Steamtown Music Awards ceremony, serving as both a prestigious recognition of the region’s musical achievements and a lively welcome event for visiting artists and industry professionals.

The celebration continues on Friday, Sept. 11, and Saturday, Sept. 12 as Scranton comes alive with more than 100 live performances across a variety of venues, including Backyard Ale House, The Bog, Mutant Brewing, Sergei’s Live, The Shakes Space inside The Marketplace at Steamtown, and The V-Spot, with additional locations to be announced.

In addition to live music, the ECMC will host free educational panels, speaker sessions, and mentoring opportunities throughout Sept. 11-12. Industry professionals from across the country will share insights and connect with emerging talent.

Applications to perform at the 2026 conference are currently open. Local musicians may apply at no cost, while regional and national acts are subject to a nominal application fee.

2026 Electric City Music Conference schedule

Friday, May 1: Steamtown Music Award nominations open
Saturday, Aug. 22: Nominations close
Sunday, Aug. 23: Nominees announced (live event details to follow)
Monday, Aug. 24: Online voting begins
Monday, Sept. 7: Online voting ends at midnight
Thursday, Sept. 10: Steamtown Music Awards ceremony
Friday, Sept. 11 – Saturday, Sept. 12: Electric City Music Conference

The Electric City Music Conference has become a beloved Scranton tradition, transforming the city into a hub for music, creativity, and community each fall. From honoring the best of NEPA’s music scene to spotlighting rising talent from across the country, the annual event continues to celebrate the power of music to bring people together.

For more information, to submit nominations, or to apply to perform, visit electriccitymusicconference.com.

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Formed in Luzerne County in 2015, metalcore/mathcore outfit Toothless fuses the chaotic elements of bands like The Chariot and The Dillinger Escape Plan with heavy riffs and melodies along the lines of Norma Jean and Every Time I Die.

After releasing three EPs, starting with their self-titled in 2016, the Wilkes-Barre-based group has returned in 2026 with their long-awaited debut full-length, “Past Futures,” an album that transforms years of personal, social, and emotional unrest into their most focused and expansive work to date.

With their first new music in six years, following up their 2020 EP “Misinformed,” the 11-track LP captures the tension between personal struggle and the larger world’s growing instability. It was recorded, edited, and mixed in Burlington, Connecticut at Silver Bullet Studios by Greg Thomas, Chris Teti, and Dennis Tuohey, then mastered by Will Putney, with artwork by Taylor Bates.

Lead single “Forced Purpose” and its haunting music video introduce the record’s core identity – volatile, relentless, and unflinchingly honest. The song channels the album’s dominant themes of cycles of history repeating, disillusionment, self-destruction, manipulation, and the psychological weight of navigating a world buried in misinformation. Sonically, “Past Futures” expands Toothless’ metalcore foundation into something more dynamic and emotionally layered, balancing technical aggression with moments of stark vulnerability.

“This album and its lyrics have really served as an outlet for the thoughts and emotions I’ve had over the last few years,” vocalist Travis Antoniello said.

“Themes of escapism – feeling like we’re stuck in a loop of history repeating itself. Being conned, acting self-destructive. Wondering what could possibly be going through someone’s head as they abandon their humanity. Trying to find the truth in an endless onslaught of misinformation.”

The record arrived on Jan. 27 in the shadow of heavy real-world events but refused apathy, urging listeners toward empathy and reflection.

With “Past Futures,” Toothless delivered not just their first full-length, but their most urgent statement yet – a document of confusion, frustration, hope, and resistance, forged in a time when those emotions feel impossible to avoid. It is available in multiple handmade vinyl variants via Brooklyn, New York-based indie label Silent Pendulum Records and is now streaming across all major platforms.

Supporting the release, the band started the year with a short tour with labelmates Bore, then recently played two shows in downtown Scranton – the first at Goblin Alchemy with six touring acts and the second at The Ritz Theater opening for Traverse the Abyss. Next up, they’ll hit Poppy’s Tavern (64 E. Lincoln Ave., Hatfield) on Saturday, May 23 with Duress and Ambiera, Barbed Wire Fest at Bonk’s Bar (3467 Richmond St., Philadelphia) on Sunday, May 31, and The V-Spot (906 Providence Rd., Scranton) on Friday, June 26 with No Fight No Victory, Bedroom Floor, and When Hell Ascends Tonight, with more high-intensity shows to come this summer.

“Toothless are a breath of fresh air for the metalcore and hardcore scenes. Their chaotic yet intelligently constructed songs engage not just on an auditory level but a cerebral one as well,” wrote Taylor Markarian of Alternative Press.

“Smash together the swaggering hardcore confrontation of Every Time I Die and The Chariot and add a dose of The Dillinger Escape Plan’s time-signature-torturing insanity and what do you get? Toothless, for one,” added Sammi Chichester of Revolver Magazine.

Learn more about Toothless and their new album in Episode 234 of the NEPA Scene Podcast:

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“15 conventions in and it still comes down to something simple – tattooing, and the people who care about it. We’ve been lucky to build an event where people can connect with each other, with the tattooing and with the culture around it,” the staff of Electric City Tattoo & Piercing posted to social media after the event.

“There are too many names to list without leaving someone out, but to everyone who’s been part of this over the years – the tattooers who return year after year, the ones joining us for the first time, the vendors and the customers who trust us – thank you! This doesn’t happen without the people behind the scenes either – the setup crew, the volunteers, our friends and families who show up and help us however they can. They’re a big part of why this all works. We don’t take any of it for granted. When we say, ‘Thank you for coming,’ we mean it. See you in 2027!”

The post PHOTOS: 2026 Electric City Tattoo Convention at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center, 04/17-19/26 appeared first on NEPA Scene.

Offering a true alternative voice in local media, the multi-camera show is the only live streaming, in-person podcast of its kind in the area, produced in high definition on NEPA Scene’s Facebook page, YouTube channel, and Instagram on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.

Host Rich Howells, the founder and editor of NEPA Scene, encourages viewers to tune in during the interview, which typically runs between an hour and two hours, to add their own questions and comments that will be addressed by the end of the episode.

The NEPA Scene Podcast is made possible by Center City Print, bringing ideas to life in three locations – Scranton, Kingston, and Hazleton. These one-stop shops are locally owned and operated, providing high-quality print products at affordable prices. From business cards, brochures, and banners to posters, flyers, and tickets, their custom design solutions and exceptional customer service can make any project a reality. Use promo code NEPASCENE in person or online at centercityprint.com for 10 percent off.

In Episode 233, we sat down with the new Scranton-based alternative/indie folk group Ravyn. Robyn Ess and Ken Watkins will debut their full band at Union Vapors 570 in Dickson City on Saturday, May 2, so we talked about how they met and ended up collaborating on Ravyn and developing an experimental sound; the songs they recently premiered at the NEPA Scene Open Mic like “Blue,” “Control,” and “The Testimony;” Robyn’s solo project Byrdie and those personal acoustic songs; Ken’s new pop punk/indie band Free Fall and their debut single “No Connection;” the importance of local musicians going out and supporting their fellow musicians at shows; Robyn’s experience on the production side of concerts and working with Mountain Productions and The Ritz Theater; organizing events as Killer Bunz Media; the “Birthday Banger” on May 2 with Ravyn, Squid Sterling, Free Fall, Byrdie, and DJs CIMA and DrumBum; and more.

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