Harrisburg, Central Pennsylvania are now live music destinations

• Scott LaMar/WITF
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

Rear view of large group of people enjoying a concert performance. There are many hands applauding and taping the show. Blue and red spot lights firing from the stage. Each individual inspected for recognizability.

Airdate: Thursday, June 15, 2023

The headline on PennLive may have said all yesterday – “How Harrisburg became the place to see the coolest bands you never heard of.”

Harrisburg and Central Pennsylvania overall has become a hotbed for venues for live music acts. Maybe not the huge stadium show, although Hershey host those, but the places that can seat 1,500 people or less. And the bands may not be the most well known on radio, but have national followings.

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology has been instrumental in bringing many of the acts to the region.

We were joined on The Spark Thursday by Dr. Eric Darr, Harrisburg University’s president and Frank Schofield, director of live entertainment and media services for Harrisburg University.

The Associated Press and WITF’s democracy reporter Jordan Wilkie are partnering to tell stories about how Pennsylvania elections work, and to debunk misinformation surrounding elections. 

Read the stories here