PHOTO PROVIDED Local blues guitarist Gabe Stillman will hold a special hometown release party for his upcoming album “What Happens Next” at The Side Bar in Williamsport on March 6.

WILLIAMSPORT — On Friday, March 6, at 7 p.m., award-winning national blues artist and Blues Music Award nominee Gabe Stillman and his band will return to The Side Bar in Williamsport, for a special hometown album release concert, celebrating his new album, “What Happens Next?” releasing on Gulf Coast Records.

The Side Bar is located at 345 Market St., Williamsport. Tickets cost $30 online at gabestillman.com or $40 at the door.

Those who have experienced the Gabe Stillman band realize they are a “machine” that runs at full tilt for every performance!

While their sound is unmistakably rooted in the blues, the band draws from the deep well of all American roots music, gaining new fans and nurturing existing fans at every stop. Stillman formed his band in 2015, shortly after graduating from Boston’s Berklee College of Music, and before that, Williamsport’s Uptown Music Collective.

Stillman officially joins the Gulf Coast Records roster with the release of “What Happens Next?,” a fearless sophomore album that captures the tension between uncertainty and resolve.

Rooted in modern blues unafraid to stretch beyond tradition, the record crackles with grit, groove and lived-in emotion — presenting an artist who isn’t waiting for answers, he’s moving forward without them. The album releases worldwide on March 27.

Stillman has spent the last decade earning his reputation the hard way — on the road, on the bandstand and in the studio.

A rising force in contemporary blues, he first turned heads after winning Gibson’s Best Guitarist Award at the International Blues Challenge 2019, quickly establishing himself as a prominent guitarist and as a songwriter with his first original album reaching top 10 on the Billboard Blues Chart.

Since then, he’s toured extensively across the U.S, building a devoted following drawn to his soulful vocals, sharp guitar work, and honest storytelling.

Across “What Happens Next?,”Stillman digs deep into themes of self-reckoning, loss, pride and renewal. Songs wrestle openly with identity, shame and hard-earned perspective, balancing moments of vulnerability with sharp wit and raw confidence.

Whether confronting inner demons or finding humour in heartbreak, the writing feels honest and unfiltered, anchored by muscular musicianship.

The album stands as a statement of growth through motion — accepting change, facing consequences and choosing momentum over fear. High-energy yet emotionally grounded, “What Happens Next?” captures an artist fully stepping into his voice, embracing both the weight of experience and the freedom that comes with trusting it.

With this release, Gabe Stillman takes a defining step forward, and Gulf Coast Records proudly welcomes an artist who embodies the label’s ethos — music rooted in the blues, driven by truth and unafraid to push ahead into the unknown.

Anson Funderburgh, producer of “What Happens Next?,” says, “Gabe is somebody who has it all. His songs move me; he has a way with words. He is an amazing singer, a great songwriter and a wonderful musician. He has an unbelievable knowledge of music. Great musicians are special; they have something different that sets them apart from the others. They are born with it; it just comes easy. Gabe Stillman is one of them.”

Gabe’s most recent honors include invitations to support ZZ Top, Eric Gales, Blues Traveler, George Thorogood, Mr. Sipp and more.

Also, the Gabe Stillman Band was selected as the Best Blues Band at the 3rd Annual Central PA Music Awards and has been nominated in the category every year since 2022.

In his free time from his own band, Stillman also has the honor and privilege of playing guitar with the legendary blues band, John Nemeth and The Blue Dreamers.

There is a limited number of tickets available for this show.

Tickets are available via Eventbrite or by visiting www.gabestillman.com.

For more details about Stillman, his upcoming performances, and the new album, visit gabestillman.com.