Uptown Music Collective kicks off performance season with tribute to 1976 radio rock
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WILLIAMSPORT -- It is the 50th anniversary of the year that reshaped the sound of rock music, and to celebrate, the Uptown Music Collective will bring that landmark year roaring back to life with its first concert of its 2026-27 performance season, "WUMC: The Spirit of '76 - The Year That Defined Radio Rock." Featuring the Collective's Special Performance Group 1 alongside a host of local radio disc jockeys, the production will recreate the sound and spirit of 1976 FM radio through live performances and radio breaks woven throughout the show. This performance is sponsored, in part, through a partnership with UPMC North Central Pa and UPMC Health Plan, and it will hit the Journey Bank Community Arts Center stage on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m.
By 1976, rock music had grown from its countercultural roots into a major cultural and commercial force. Album-oriented FM radio gave longer songs and deeper album cuts a home, while larger concert venues and rapidly advancing sound and lighting technology helped usher in the age of arena rock. The record industry even introduced the Platinum Album award that year -- a fitting milestone for a period when the album had become rock music's primary artistic statement. Against that backdrop came an extraordinary wave of innovative and enduring releases, including Boston's self-titled debut, the Eagles' "Hotel California," Peter Frampton's "Frampton Comes Alive!," Rush's "2112," Aerosmith's "Rocks," KISS' "Destroyer," Kansas' "Leftoverture," Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like an Eagle," Heart's "Dreamboat Annie," and so many more.
"In 1976, I was 14 years old and had just gotten my first guitar. These were the bands whose albums I stole from my older sister -- who would rather listen to pop music anyway -- and those records became the school where I learned much of what I know about music," said UMC Founder and Music Director Dave Brumbaugh. "Now, 50 years later, our students are as excited about this music as I was when it first came out. That is powerful proof of just how timeless great music can be."
This concert also serves as a sequel to the Collective's 2021 show, "WUMC: FM Radio Hits of the '70s," which introduced audiences to the live onstage radio station concept and the Collective's fictional radio station, WUMC. This latest installment brings area radio personalities into the spotlight once again, celebrating both their connection to the music and the radio groups' longstanding support of the Collective.
"When we first presented WUMC, having local radio personalities onstage brought a whole new energy to the performance," said UMC Executive Director Jared Mondell. "For 'Spirit of '76,' we're excited to build on that experience. These are voices our community knows, and having them alongside our students makes this show something very special. It's also an opportunity to celebrate the people behind the microphones who have supported the Collective year after year."
The students have been diligently preparing for this concert for more than two months. Along with the music, there will be a professional-grade light and sound show, organized by the students themselves, who work alongside the professionals at the Journey Bank Community Arts Center. As with all Uptown Music Collective performances, the students are not only the performers but also the directors of the show. A group of younger students, or "Tech Monkeys," will serve as stage technicians and spotlight operators. The cast for the show is drawn from the Uptown Music Collective's much-heralded "Special Performance Group 1."
The show's leadership committee consists of UMC students Lotus Bower (homeschooled), Elle Donlin (Stanford Online High School); Lila Butters, Jake Butters and Jaxon Lilley (Loyalsock Township High School); Bryant Cole and Cash Street (Williamsport Area High School); Hailey Campbell (Montgomery Area High School); Christian Williams (Walnut Street Christian School); Mason Hamilton (Jersey Shore Area High School); Luca Prosseda (Lewisburg Area Middle School); and Rowan White (Mifflinburg Area High School).
"This show is intense," White said. "The vocals are insanely demanding. The guitars are extremely tricky. Baselines are catchy. The drums are insane. As a vocalist, this type of music is quite challenging. Especially when going from a mellow song like 'Fly Like An Eagle' to 'Back in the Saddle.' The guitar parts are absolutely mind-blowing! The guitarists have spent countless hours playing the same riffs over and over again to get them perfect. The best part about all of this is the reward when we finally get to play it and everyone bonds over each other's passion for music. This show is going to be unforgettable and one you are not going to want to miss!"
Additional partners and sponsors for this performance include Chartwell Hotels, The Kiessling Group of Janney Montgomery Scott, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Woodlands Bank, Hudock Capital Group and The Hartman Group. Media sponsors include Backyard Broadcasting, the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Lamar Advertising, 92.1 WSQV, NorthCentralPa.com and The Graphic Hive.
For more details about "WUMC: The Spirit of '76 - The Year That Defined Radio Rock," as well as ticket information, visit www.caclive.com/umc. Check out the Collective's official Facebook, Instagram and other social media outlets, for teasers, previews, behind-the-scenes info and more from the performance.