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Country leads the entertainment lineup

Jason Aldean leads the entertainment highlights coming to local and regional entertainment over the next couple of weeks.

The country singer, set to release his 12th studio album “Songs About Us” in April, takes the stage at the PPL Center. Aldean, who topped Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart with 2023’s “Try That in a Small Town,” scored his 25th Country Airplay No. 1 with 2022’s “Trouble with a Heartbreak.”

Among other entertainment: rocker Scotty Austin, former Saving Abel lead singer, plays the Signature Brewery & Saloon; Connor Ratliff headlines the opening of the SteelStacks Improv Comedy Festival; and “Gabby’s Dollhouse Live” comes to the State Theatre.

PENN’S PEAK

325 Maury Road, Jim Thorpe

866-605-7325, pennspeak.com

• Direct From Sweden, 8 p.m. Saturday. The act pays tribute to Swedish pop group ABBA.

• Jessie’s Girl, 8 p.m. Jan. 31. Hailing from New York City, the 1980s tribute act performs a “Back to the Eighties” show. Artists such as Bret Michaels, M.C. Hammer, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, Taylor Dane and Rob Base have performed at “Back to the Eighties” shows.

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

14 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe

570-325-0249, mcohjt.com

• The Rush Experience, 8 p.m. Saturday. The group performs the music of Canadian rock band Rush.

• Experience Janis, 8 p.m. Jan. 30. CC Coletti performs a tribute to singer-songwriter Janis Joplin.

• Us and Floyd, 8 p.m. Jan. 31. The act, performing the music of English rock band Pink Floyd, takes its name in part from Pink Floyd’s 1973 song “Us and Them.”

SIGNATURE SALOON & EVENT CENTER

137 Erin Lane, Brodheadsville

570-872-1444, secpoconos.com

• Tribute Night, 7 p.m. Saturday. The lineup features tribute bands Lost Dogs, performing the music of rock band Pearl Jam, and Revenge on Seattle, playing the music of rock band Nirvana.

PPL CENTER

701 Hamilton St., Allentown

610-224-4625, pplcenter.com

• Jason Aldean, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30. Born in Macon, Georgia, the country singer released his self-titled debut album in 2005. Aldean, with 25 Billboard Country Airplay No. 1s to his credit, scored hits such as “She’s Country,” “Big Green Tractor,” “Dirt Road Anthem,” “Burnin’ it Down” and “You Make it Easy.” Aldean, releasing his 12th studio album “Songs About Us” in April, has collaborated with artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Carrie Underwood.

WIND CREEK EVENT CENTER

77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem

610-224-4625, windcreekeventcenter.com

• Tesla, 8 p.m. Friday. Formed as City Kidd in 1981 in Sacramento, California, the hard rock band adopted the name Tesla shortly before recording its 1986 debut studio album. Tesla’s hit singles include “Love Song,” “The Way it Is” and “Signs,” the latter a cover of the Five Man Electrical Band’s early-1970s hit. Tesla released its 11th studio album “Shock” in 2019.

• The Ultimate Elvis 91st Birthday Experience, 8 p.m. Jan. 29. Klush, born and raised in Pittston, started performing as an Elvis tribute artist at Pocono resorts. An award-winning ETA, Klush performed in the show “Legends in Concert.” Snow’s digital album “Love Moses Tender” features 10 Presley covers.

• Voyage, 8 p.m. Jan. 31. The act, performing since 2005, pays tribute to rock band Journey.

STATE THEATRE

453 Northampton St., Easton

610-252-3132, statetheatre.org

• “Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!,” 6 p.m. Jan. 27. The musical, based on the hit DreamWorks Animation series, features preschool sensation Gabby and her cat friends. In the show, Gabby unboxes an acorn that needs a rainbow’s magical touch to grow. When CatRat breaks the rainbow, Gabby and the Gabby Cats set out to find the colors to rebuild the rainbow. The musical includes puppets and singer-actor puppeteers, plus songs from the “Gabby’s Dollhouse” series. The live-action/animated series, which premiered on Netflix in January 2021, spawned the 2025 film “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie.”

STEELSTACKS

101 Founders Drive, Bethlehem

610-332-1300, artsquest.org

• SteelStacks Improv Comedy Festival, 5:15 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday, Fowler Blast Furnace Room. The two-day marathon features improvisational teams, workshops and two headliners. “Connor Ratliff Presents The Acting Class” headlines Friday’s lineup. The one-person improv show, disguised as an acting class, comes from the creator of the “Dead Eyes” podcast. “Opening Night: The Improvised Musical!” headlines Saturday’s fare. In its 26th year, the Broadway-style musical takes audience suggestions. Barko, Saturday’s post-headliner, brings calculated slapstick improv to the stage.

• Face 2 Face, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Musikfest Café. Mike Santoro and Ronnie Smith pay tribute to singer-songwriters Billy Joel and Elton John, respectively. The musicians, following their individual sets, perform together for the grand finale.

• Go Go Gadjet, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 and 31, Musikfest Café. Originating in Reading, the band fuses the rhythms of dance music with reimagined classics and today’s hits.

• Souper Bowl XVI, 1 p.m. Feb. 1, Musikfest Café. Restaurants and caterers from throughout the region will prepare soups to compete in the categories Cream-based, Meat-based, Most Unique, Seafood-based, Vegan, Judges’ Favorite and People’s Choice.

SHERMAN THEATER

524 Main St., Stroudsburg

570-420-2808, shermantheater.com

• Pocono Winter Beerfest, 1 p.m. Saturday. The event features 100-plus hand-picked craft beers from local and regional breweries.

• Pocono Winter Wine & Food Festival, 1 p.m. Sunday. The festival includes local wine, food and artisan goods. A second session begins at 3:30 p.m.

• Sherma-Con Gaming Convention, 2 p.m. Jan. 31. The fourth Sherma-Con features board game demos, free-play video games, video game tournaments, a cosplay competition, and 35-plus vendors and artists.

SIGNATURE BREWERY & SALOON

600 Main St., Stroudsburg

570-213-5110, secpoconos.com

• Scotty Austin, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 1. Born in Parsons, Tennessee, the singer/guitarist fronted rock band Saving Abel from 2013 to 2021. Austin recorded one studio album with the band, 2014’s “Blood Stained Revolution.” The musician, who enjoyed stints as band leader of the NASCAR Rolling Thunder band and for Nashville singer-songwriter Jonathan Singleton, played in indie rock act Trash the Brand. Austin, who also played guitar in metal band Full Devil Jacket, has an EP in the works. The singer’s singles discography includes the Billy Idol cover “Rebel Yell,” “Money” and “Left For Dead.”

Jason Aldean will rock the PPL Center this month. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Scotty Austin performs at Signature Brewery and Saloon in Stroudsburg on Feb. 1.