Mohegan Pennsylvania to Host First-Ever NEPA Philharmonic Battle of the Bands on Saturday, January 31st

Nov 10, 2025 | Entertainment, Special Events

Mohegan Pennsylvania to also Host Qualifying and Semi-Final Rounds leading up to the Inaugural Competition

WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 10, 2025) – Mohegan Pennsylvania is excited to announce that NEPA Philharmonic’s inaugural Battle of the Bands is set to take place in the Keystone Grand Ballroom on Saturday, January 31, 2026, presented by ROCK107. Leading up to the live performance competition, Mohegan Pennsylvania will also host the qualifying and semi-final rounds in Breakers, where bands will battle it out for the final spot in Battle of the Bands.

Starting at 7:00pm on Saturday, January 31st, selected bands will each perform live on stage in front of a panel of judges, including Music Director Mélisse Brunet. The judges will be looking for the best, boldest, and most original local talent – anywhere from rock, indie, folk, funk, bluegrass, metal, experimental, and beyond. The Battle of the Bands champion will receive up to $5,000 cash and a chance to perform live with the NEPA Philharmonic during their 2026-2027 season. Tickets to NEPA Philharmonic’s inaugural Battle of the Bands competition are on sale now via the NEPA Philharmonic website.

The NEPA Philharmonic has just announced the eight finalists who have already been selected to perform on the January 31st date: So Much Hope, Buried., Gracie Jane Sinclair & The Band, Chasing Ashlee, Tori V & The Karma, The Sorters, Those Dudes, Rogue Chimp, and One Revived. These bands will be up against each other, as well as one other band who will be selected by Mohegan PA throughout December and January. 

Breakers at Mohegan Pennsylvania will host qualifying rounds on Thursdays, December 4th, 11th, and 18th, where three bands will be battling it out each week. One band from each qualifying round will be selected to move on to the semi-final round on Thursday, January 8th. Only one band will move on from the semi-final round and have the opportunity to compete in the Battle of the Bands competition on Saturday, January 31st. Breakers will be open to the public from 6:00pm – 11:00pm and bands will be performing from 7:00pm – 11:00pm on each qualifying and semi-final round date. Breakers will also hold happy hour from 6:00pm – 7:30pm on each date, featuring $6 You Call It’s.

Bands who did not apply during the initial selection process can apply on the NEPA Philharmonic website from Monday, November 10th – Friday, November 14th for a chance to compete in the qualifier events. Selected bands will be announced on Friday, November 21st.

For additional information on NEPA Philharmonic’s Battle of the Bands at Mohegan Pennsylvania, presented by ROCK107, visit the Mohegan Pennsylvania website.

ABOUT MOHEGAN PENNSYLVANIA

Mohegan Pennsylvania, owned by Mohegan, was the first destination to bring gaming to Pennsylvania in 2006 and since then has become one of the premier entertainment, gaming, and dining destinations in the state. Situated on 400 acres in Plains, Pennsylvania, Mohegan Pennsylvania features a newly renovated 238-room hotel with an on-site spa, adjacent to a 20,000 square-foot Convention Center. It features nearly 75,000 square feet of gaming space, including close to 60 live table games, over 1,500 slot machines and electronic table games, a sportsbook, a variety of dining options, nightlife, entertainment, and live harness racing. Mohegan Pennsylvania is within easy access of New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware. More information is available by calling 1.888.WIN.IN.PA (1.888.946.4672) or visiting MoheganPA.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on X or Instagram and view us on YouTube. Gambling problem? Call 1.800.GAMBLER.

ABOUT THE NEPA PHILHARMONIC

The NEPA Philharmonic is a fully professional symphony orchestra performing classics, pops, holiday, chamber, and July 3-4 concerts. The Philharmonic’s educational and community programs are centered around the significant benefits of engagement with music and the arts for community health and childhood development, especially for youth and older adults. The annual Young Peoples’ Concert brings the orchestra to over 1,300 students from across the region, many from schools in lower-income neighborhoods. Philharmonic musicians likewise frequently visit schools, libraries, senior centers, and public parks across Northeastern Pennsylvania, sharing the joy and creativity of music through interactive performances for all ages and backgrounds. A juried mentoring program allows talented high school students, regardless of income, to study with Philharmonic musicians and perform side-by-side with the orchestra. New in 2025 are Sensory Friendly concerts; an Angel Ticket program, providing free tickets to low-income community members; and RxArts NEPA, prescribing arts activities to older adults at risk of social isolation. The Philharmonic’s community programs aim to foster a love of music and offer aesthetic experiences that provide accessible pathways to creativity, independent thinking, and improved mental health for all ages, regardless of income or background. The focus of the NEPA Philharmonic is to provide opportunities for everyone in our community, regardless of means, to have access to the health and emotional benefits and the joy of live music.

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