SUZE and Half Dollar kick off concerts in revived Ritz Theater in Scranton on Sept. 22
While the Ritz Theater building in downtown Scranton has served many different purposes over the years, the actual theater, which includes a huge stage and movie screen, has lay dormant since it was renovated and reopened as a dinner theater and piano bar in 2008, only to close again soon after.
The Creative and Performing Arts Academy of NEPA is finally changing that, hosting children’s theatre, classes, and movie screenings in the historic space since the beginning of 2017. With 400 seats and plenty of space, it’s also a great venue for concerts, and it looks like Kingston jazz/funk/blues band SUZE will help break the stage in with Wilkes-Barre soul rock band Half Dollar on Friday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 in advance on ShowTix4U or $12 at the door (222 Wyoming Ave., Scranton). The event is BYOB.
SUZE, known for “a sound that blends the fluidity of jazz with the contagious rhythms of funk and the power of vintage blues rock and roll,” recently celebrated their 10th anniversary in May with a “Live from the Chandelier Lobby” show at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre.
Throughout lineup changes, founding member Adam McKinley has released two SUZE albums, “When the World Is Not Enough” in 2012 and “Sounds From Thursday Evening” in 2014. With longtime guitarist Adam Gabriel, drummer Jason Stefanski, and bassist Brian Gildea, the award-winning band continues to thrive while playing venues and festivals across the state and opening for national acts like Rusted Root and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
Half Dollar, who opened for popular Sublime tribute act Badfish in April, released their self-titled debut album late last year, and the band is currently working on new music.
Read a 2014 interview with McKinley about SUZE’s latest album here.
