Popa Chubby, Clarence Spady, Camping, and Campfires
One of my favorite places for small concerts in the Poconos of Pennsylvania was called Mountain Sky. It was an incredibly cool place—just a big old farm where it cost only a few dollars to see some great outdoor concerts, with free camping and big campfires afterward.
They had a big old farmhouse where everybody stayed, while the shows were held outside and were always a lot of fun. It was relaxed, friendly, and exactly the kind of intimate music setting that made it easy to meet people and feel like part of the event rather than just part of a crowd.
I saw both Popa Chubby and Clarence Spady at Mountain Sky. They are phenomenal blues guitarists with very different styles, and hearing them in such a small, informal outdoor setting made both shows especially memorable. Popa Chubby has long been one of my favorite guitarists and remains one of the best I have ever seen. He has been struggling lately with medical issues, which makes these memories and photographs feel even more meaningful. Clarence Spady was another outstanding performer whose show added to my appreciation for this remarkable little venue.
A Little Mountain Sky History
Mountain Sky was more than a casual farm concert site. It developed into a distinctive outdoor music and camping venue in Scott Township near Jermyn, Pennsylvania, on a property of more than 100 acres. Over the years it hosted local and regional performers, multi-day gatherings, and festivals that blended live music with camping and the open countryside.
Concert listings preserved online show dozens of past events at Mountain Sky, including multi-day festivals and performances continuing into 2020. That long event history helps explain why the place became so meaningful to musicians and concertgoers throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. It was not a polished commercial amphitheater. Its appeal was the opposite: music in a scenic rural setting, inexpensive admission, room to camp, and a welcoming community atmosphere.
In July 2015, Scott Township abruptly shut down events at Mountain Sky because of permit and zoning issues. A scheduled Still Meadows Revue had to be moved to another campground, and supporters organized a petition arguing that northeastern Pennsylvania needed independent places where people could gather for live music. The response showed how strongly people valued Mountain Sky and the role it played in the regional music scene.
By 2020, part of the large Mountain Sky property was also being used for farming. That later chapter seems fitting for a place whose identity was always tied as much to the land and outdoor setting as it was to the music.
