Rock band Hanson last performed at the New York State Fairís Chevy Court on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. (Katrina Tulloch) Katrina Tulloch
SCRANTON – The Grammy-nominated bands Hanson and Tonic will perform free on Lackawanna County Courthouse Square during FIFA Fan Zone events there next month.
Officials announced those and other musical acts, as well as other fan zone activities, during a press conference Tuesday.
Scranton is hosting one of just three official Pennsylvania World Cup Fan Zones, with activities taking place on Courthouse Square July 4, 5, 18 and 19.
World Cup matches will be broadcast live on a massive outdoor screen on the North Washington Avenue side of the square. Smaller screens, including at least one airing the Spanish broadcast of the matches, will be placed on each corner of the square.
The event will also feature a beer garden, soccer simulator, inflatables, food trucks and more.
Hanson will perform July 18. Tonic will perform July 19.
Other musical acts added to the lineup include Cruel Summer, a live tribute offering the music of Taylor Swift, performing on July 4th at 1:00 PM. On Sunday, July 5th, Eco Del Sur will welcome soccer fans with music from across Latin America. In between the two knockout matches on the main screen, The Wankers will offer a Britpop tribute featuring 90s and modern hits from bands like Coldplay, Blur, and Radiohead.
According to a news release:
Over their 34-year history, brothers Isaac, Taylor, and Zac Hanson have made a significant mark in music. Starting in 1992, they spent their first five years building a fanbase as an independent band in Tulsa, OK. After signing a record deal, they saw a meteoric rise with the 1997 international smash single “MMMBop” from their debut album Middle Of Nowhere, followed by consecutive top 40 singles. A long line of hits, five more studio albums, multiple Grammy nominations, and over 16 million album sales followed. Over the subsequent decades, the band charted their own course, running an independent label while maintaining a coveted connection with their global fan base.
The story of Tonic revolves around the longstanding, close brotherhood shared among members Emerson Hart (vocals, guitar), Jeff Russo (lead guitar), and Dan Lavery (bass). Since 1996, the Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum trio has consistently delivered anthemic rock fashioned from eloquent songcraft, lyrical honesty, and unshakable melodies. Along the way, they translated true experiences and real memories into a storied catalog that resounds just as loudly today. To date, the band has landed six Top 10 singles, sold over 4 million records, and garnered a pair of Grammy nominations. Emerson and Jeff originally linked up in Los Angeles in 1994, with Dan joining the group in 1996. Their full-length debut, Lemon Parade, went platinum and yielded the #1 most- played rock song of 1997, “If You Could Only See.”