STATE COLLEGE — If you haven’t heard of Coal Aly yet that’s about to change.
Come Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 13, the People’s Choice Festival in Centre Hall will be packed with the usual suspects: artisans, food trucks, family-friendly activities. But when the sun begins to dip and the band takes the stage, there’s one name that’s going to echo across the hills: Coal Aly.
With a throwback sound powered by a full horn section and a genre-bending setlist spanning nearly seven decades, this 11-member powerhouse is set to become your new favorite band, whether you planned to see them or not.
“People catch us by accident all the time,” Nancy English, the band’s manager, said. “They’ll be walking past a show, hear us and next thing we know, they’re at every gig. That’s how the Aly Cats were born.”
Yes, the Aly Cats. That’s what Coal Aly fans call themselves and they wear it proudly, often sporting cat-ear headbands during their shows. It’s part of the band’s charm: polished musicianship wrapped in playful, community-rooted energy.
Coal Aly has become something of a regional phenomenon in the past year. When Nancy took over management in January 2024, the group had just 250 followers on social media. Now, they’re nearing 1,000, almost entirely Centre Region fans who discovered the band live and never looked back.
“When I started managing the band in January of 2024, I understood the need for them to be branded and for the brand to carry through everything that we do,” English said. “Their appearance, their colors, their logo, their presence, their social media presence, having a website that’s functional, having contact information readily available.”
Their rise hasn’t been manufactured. It’s been earned with horn blasts, Motown groove and musical bangers.
“There are so many songs that this band plays that are going to hit home for so many people of all ages,” English said.
If you’ve never seen an 11-piece band perform everything from Patsy Cline to ABBA to Stevie Wonder and back again, all while keeping a dance floor packed, you’re in for a treat. Their setlist is a masterclass in versatility, bouncing from funk and soul to classic rock, pop, Latin, disco and beyond.
“There’s one guy who absolutely loves funk and soul and rhythm and blues and that’s what he wants to play,” English said. “And then you got the keyboardist who loves to do Motown and Stevie Wonder. You got the horn player who wants to play Chicago and Tower of Power.”
That democratic spirit spills into every performance. No egos, no gimmicks, just talent, chemistry and a contagious joy for playing. Watching Coal Aly live is like thumbing through your dad’s vinyl collection, your mom’s iPod, your sister’s Spotify playlist and your best friend’s party mix all at once.
The horns, though, are what set them apart. Loud, proud and perfectly in sync, they punch through tracks like “Dancing Queen,” “Superstition,” “Smooth” and “Brick House,” adding flair and fire that takes each song to another level.
And don’t let the word “cover band” fool you. Coal Aly doesn’t mimic, they reinvent. Whether it’s horn-heavy classics or an Amy Winehouse deep cut, they make it their own while staying true to what made the song iconic in the first place.
Their appearance at People’s Choice is both a homecoming and a breakout moment. While the band has built a strong local following, this marks one of their biggest festival stages yet, with a chance to show a wider audience what Centre County has been dancing to all year.
“We’re incredibly excited to be part of People’s Choice,” English said. “It’s one of those events that brings everyone together — families, locals, visitors. That’s our sweet spot. We want people of all ages to hear something they love.”
And chances are, they will. The band’s members bring a staggering depth of experience to the stage. From former cruise ship musicians, pit players, music educators, conductors and veteran performers, the band is littered with musical talent. It may be a hobby for them, but they approach every show like professionals.
“This is nobody’s paycheck,” English said. “All of them have other lives, jobs, interests, priorities, which really kind of makes it a miracle that they’re able to dedicate as much time, energy and talent as they do.”
Of course, with 11 members, keeping everyone available for bookings is half the battle. The band turns down as many gigs as they accept as their calendar begins to fill, and they’ve already been tapped for major events to finish out the year. It’s a good problem to have.
But People’s Choice may be their most meaningful gig yet, not just for the size of the crowd, but for what the event represents.
So when you’re browsing the craft tents or waiting in line for a gyro and you hear horns blaring in the distance, follow the sound. There’s a good chance you’ll walk away with a grin, a cat-ear headband and a brand-new playlist stuck in your head.
Because Coal Aly doesn’t just play songs. They throw parties. And they’re bringing one to People’s Choice.
