The summer concert season at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course kicked off with absolute fire on May 16, 2026. For Halestorm, playing central Pennsylvania is always a homecoming celebration, and they made sure this outdoor gig felt massive from the first chord to the final bow.
Opening the evening were fellow PA natives Small Town Titans, who immediately set a high bar. Their aggressive, blues-infused hard rock was perfect for the early crowd, locking everyone in with a tight 6-song set. The absolute standout of their performance was an unexpected, incredibly heavy cover of Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” that had the venue floor moving early.
Next up, Hinder kept the momentum rolling with a dose of pure, anthemic post-grunge. Even when a brief, passing rain shower threatened to dampen the mood mid-set, the band pushed right through. They delivered a high-energy performance anchored by a mass sing-along to their massive hit “Lips of an Angel” and a killer cover of Collective Soul’s “Shine,” proving they still know exactly how to command a festival-sized audience.
When it was finally time for Halestorm, the energy reached a fever pitch. Frontwoman Lzzy Hale remains one of the most commanding forces in modern rock. Opening with a blistering run of tracks, her legendary vocal range and fierce stage presence completely dominated the outdoor stage. The band—featuring Arejay Hale on drums, Joe Hottinger on guitar, and Josh Smith on bass—sounded remarkably sharp, filling the casino grounds with a thick wall of sound.
The setlist was a masterclass in giving the fans exactly what they wanted. Mainstays like “I Miss the Misery” and “Love Bites (So Do I)” drew roaring reactions, but they also treated the crowd to their newer material and an epic performance of “can u see me in the dark?”. A massive highlight of the night was a fierce, rock-infused cover of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” followed by Arejay’s staple, chaotic drum solo.
They closed out the night with an emotional encore featuring “Rock Show,” “I Like It Heavy,” and “Here’s to Us.” It was loud, emotional, and proudly Pennsylvanian. For a hometown crowd, Halestorm proved once again that nobody does it quite like them.
Halestorm
