After getting out of the day job right around 5 p.m., and after checking in at SteelStacks and picking up our photo passes for the next 10 days, I darted up and over the Minsi Trail Bridge, parked at home, and hoofed it down to Musikfest with the goal of getting there in time for the festival’s opening ceremonies at 6 p.m.
As people of all ages and backgrounds were still filing into downtown Bethlehem on Friday evening, Musikfest kicked off with its traditional opening ceremonies under the festival’s iconic Festplatz tent.
We hope you had a great time last night to kick off Musikfest! Hopefully, you didn’t go too hard. After all, that was only the beginning!
Today, on the first Saturday of the festival, the lineup is so stacked that we’re having trouble narrowing it down to five performances. That’s a good problem to have, if it can be called a “problem” at all!
Welcome ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, one and all… to Musikfest!
Over the next 10 days, hundreds of performing artists and potentially more than a million people will come through downtown Bethlehem. Mugs will be filled. Corn will be eaten. Good times will be had.
Here at Lehigh Valley Underground, we will start each day with five things that you should check out. Let’s kick it off!
Singer-songwriter, radio host, and Godfrey Daniels Board of Directors President Dina Hall wears many hats in the Valley’s music scene. Here’s another one: multi-time Musikfest performer.
Dina has nearly a decade of performing experience at the nation’s largest free outdoor music festival under her belt. With that, she offered her profound experience and sage advice on the matter to conclude this year’s inaugural “Meet the ‘Fest Vets” series.
Over the next two weeks, potentially more than one million visitors to Bethlehem will have the opportunity to get their hands on a plastic mug featuring the artwork of local mixed medium artist Bobby Zeik, a Banana Factory resident artist and the man behind the 2017 Musikfest poster.
Matt Molchany, co-founder of Tape Swap Radio and guitarist/vocalist of Bethlehem indie rock band, VoirVoir, is a long-time resident of Bethelhem. Matt has attended Musikfest for many years as a patron and performer, making him the perfect candidate to take a few minutes to tell us about his journey through the festival over the years.
New York City alt-Americana band Evening Darling has a unique sound that has gained a lot of steam beyond the confines of the Big Apple. Their debut, self-titled album (which you can hear at the bottom of this article) is an exciting blend of influences that range from new wave to the folk and Americana of their previous incarnation, The Hunting Party.
We checked in with the band in advance of its performance this Saturday, August 5 at the Red Stag Pub Liederplatz stage at Musikfest to hear all about what makes them tick, and what we have to look forward to when they come to town this weekend.
In addition to chatting with Musikfest rookies to get their thoughts on performing for the first time at the nation’s largest free outdoor music festival, we also wanted to catch up with those who have been there — whether as attendees, performers, or both.
Nick Capozzolo, bassist for Nazareth-based harmonic soul band, The Moondogs, has performed three times at previous Musikfests, and was one of the first to offer his thoughts on what the experience means to him.
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Musikfest begins Friday. Just like last year, you can be sure that Lehigh Valley Underground will have daily previews of the action as the days go by.
Until then, there are plenty of non-‘Fest related activities taking place throughout the area this week, and we’re here to tell you about ‘em!