We wrapped up our holiday weekend at the Great Pennsylvania Music and Arts Celebration (PennMArt) where we began it, at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmerama Stage.
Not only that, but we invited a few friends back to end the weekend with us.
By the time Sunday night came around at this weekend’s Great Pennsylvania Music and Arts Celebration (PennMArt), it was time to rock.
We had absolutely no trouble making that happen with some help from our friends.
Competition heated up on the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmerama stage on Sunday, for Day 2 of the Lehigh Valley Underground Discovery Stage at the Great Pennsylvania Music and Arts Celebration (PennMArt).
In January, just after our 2nd Birthday Spectacular at SteelStacks, and with 2018 still in its infancy, we were approached with the opportunity to put a stage together at this weekend’s Great Pennsylvania Music and Arts Celebration (PennMArt).
The instructions were clear: curate a lineup that pays homage to the history and traditions of rock and roll, with the modern flair to appeal to today’s audiences. Something that would rock then and RockNOW!
A hot day in Allentown saw the opening of the Great Pennsylvania Music and Arts Celebration (PennMArt) at the historic Allentown Fairgrounds.
Down on the Fairgrounds’ Farmerama stage, a winner emerged victorious.
Musicians: need plans to play out this Memorial Day Weekend, and want to be “Discovered” by new audiences? We have just the thing this weekend at the Historic Allentown Fairgrounds!
The unofficial official start of summer is but a week away!
Surely, this upcoming Memorial Day Weekend, as it tends to be around these parts, is absolutely stacked with live music from top to bottom, and incorporating the variety of genres the Valley is becoming known for.
Take a look, if you will, and see what is waiting to greet you in our…
The Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society (PAMPS) will announce details of its collaboration and hex sign initiative with the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at a news conference on Friday, Jan. 26, at 11 a.m. at the Lehigh Valley Road Runner Clubhouse in the Lehigh Parkway Park.
At first glance, this list doesn’t seem too long this week, but when you consider that we have 12 – count ‘em – 12 Can’t-Miss Shows in one for you on Friday, this is actually our longest weekly list ever.
See you out there!
Wednesday night was a banner night for our local music scene.
For the 28th year, WZZO hosted its Backyard Bands competition. Located at the RCN Farmerama stage at the Great Allentown Fair, the event featured five local bands — Monoceros, September Silence, The Beautiful Distortion, Another Day Dawns, and Acoustic Kitty Project — who completely rocked the house with the goal of winning more than $6,500 in prizes.
First up was Monoceros, a hard rock three-piece whom we hadn’t covered before. I’m sorry that we waited so long — the band played four songs and provided an emphatic  opening statement for the night of rock to come.
Next up was September Silence, who kept the crowd hot with four original tracks of their own. The upstart rockers were making their debut appearance at Backyard Bands, and proved that they’ve come along way in a short period of time for good reason.
The Beautiful Distortion was up next, arriving with purpose, energy, and versatility. The six-piece traded lead vocals, featured tight instrumental work, and set a distinct mood with each of its songs.
Speaking of hitting the stage with purpose, it was clear — as it always is — that Another Day Dawns’ hit with the purpose of using their 20 minutes to rock the crowd as hard as possible. They succeeded in that mission, bringing their youthful energy through in their performance, with frontman Dakota McGeehan leading the way with his charisma and distinct voice.
There was still one more act to hit the stage before the night was done, and it was Carter Lansing’s band, Acoustic Kitty Project. AKP offered a change of pace from the rest of the evening’s bands, showcasing their crisp, catchy country rock offerings. The band’s set was highlighted in particular by the incredible playing of keyboardist Dan DeChellis, who can do anything you ask him to when he has his instrument at his disposal.
In the end, The Beautiful Distortion — who had previously made the finals in 2012, only to lose — came away with top honors, while Another Day Dawns wrapped up a great month of August as the runners-up.
Still, the event was ultimately not about wins, losses, or competition. It was about some of our scene’s best and brightest acts coming together to showcase their abilities. All five bands were entirely gracious and congratulatory toward one another after the show, and there was a sense of accomplishment that comes with knowing that everyone gave their best performance.