Tag Archives: Lehigh Valley

Musikfest Music Industry Conference Set for Aug. 2-4

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As 2025 winds into its final days, we’ve caught a glimpse of some of the excitement to come in the New Year — including some taking place around our original stomping grounds.

Our friends at ArtsQuest have announced the return of the Musikfest Music Industry Conference, taking place August 2-4, 2026 inside of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in our original hometown of Bethlehem, PA. The conference — which will take place in the middle of Musikfest, the nation’s largest free, non-gated music festival — promises to offer “interactive sessions, cutting-edge technology demos, inspiring keynotes, and real-world insights designed to bridge the worlds of music education and today’s evolving industry,” according to ArtsQuest’s official website.

Full lineup details are forthcoming, but key presenters and supporting organizations have been announced, including:

  • Keynote Speaker: Dr. David Cutler, acclaimed author of The Savvy Musician and The Savvy Music Teacher.
  • The Museum of Music Technology Powered by EMEAPP: Discover how electronic instruments, live production, and classroom integration are transforming the sound of tomorrow.
  • Underground Music Collective (that’s us!): Learn how to Build Your Authentic Artist Brand and stand out in today’s music landscape.

In addition, ArtsQuest has announced several key program additions, expanding from the inaugural edition of the conference in 2024. These include:

  • Band Showcase Program: Selected youth and emerging bands (ages 10–adult) will receive coaching, perform on an official Musikfest stage and receive live feedback from talent buyers, agents and producers. Submissions will open in October.
  • The Green Room Mentorship Lounge: One-on-one and small group mentorship with industry veterans, modeled after NAMM’s “Networking with the Pros”.
  • Museum Collaboration: A pop-up exhibit in partnership with the Museum of Music Technology highlighting the history of sonic innovation.

Conferences passes are on sale now for the Early Bird rate of $150 until March 1. After that, the price of a regular badge will increase to $175. Students, ArtsQuest members, and 2026 Musikfest performers receive discounted badges for just $100. For more information, visit the conference webpage.

EASTERN PA: Your Next Favorite Band’s Mental Health Awareness Event Takes Place Sunday, Feb. 4

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Checking in back home, our northern community partners at Your Next Favorite Band — who, you may remember, teamed up with us on something rather epic a few months ago — are bringing mental health awareness to the forefront this weekend.

The event — titled Listen to the Dissonance — will take place this Sunday, February 4 at 1:30 p.m. inside the Charles A. Brown Ice House in Bethlehem, PA. The event promises to be “full of brave stories and powerful music about mental health,” and will feature the talents of notable up-and-coming acts from the Philadelphia region.

Featured artists include Mike and Shannon Mains; Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise; Carly Comando of Slingshot Dakota; Seán Barna; and Rachel Ana Dobken.

“Listen to the Dissonance is more than just a concert – it’s a platform for open conversations, breaking stigmas, and fostering a supportive community,” said Phillip Reese of Your Next Favorite Band. “Come and be a part of this movement to promote mental health awareness through the universal language of music.”

Tickets for Listen to the Dissonance are available now for $10. Get yours here!

A ‘Tribute’ to the Lehigh Valley and Beyond: Alex Radus Releases ‘Tributaries (Recorded Live at Godfrey Daniels)’ April 7

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Press photo provided by Alex Radus.

Alex Radus will release his long-awaited third album, Tributaries (Recorded Live at Godfrey Daniels), on April 7, 2022. The album is uniquely centric to Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley region; it was recorded live at the legendary Southside Bethlehem listening room, Godfrey Daniels, and will be commemorated with a debut performance at Zoellner Arts Center, on the campus of Lehigh University.

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8 Years Later: Thoughts on the Creative Journey, Its Challenges, and Creating Abundance

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After a majorly transformative summer in my personal and professional life, I felt compelled to use The Quinn Spinn’s 8th anniversary to share some revelations that have come to me as a byproduct of my own creative journey. That journey began with this podcast and the desire to have an impact — the desire to feel as though I am contributing something to the world, beyond checking society’s boxes.

This road-less-traveled has brought forth so many incredible moments. At the same time, it has brought about unique challenges that appear at the intersection of the hustle and my presence in other areas of life. As I’ve ridden those waves, I’ve come to a point where I understand what it truly means to create and spread abundance, and how that serves life’s bigger picture.

It’s been an amazing ride to this point, and there is still much more to come. Thank you for being along for the journey.

-G

#GetSpunn

Throwback: A Five-Point Preview of our Saturday at Musikfest!

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For those who may have missed the memo on Facebook… we’re not in Nashville this weekend. In fact, we’re back home, where this all started in Bethlehem, PA.

This is where Musikfest — the nation’s largest free outdoor music festival — is currently taking place. Back in the day — like, a year ago, even — we’d be all over this thing. All day. Every day. For 10 days every August, nobody played harder in the paint than us. Don’t even @ me, bruh. But if you do @ me, do it with style!

Granted, 800+ miles worth of distance has made doing that a little bit harder this year. But, when in Rome, we will do as the Romans used to do. Or, something like that.

That includes mapping out where you need to be today, if you’re in the same vicinity as us and want to hear some brilliant artists for the price of Free.99. Also, because it’s good to be back, we’re going to focus this solely on artists from the region we call home, to give you just a taste of the Keystone State’s best.

Let’s kick it old school with a…

Musikfest Five-Point Preview: Saturday, August 10

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