Tonight, we’re heading south to give some love to the locals!
There’s a whole slew of Lehigh Valley artists playing on the festival’s South Side tonight inside of the Lyrikplatz stage, and we’ve decided to dedicate today’s preview and some coverage to them. See who’s playing below!
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!
After a raucous first Saturday night of Musikfest — one during which Facebook Live just wouldn’t work, probably due to the mass of people using bandwidth in such a small area — we hit the scene this afternoon for a couple of early shows before coming back to prepare for tonight’s Lehigh Valley Music Awards Rock Showcase, sponsored by Lehigh Valley Underground.
We arrived to Plaza Tropical in time for Miller and the Other Sinners, a blues/soul outfit from Buffalo, New York. Fronted by David Michael Miller, the Sinners played a noteworthy set full of blazing instrumental solos and extended jams — and, as luck would have it, Facebook Live was back up and running, if you want an example.
After the Sinners finished up at Plaza Tropical, we started to head back, but not before stopping at Red Stag Pub Liederplatz at the Sun Inn Courtyard to catch the end of a set from Reading-based folk band, Grexin’. The band was playing an unplugged set as part of the stage’s Acoustic Roadshow, and their crisp vocal harmonies and down-home rhythms made for a pleasant listen.
We’ll head out a bit later, of course, for the LVMAs Rock Showcase, featuring Another Day Dawns, Doubting Thoma$, The Cherrybombs, and Social Call. The fun starts at 8. See you there!
I’ll start by saying this: You know where you need to be tonight.
Just in case you don’t, I’m here to tell you: You need to come to the Lehigh Valley Music Awards Rock Showcase, sponsored by Lehigh Valley Underground.
Starting at 8 p.m., Another Day Dawns, Doubting Thoma$, The Cherrybombs, and Social Call will be at FLYLVIA Plaza Tropical. We’ll be there. Everyone will be there!
Including you. Yes, you.
Fritz’s Polka Band | 12 p.m.
Stage: Wells Fargo Festplatz (North)
Description: Would it be Musikfest without polka? No. The answer is no.
Burning Bridget Cleary | 3 p.m.
Stage: Volksplatz (North)
Description: Sunday’s diverse offerings continue with the popular Celtic folk group.
Eric Mintel Quartet | 4 p.m.
Stage: Red Stag Pub Liederplatz (North)
Description: Jazz on a beautiful, lazy Sunday afternoon? Where do we sign up?
Belle-Skinner | 5 p.m.
Stage: Martin Guitar Lyrikplatz at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas (South)
Description: Keepin’ it indie from all the way in Albany!
The Lehigh Valley Music Awards Rock Showcase, sponsored by Lehigh Valley Underground | 8 p.m.
Stage: FLYLVIA Plaza Tropical (North)
Description: We already told you, didn’t we?
There’s more where that came from! Check in with DustinSchoof.com every morning throughout Musikfest for a full free stage lineup!
JD & the Straight Shot returns to the Lehigh Valley tonight!
It’s the first Saturday of Musikfest! We hope that opening night went as swimmingly for you as it did for us.
We still have a long way to go, and a lot of music to enjoy. Let’s get right to it, then, with today’s…
The Mellowells | 1 p.m.
Stage: FLYLVIA Plaza Tropical (North)
Description: The indie rockers (and multi-time ‘Festers) make the trek from Lancaster.
Jutaun | 2 p.m.
Stage: FLYLVIA Plaza Tropical (North)
Description: From R&B, to pop, to rock, these South Jersey boys can do it all.
Dave Fry Acoustic Trio | 4 p.m.
Stage: Red Stag Pub Liederplatz (North)
Description: Enjoy a relaxed Saturday afternoon with the Lehigh Valley folk legend.
JD & the Straight Shot | 7 p.m.
Stage: Air Products Americaplatz (South)
Description: In case you missed them in April, come down and see what the “Ballyhoo!” is about.
The Amish Outlaws | 8:30 p.m.
Stage: Wells Fargo Festplatz (North)
Description: I’m biased, of course, because these dudes helped me cement my Valley legacy. Aside from that, however, this is guaranteed to be a can’t-miss, epic party.
There’s more where that came from! Check in with DustinSchoof.com every morning throughout Musikfest for a full free stage lineup!
Scott Marshall returns to the Musikfest Cafe Friday night.
You were wondering where your Can’t-Miss Shows were this week, weren’t you?
Admittedly, I wanted to take a few days off before hitting the scene during Musikfest. After all, there’s going to be so much music around these parts for the next ten days, that we’re going to have our hands full covering all of it.
I also must admit that we may not get to EVERY. SINGLE. SHOW. at Musikfest over the course of the next ten days. However, we will try our best to hit as many as possible (and if you want us to get to yours in particular, please let us know).
Either way, we WILL come at you each day of the festival with a brand-new…
Alex Radus Trio | 5 p.m.
Stage: Hotel Bethlehem Platz (North)
Description: Mixing folk, jazz, Americana, and more, the diverse trio kicks off the second year of the iconic hotel’s official Musikfest stage.
Opening Ceremonies | 6 p.m.
Stage: Festplatz (North)
Description: Ring in a brand-new ‘Fest, back where it all started!
X Ambassadors ft. Rachel Platten & Jukebox the Ghost | 7 p.m.
Stage: Sands Steel Stage (South)
Description: The band that brought you “Renegades” kicks off the main stage action. LVU will have a review on Saturday!
Scott Marshall & Marshall’s Highway | 8 p.m.
Stage: PNC Series at Musikfest Café (South)
Description: One of the Valley’s most popular acts returns to the scene of its April heroin awareness benefit.
The Rare Occasions | 11 p.m.
Stage: TD Community Stage on Air Products Townsquare (South)
Description: The party continues deep into the night with the Providence-based alt-rockers.
There’s more where that came from! Check in with DustinSchoof.com every morning throughout Musikfest for a full free stage lineup!
…and that’s just one of the many exciting things about this year’s recently-announced Musikfest free stage lineup!
OK, I must admit: I’m pumped for the return of SAURUS. Those bird/dinosaur/robot things were pretty epic when I encountered them after a couple Summer Shandies two years ago.
Even moreso, I can’t wait to hear some incredible music over the course of ten August days and nights in the Christmas City. The first weekend alone is stacked with artists we’ve featured before on LVU, from locals Alex Radus Trio, Scott Marshall, and Hector Rosado, to nationally-touring favorites like JD & the Straight Shot. The Amish Outlaws, too, hold a special place in my heart, as theirs was the first Musikfest show I ever worked as an event staffer at Festplatz on a Saturday night. On that fateful night, I got booed by the masses for telling an 85-year-old man to stop dancing on a table, and the Outlaws’ lead singer helped me return a lost child to his family, mid-song. It was a memorable night in my life, for sure.
As you can tell, I still get excited for Musikfest after all these years (I attended my first in 2007, as a rising Moravian College sophomore). I’m also looking forward to covering as many of these great performances as possible for LVU.
For now, take a look at the free lineup and let us know: Which shows are you most excited for, and which would you like to see us cover?