Tag Archives: support local

LVU Wants to Know: Where Do You Want a New Venue?

We’re not suggesting anything with that image. We swear…

With our ever-growing music community producing more talent than perhaps ever before, the demand for venues – particularly, those which support original music – has increased in recent years.

Of course, this demand has been met by the emergence of hot spots in certain pockets of the Valley. SteelStacks has dominated the music scene in Bethlehem over the past five years, while the South Side also boasts mainstays Godfrey Daniels and The Funhouse. Meanwhile, Allentown’s resurgence and Easton’s emerging presence have, respectively, provided more local, original acts with places to play. There is always room to grow, however, especially as the list of talented artists in our area continues to do the same.

Of course, there is always speculation about turning Bethlehem’s Boyd Theatre into a live music venue. While we’re still on board with that being a great idea – think of the foot traffic! – we don’t own the place, and we realize that there are other areas of the Valley where bands and the community at large would also benefit from an increased presence of live music venues.

So… tell us where you are, why it would make a great place for a new venue, and what kind of music it should support. Or, in your opinion, is our scene fine as it is? Either way, we want to know what you think!

Sunday Thought Series: We’ve Had Ourselves a Month

May has been so busy and exciting that it’s hard to believe that we were in the middle of our first media partnership with Allentown JazzFest only a few weeks ago. We started the month with Scott Tixier in Emmaus, and the festival would continue during the month’s opening week with performances from Steve Coleman and Five Elements, Lucy Woodward and many more.

The fun continued all month long. We’ve seen debuts, international rising stars, industry veterans, and long-time local favorites. We successfully closed the return season – and first on LVU – of our official podcast, The Quinn Spinn, with great hope for the future. And, of course, we met more great people and had insightful conversations that will surely help us all work toward the betterment of our original music community in the months and years ahead.

Through it all, there’s a sense of satisfaction in knowing that so many people in our music community have been positively impacted by Lehigh Valley Underground, both throughout this month and dating back to January. The fact that people are hearing about us on their own – and not just from my incessant, daily social media posts – means that we’ve strengthened the music scene, and that we can only get better from here together.

It should be an amazing summer. A lot of big things are beginning to take shape. Although I can’t talk about them yet, please know that May was just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a lot more #BuildingBetter where this came from.

PHOTOS: Dana Gaynor Band at Mayfair

It’s a blazing hot Memorial Day weekend in the Lehigh Valley, and that means it’s time for Mayfair Festival of the Arts! The festival rolls along all weekend, and began last night with an appearance from the Dana Gaynor Band.

Gaynor and her bandmates withstood the heat for two hours to deliver an incredibly tight performance of all original music across genres. Those in attendance heard shades of blues, rock, jam, rockabilly, country, and even a little pop throughout the night.

Mayfair continues all weekend long, highlighted by performances from the Godfrey Daniels Community, Big Valley Bluegrass, Craig Thatcher and more (full schedule here). We’ll be back to close the festival on Monday for Scott Marshall & Marshall’s Highway.

Until then, enjoy these photos from last night’s stellar performance.

Autoerotica’s “Alone” Featured in UFC Program

It’s been a huge week for Autoerotica. First, they were a part of a big night of rock at The Originals Music Series on Thursday. Then, of course, they made their Quinn Spinn debut yesterday with their new single, “Alone.”

Arguably bigger than a coveted appearance on The Quinn Spinn, however, is this. Autoerotica’s “Alone” is used in the fifth installment of UFC’s “Dana White: Lookin’ For a Fight.”

Seriously, that’s a huge opportunity! Check it out — the song begins at 21:47.

PHOTOS: Soul Folks and Not For Coltrane at Godfrey Daniels

Fact: The first time I set foot into the City of Bethlehem was as a Moravian College freshman in 2006.

Fact: Last night was the first time in those ten years where I had attended a show at Godfrey Daniels.

I am not proud that it took me so long to visit a venue that has been a mainstay in our music community for 40 years. Rather, I point this out to say that Soul Folks and Not For Coltrane definitely made it worth the wait.

When you visit Godfrey Daniels, there is a very pronounced focus on the music. It is a listening room, where the entire audience is there to engage with the musicians. Likewise, the musicians engage back by means of storytelling and supreme musical talent.

Highlighted by originals, covers, special appearances, and a rousing, unexpected folk finale of Snoop Dogg’s “Gin & Juice,” Soul Folks and Not For Coltrane combined their powers to make Saturday night a memorable experience. It certainly won’t be another ten years before I’m back at Godfrey Daniels.

News from the Underground, Delivered to Your (Virtual) Door

As Lehigh Valley Underground continues to grow and do new and exciting things this spring and summer, we want to be sure that you’re privy to all the local music news that is fit to hear.

So, I took the liberty of going onto MailChimp, signing us up for an account, and enabling things in such a way that we will soon introduce Underground Weekly, a e-newsletter bringing you the week’s top stories.

Just imagine: Being able to read about your favorite local artists, find episodes of The Quinn Spinn, and browse photos — while having the content delivered to you.

Yeah, aren’t we awesome for doing this? You’re welcome.

All you have to do to get started is sign up for our mailing list. We promise not to send too many emails — just enough to keep you posted!

Subscribe to Lehigh Valley Underground’s mailing list by clicking this link.

The Quinn Spinn: May 16, 2016

On today’s episode, The Quinn Spinn gives you music from across the pond and right here at home. From Quinn Spinn veterans, to talented first-timers. From bands playing their debut show, to those getting ready to rock the stage in front of thousands. This is a vast, always-growing indie music community of ours, and we show it off on today’s show! #BuildingBetter
 
Track listing:
REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become (Opening theme)
Royzy Rothschild – Eminem Effect
Rod McCoy Music ft. Ron Shirley – My Queen & My Mistress
GC – Wannabe
Ayoinmotion ft. Edson Sean – She’s Leaving
Verde – Power
Snake – Dark Place
Stereo Treason – Open Range
Hell Beings – Leopard
Redleg Husky – My Old Heart
Red Zephyr – Darkened Days
Alpha Zero Three – My Signal
Midnight Mob – Ghosts

PHOTOS: The Secret System at The Originals Music Series

Last night was our first night out on the scene (or at least, actively covering a show) since Allentown JazzFest. Certainly, it’s been a busy couple of weeks, but not too busy to get back to The Originals Music Series.

While we were there, we caught a few songs from — and snapped a few photos of — The Secret System. We look forward to hearing more from the Lehigh Valley natives as time goes on.

Allentown FilmFest: A Marriage of Two Mediums

Last night, the inaugural Allentown FilmFest concluded at Civic Theater 514 on 19th St. A component of Allentown JazzFest, the film festival featured three nights of films – the 1966 Antonioni film, Blowup (Apr. 29), International Short Films (May 1), and last night’s showcase, the aptly titled A Night with the Experimental.

The concept for a film component to JazzFest began when Bryan Tuk, Executive Director of Performing Arts Live! Inc., approached local filmmaker Stephanie Gardner with a project.

“First, Bryan asked me to make a web teaser for JazzFest, and it branched out from there,” Gardner said. “He said he wanted to add film as an element and asked if I wanted to show something. I started giving him some ideas for programming he could show here, and he asked me to curate it.”

Gardner was intrigued by the idea, seeing an immediate connection between music and film that could be delivered to local audiences.

“I see music in general, and jazz especially, interrelated to film,” Gardner said. “I think cinema and music are a universal language, both a contrast between silences and sounds. I think film is an actual companion to JazzFest, and it’s something different that you’re not used to seeing.

Last night’s “experimental” films included several of Gardner’s, including a humorous take on William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 151, in which a man is portrayed pining over a meal from the original Nathan’s Hot Dog stand in Coney Island, NY; as well as “Allentown Grooves,” a music video showcasing the people and places of Allentown with live musical support from The Bryan Tuk Complex.

Each evening’s screening was capped by a discussion led by Gardner meant to engage the audience on a deeper, multi-cultural level.

“I like to start dialogues about how cinema is an art form of shared expressions,” Gardner said. “We can all relate to each other through it.”

Gardner hopes FilmFest leads to an ongoing discussion; one in which more local filmmakers have a voice and a platform for their work.

“I want to encourage more artists in the area to come out and say, “I have work that I can show,” Gardner said. “I know that there are arts happening here, but they’re not easy to find. I think a lot of people want to engage more in visual arts and music. I know there are filmmakers out there, but I don’t know what they’re doing or where to see them.”

Enjoy selections from Tuesday night’s “A Night of the Experimental” screening below.

Stephanie Gardner – Sonnet 151 (from The Sonnet Project)

Ishaan Kumar – Triumph of the Spill

Dave Meyers – Particles: Part II

PHOTOS: Adam Niewood Quartet at Allentown Brew Works High Gravity Lounge (AJF2016)

Monday night is a good night to mellow out. The workweek has just begun, and Allentown JazzFest had just the thing to help you decompress at Allentown Brew Works’ High Gravity Lounge: the Adam Niewood Quartet.

The lounge was a perfect backdrop for the smooth improvisation of Niewood and company, and the relaxed atmosphere was enhanced by Brew Works’ signature food and brews.

« Older Entries Recent Entries »