Musikfest
is a music festival that has been held each August in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA since 1984. The festival begins on the first Friday in August and ends on Sunday ten days later. Musikfest 2009 is running July 31-August 9.
Each year, one million visitors make the trip to Bethlehem to participate in a celebration that weaves through a Moravian community that dates to 1741. Festival visitors (about 100,000 daily) are treated to between 700 and 1,000 free shows over the course of the event. Each night, the festival's premium venue usually hosts a nationally-known recording artist. These premium concerts, along with select shows at a few other venues, require paid admission.
Past headlining shows have included Stone Temple Pilots, Clay Aiken, Air Supply, Alice in Chains, Boston, The Beach Boys, Tony Bennett, Boyz II Men, Collective Soul, Ray Charles, .38 Special, George Clinton, Dixie Chicks, Dr. Demento (with "Weird Al" Yankovic for added humor), Poison, Duran Duran, Earth, Wind & Fire, Fuel, Hootie & the Blowfish, Kool & The Gang, Jethro Tull, Jonny Lang, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, Steve Miller Band, Live, REO Speedwagon, Staind and George Thorogood.
Local German roots are the foundation of the celebration, and most of the festival's venues use the German word for place, "platz", at the ends of their names. A popular place for eating and listening to music, for example, is the large "Festplatz", which includes 300 dining tables and usually features a polka band each night. Beyond that, however, Musikfest's music, food and other attractions represent a broad range of ethnicities.
Musikfest is presented by ArtsQuest, a nonprofit arts organization founded to "celebrate arts and culture" in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Proceeds from the event benefit ArtsQuest ventures such as the Banana Factory community arts center in South Bethlehem and the First Night Bethlehem celebration in center city on New Year's Eve, as well as other nonprofit groups throughout the region.
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MUSIKFEST TICKETS
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2009 Performers
Sands RiverPlace Stage
The Commodores,
The Wallflowers and
Chris Isaak,
Yes and
Asia,
David Cook with
Green River Ordinance,
Third Eye Blind with
Matt Nathanson,
The B-52's and
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts,
Puddle of Mudd and
Trapt with Stasis,
Pat Benatar and
Blondie with
The Donnas,
George Thorogood & The Destroyers with
Jonny Lang, and
Crosby, Stills & Nash.
- Panic! at the Disco and Owl City were originally on the lineup, but had to cancel due to scheduling conflict. They have since been replaced by The Commodores.
Independence IT Performing Arts Series
Ladysmith Black Mambazo,
Gordon Lightfoot, and
Rufus Wainright.
PNC Bank Candlelight Concert Series
Martin Sexton,
Al Stewart,
Leon Redbone,
Dar Williams, The Broadway Boys, and
Simone.
Northampton Community College Mid-Atlantic Band Competition
A first for 2009, Musikfest is holding a web-based competition for any band in the mid-Atlantic region of the
United States to win a gig at this year's Musikfest. Twenty bands are slated to be chosen by online voting, out of the estimated hundreds that will most likely enter the competition. Of those twenty, 4 will be chosen after competitions between the bands, and those 4 bands will get performances at Musikfest 2009, as well as monetary prizes. Of those 4 bands, one will have their performance filmed and be guaranteed a booking at Musikfest 2010.
Entrance for the bands has since ended and the voting process will begin soon.
Northampton Community College Mid-Atlantic Band Competition Winners
The following 4 bands have been chosen out of the original Top 10 and have won the Mid-Atlantic Band Competition.
Dephonic, Jaded Son, Parkwright, and Reilly.
- The Gary Bonnett Band had originally been one of the four finalists, but had to cancel their performance for personal reasons. The band Reilly has since been given the honor of becoming one of the finalists.
The Platze
Eleven of Musikfest's 14 stages, located at platze (places) throughout the festival area, feature free concerts.
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Americaplatz:
Sarah Ayers Band, The Craig Thatcher Band, HER & King's Country, Cooper Boone, Antsy McClain & The Trailer Park Troubadors,
Eric Steckel, Larry Holmes & Marmalade, Rosie Flores, Peripheral Vision, Frog Holler,
Dr. Dog, Deb Callahan Band, BC & Company, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Don Cunningham and His Cabinet, Steve Brosky & His Big Lil' Band, Stars of Bethlehem, Friar's Point, Todd Wolfe, Davy Knowles &
Back Door Slam, The Doughboys, The Difference,
Marcia Ball, Mike Dugan & The Blues Mission, Grayson Capps & The Stumpknockers,
John Lee Hooker Junior, Scott Marshall & Marshall's Highway, Guitardogs, and The Philadelphia Funk Authority.
Fowler & Peña Banana Island:
The Trophy Husbands, The Uptown Band, Steve Pullara, Thaddeus Rex, The McKrells,
Alison Brown Quartet, David Fry, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band, Nancy Coletti, Magnum, Trombosis, Ray Owen, The Cat's Pajamas, Tommy Zito, The Large Flowerheads,
Kira Willey, BASD Guitar Camp, Fusion Jazz Trio, Big City Music Band, Project, Baze & His Silly Friends,
Hot Peas 'N Butter, Womens' Blues Alliance,
Mingo Fishtrap, Two-of-a-Kind, Big Bang Boom, Shelly Clark, Craig Kastelnik, Miss Amy & Her Big Kids Band, BoyintheShade, Dan DeChellis Trio, Dueling Pianos,
Suzi Shelton, Princess Katie & Racer Steve, Brad Litwin, John Németh,
Missy Raines & The New Hip, Uncle Rock, Yosi & The Superdads, Marlene Gilley Swingtet, and Lucy Bonilla.
Chamber Series:
City Winds Trio, The Mascaro-Newman Duo, Innovata, Gabriel Chamber Ensemble, and The Sybarite Five.
Evolution Music Series:
Latin Fiesta: The Evolution of Latin Music, David Leonhardt: The Evolution of Jazz, Brad Litwin: The Evolution of Blues, Barry Hannigan: The Evolution of the Piano, and Dave Fry - Rock Roots: The Evolution of Rock 'n' Roll.
The Morning Call Festplatz:
Jolly Joe Timmer, Lenny Gomulka & The Chicago Push, Dennis Polisky & The Maestro's Men, Jump City Jazz,
Walt Groller Orchestra,
Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, Main Street Cruisers, Joe Weber, Polka Family Band, Crazy Heart, Joe Lastovica & The Polka Punch,
Jon Stevens' Doubleshot, The Sensational Soul Cruisers, Die Fahrenbacher, The Slicked Up 9's, City Rhythm Orchestra, The Polka Quads, The Fabulous Greaseband, Josef Kroboth, The Steve Meisner Band,
Lucky 7, Henry & The Versa J's, UUU, The Flamin' Caucasians, The Adlers, Brave Combo, and Alex Meixner &
Bubba Hernandez.
Handwerkplatz:
Cast in Bronze
Liederplatz:
Scott Paul, Donovan-Roberts, Zen For Primates, Bronze Radio Return, Lili Añel, The Headers, The Dan May Band,
Webb Wilder & The Beatnicks,
Eric Steckel, Lehigh Valley Folk Music Society,
Catie Curtis, Digney Fignus, Antsy McClain & The Trailer Park Troubadours, Andrew Portz, Justin Solonyka, Emerald City, Burning Bridget Cleary, The Tartan Terrors, Seamus Kennedy, Acoustic Roadshow, Project,
Lovell sisters, Natural Breakdown, Jack Murray,
Paul Rishell and Annie Raines, Godfrey Daniels, Hoots & Hellmouth, The Chandler Travis Philharmonic,
Chris Smither, Philadelphia Songwriters, David Jacobs-Strain, The Youngers,
Carrie Rodriguez,
Oakhurst, Matt Watroba, Andy Cohen, Robin Greenstein, Peter Siegel, Annie Hills with
Jay Ansill & Strings,
Bob Carlin &
Cheick Hamala Diabaté, Beaucoup Blue, Radio Free Earth,
Women in Docs,
The Duhks,
The Arrogant Worms, Lisa Bodnar Band, Fellswoop, Girls, Guns & Glory, and Chuck Mead.
Martin Guitar Lyrikplatz:
Kristin Diable, Donovan-Roberts, Crossing North, Radio Free Earth,
Women in Docs, Bill Toms, Danny Rocco,
Tim Miller, Liz Longley, Lili Añel, Dan Stevens & Chris D'Amato, Scott Paul, Julia Joseph, Tim Harakal, Miché Fambro, Brittany Ann, Lester Hirsh, Dave Fry,
Catie Curtis, Matthew Praetel, Suzie Hall, Yancarlos Sanchez, Black Sheep Poets, Nate Marks, John Frinzi, Anthony da Costa, Roger Latzgo, Christy Jefferson, Steve Brosky & Jimmy Meyer, Bud Buckley, Patrick Fitzsimmons, Dina Hall, Bob Sima, Martin Guitar Band,
Carrie Rodriguez, Kyle Herring, Jeff Umbehaurer, Nikki Shannon, Bluzin, Eren Cannata, Jerry Haines, Russell Howard, Scott McKenna, Sarah Ayers, Up The Chain, Suzie Brown, Dan Redine, Tania Alexandra, and J.D. Malone.
Plaza Tropical:
Ogans, Luisito Rosario & Orquetra, PhillyBloco, Latin Fiesta, Chino Nunez,
AMLA Showcase,
The Young Werewolves, The Coffin Daggers,
Los Straitjackets, HALA Solseros 2009, Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association, Bethlehem Music Settlement, Go Trio, Sandlot Heroes, Dephonic, Jaded Son,
Paul Green School of Rock Music, Community Music School, Irish Stars Parker School of Irish Dance, Monarch Dance Company,
Talking Heads Tribute: Start Making Sense, Parkwright, Reilly, The Oasis Band, SWiM, Beyond Barriers, Butterjive, KEF, Splintered Sunlight, The Mango Men, Parrot Beach, The Toga Party Band, Jimmy & The Parrots, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts, The Lesson Center, 3D Ritmo de Vida, Santa Mamba, Sergio Rivera & Friends Salsa, SUYA, Frankie Morales & the Mambo of the Times Orchestra, Pablo Mayor & Folklore Urbano, Sabroso Video Showcase, and Hector Rosado y su Orchestra Aché.
Pennsylvania Lottery Volksplatz:
George Hrab & the Geologic Orchestra,
Brother, Auerhahn Schuhplattler Verein, Li'l Anne & Hot Cayenne, Trouble City All Stars,
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Blue Ribbon Cloggers, C'est Si Bon, Jamnazi Africa Band, Daisy Jug Band, The Tartan Terrors, Alô Brasil, Seamus Kennedy, Digney Fignus,
Lovell sisters, Zydeco-A-Go-Go,
Los Straitjackets, Allegro Dance Company, The Jamani Drummers, Bearfoot,
Salsa Celtica,
Mingo Fishtrap, Mama Jama, Music From China, Blackwater, Oakhurst, Scythian, O'Grady-Quinlan Academy, Barynya Russian Balalaika Duo, The Doc Marshalls, Spiritual Rez,
Tempest, Brownpenny, The Martin Family Band, Super Haki Haki with Dola Kabarry, West Philadelphia Orchestra,
The Red Elvises, Lehigh Valley Cloggers, I Paesani, The Afromotive, Witches in Bikinis, Sharon Plessl/Excel Dance Company,
Catfish and The Crawdaddies, and The Blues Brotherhood.
Vesper Series:
The Colorado Quartet, Bay Street Brassworks, The Ravel Trio, All4One Piano Duo, and Barry Hannigan.
2008 Performers
Straub Dodge Chrysler Jeep RiverPlace Stage
Avril Lavigne,
Live and
Collective Soul,
Kool & The Gang,
Boston,
Poison,
Earth, Wind & Fire,
Jethro Tull,
Lonestar and
Diamond Rio, and
John Fogerty.
MRK Hostwindow Performing Arts Series
Lez Zeppelin,
Dennis DeYoung,
.38 Special,
Phil Vassar,
Citizen Cope, and
Rosanne Cash
PNC Bank Candlelight Concert Series
John Gorka,
Eileen Ivers,
Over the Rhine,
Edwin McCain,
The Dixie Hummingbirds, and
Christian McBride.
The Platze
Americaplatz:
Sarah Ayers,
Tommy Castro, Collins Brothers Band, Mother Truckers,
Matt Jenkins, The Rob Stoneback Big Band, Antsy McClain & The Trailer Park Troubadours, West Side Winders, The Mayor & His Cabinet, The Craig Thatcher Band,
Roomful of Blues, Peripheral Vision, Deb Callahan, Lil' Ed & The Blue Imperials, Leslie,
Webb Wilder, Matt Zeiner, The Last Waltz Ensemble,
Ryan Shaw,
Eric Steckel, Todd Wolfe, Blue Wild Gypsy, and The Sensational Soul Cruisers.
Banana Island:
Joe Baione, Zen for Primates, Steve Pullara & The Cool Beans Band, Yosi & The Superdads, BC & The Blues Crew, Geoff Achinson & The Souldiggers, Thaddeus Rex, The Cat's Pajamas, Dan DeChellis, Craig Kastelnik, Ray Owen, The Jimmies, Dave Fry, Tommy Zito, Triple Play, Uproar of 1968, Mister Ray, Moove & Groove, Lauren Musurneci & Joe Musurneci, Kind of Blue, Dueling Pianos,
Starfish, David Joel, The Element, Big Jeff & His Mid-Sized Band, Miss Amy, Tim Marchetto, Lao Tizer,
Mingo Fishtrap, and Marlene Giley.
Festplatz:
Eddie Forman, Jolly Joe Timmer, Dennis Polisky & The Maestro's Men, Big Tubba Mista, Jump City Jazz, Steve Meisner,
Walt Groller,
Jimmy Sturr, Josef Kroboth, Polka Family Band, The Farmer's Daughter, Crazy Heart,
Lucky 7, Die Mariazeller, Joe Grikman, Lebanon Big Swing Band, City Rhythm Orchestra, Doubleshoot, Fabulous Greaseband, Adam Barthalt, Shama Lama, UUU, The Flamin' Caucasians, Joe Weber, The Adlers, Lyn Marie & The Boxhounds, and Alex Meixner.
Main Street:
Religion & Cash, Jackie Tice, Kane & Beatty, Straight Drive, Tavern Tan Band, Not Quite Sure, Beaucoup Blue, The Syncopatin' Six, Mad Sweet Pangs, Scott Marshall, Jackknife Betty, Mount Laurel Bluegrass Band, My Better Half, Russ Rentler, Erick Macek, Marc Silver, Tin Kettle, Jay Smar, Run Mountain, The Big Dirty, Doug Smith, Two Man Gentlemen Band, Wahoo Skiffle Crazies, and Quick Step John.
Liederplatz:
Women In Docs, Cadillac Sky, Straight Drive,
Ernie Hawkins, Paul & Storm,
Chestnut Brass Company, J.B. Kline, Frank Bey & The Swing City Blues Band, Alathea, Emerald City, Kennedy's Kitchen, Sligo Rags, The Lovell Sisters, Jason Spooner,
Janis Ian, Toby Walker, Godfrey Daniels, The McKrells,
Susan Werner, The Electric Farmer, The Philadelphia Songwriters,
Tommy Womack, The Doc Marshalls, The Section Quartet, Cathy & Marcy, Radio Free Earth, Dan May, The Daisy Jug Band, The DoughBoys,
Jann Klose, Vanida Gai, Craig Bickhardt, Lizanne Knot, and Peter Karp.
Lyrikplatz:
Jerry Haines, Lester Hersch, Lisa Bodnar, Sara Cox, Gillian Grassie, Brian Thomas Jackson,
Kendra Ross,
Tim Miller, Arlon Bennett, Lili Anel, Steve Mahoney, Donovan Roberts, Tim Marchetto, Andrew Portz, David LaFleur, Skip Denenberg, Shawn Z., HelenMaria, Joey Mutis, Jeff Umbehauer, Christy Jefferson, Steve Brosky & Jimmy Meyer,
Laura Warshauer, Ken Waldman, Eric Macek, Sarah Donner, George Hrab,
Casey Desmond, Phoebe Henry, Ange & Ris, John Conahan, Susie Keynes,
Jann Klose, Vanida Gail, and Alfred James.
Plaza Tropical:
3D Ritmo De Vida, Santa Mamba, D'La Kalle, Chino Nunez & Friends, Frankie Morales & The Mambo of the Time Band, AMLA, The Coffin Daggers, The Atomic Mosquitoes,
Diamond Head, The Salseros, Beyond Barriers, SWiM, Cubana Tres, Butterjive, Project 222, Splintered Sunlight, The John Frizi Band, Jimmy & The Parrots, 1910 Fruitgum Comapny, Manuel Quintana, Larry Hoppen,
Robbie Dupree, Mama Jama, Sabroso, and Luisito Rosario.
Volksplatz:
Sharon Plessel, Zydeco-A-Go-Go, Alex Meixner, Finn's Fury, Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, Blue Ribbon Cloggers, Resonance Percussion,
Terrance Simien, Barynaya Russian Balalaika Duo, The Lovell Sisters, Dixie Power, Entrain, Seamus Kennedy, O'Grady Quinlan School of Irish Dance, The Martin Family Band,
Paul Cebar, Post Junction,
Tempest, Flamenco Tabla, Ansambl Mastika, The Chicago Afro-Beat Project, Scythian, Kazka, The VooDudes,
Red Elvises, Animus Mediterranean World Fusion & Dance, River City Slim, Raposo, and The Blues Brotherhood.
2007 Performers
Straub Dodge Chrysler Jeep RiverPlace Stage
The Black Crowes,
B. B. King,
Etta James,
Meat Loaf,
The Moody Blues,
Patti LaBelle,
Deep Purple,
John Kay &
Steppenwolf,
Ludacris,
Joe Walsh,
Big & Rich with
Cowboy Troy and
Stone Sour.
MRK Hostwindow Performing Arts Series
The Yellowjackets,
Joan Osborne,
Dark Star Orchestra,
The Manhattan Transfer,
The Yardbirds and
Petula Clark.
PNC Bank Candlelight Concert Series
Amos Lee,
Jonatha Brooke,
Tom Rush,
Kim Richey,
Cornell Gunter's Coasters and
David Bromberg.
Performances by
Bang Camaro, Tea Leaf Green, Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, Watermelon Slim & the Workers, Babatundae Lea, Stanton Moore, Entrain, Zydepunks, Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, The Fabulous Greaseband,
Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra,
Enter the Haggis, Scythian,
Brother, Shafatullah Khan, Mingo Fishtrap,
GrooveLily,
The Arrogant Worms and literally hundreds more performers of countless different genres.
References
- About Musikfest