Musikfest is an American music festival that has been held annually since 1984 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. It is the nation's largest non-gated free music festival.[1] The festival begins on the first Friday in August, though it has been preceded since 2015 with a Thursday preview night involving the premium stage and adjacent areas. The festival ends the second Sunday thereafter.
Musikfest draws thousands of visitors to Bethlehem from around the nation and world in a celebration that weaves through a Moravian community that dates back to 1741. Festival visitors are treated to hundreds of free shows with great genre variety over the course of the event. Each night, the festival's premium stage, Steel Stage, formerly known as RiverPlace and Kunstplatz, hosts a nationally known recording artist. These premium concerts, along with select shows at other stages, require paid tickets to gain admission.
Musikfest is rooted in the Bethlehem area's German roots, and most of the festival's venues use Platz, the German word for place or square, at the end 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 cultures.
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 other nonprofit groups throughout the region. Musikfest served as the inspiration for major plot elements of the music film, Killian & the Comeback Kids.[2][3]
Musikfest 2024
Musikfest 41 is scheduled for August 1 to August 11, 2024.
Musikfest 2024 poster
Illustrated by Banana Factory Artist-in-Residence and Teaching Artist, Lauren Beck, the artwork depicts a night sky with Musikfest sitting below. Taking inspiration from the transcendent connections people experience when listening to music, Beck wanted to illustrate the grounding presence of music and the energy one would feel at a festival like Musikfest
August 11, 2024 - ZZ Top with special guest Foghat
Musikfest 2023
Musikfest 40 took place from August 3 to August 13.
Musikfest 2023 poster
Representing the Spanish heritage of a carnival, the colorful 2023 Musikfest poster mural not only commemorates the festival’s 40th anniversary, but also embodies the spirit and liveliness of the Lehigh Valley’s richly diverse culture. Celebrating around the mural’s center image, called a Vejigante, people happily dance among a rainbow burst of color and musical notes, against a colorfully rich backdrop that features the iconic SteelStacks nestled among hills and trees representing the City of Bethlehem.
Musikfest 39 took place from August 4 to the 14th, celebrating music and the arts within the community of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Musikfest 2022 poster
Fine artist Bart Cooper came up with a detailed poster, incorporating hidden imagery within his colorful vision. Capturing a joyful image of a father with his daughter hoisted onto his shoulders at Musikfest, Cooper wanted to bring warmth to his painting as the two share the same experience from different perspectives.[4]
After going virtual for 2020, Musikfest returned from August 5 to August 15, 2021, with another community celebration to mark its 38th year.
Poppies of Remembrance, Lanterns of Hope
Musikfest 2021 differentiated from previous years, honoring the lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic through the symbol of the Poppy flower in all operations of the event. Poppies of Remembrance, Lanterns of Hope was created through partnership with New Bethany Ministries to give the community a way to honor those lost, affected and to highlight the first responders of the pandemic. Through the illumination of votive candles inside paper bags, attendees paid respect to the lives lost. Those performing and in attendance were asked to #pausethemusik to take a moment of silence, remembering those who passed.[5]
Musikfest 2021 poster
The event poster was painted by fine artist Mandy Martin, drawing inspiration from the revival of Bethlehem through the years. Poppies serve as the focal point of the poster, to represent the growth of the city of Bethlehem and the fest. As the painting began Spring of 2020, Mandy's symbolism took on different meanings as the pandemic progressed.[6]
Musikfest Preview Night
In preparation for the festivities, equipment and the fest grounds were examined before welcoming Darius Rucker on August 5 to mark the start of the festivities.[7]
This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(October 2022)
Impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Musikfest 2020 was substantially scaled back from its traditional schedule of several hundred shows over the 10-day festival to only five live shows (along with live streaming of these shows). The festival took place July 31 to August 9.[8]
2018 marks the 35th Anniversary of the annual festival, which ran from August 3 to 12.
A special "35th Anniversary" poster was created by Dan Mugrauer, tattoo artist and owner of Blood Moon Tattoo Syndicate in Ambler, PA. The artwork will also be used for the official festival mug and souvenirs, while being incorporated into other official festival merchandise and apparel throughout the year.[9]
Musikfest Preview Night
To celebrate its 35th anniversary, a special preview night will be held the day before the festival officially begins.[10]
Harlan Tucker Band, Funky Dawgz Brass Band, The LA Hustle, Erin Kelly Band, Nash East, Adam Doleac, Walker McGuire, The Family Crest, Craig Thatcher Band
BB&T Jazz Cabaret Stage
Chelsea Reed, Bob Wagner Quartet, Gretchen And The Pickpockets, Hot Club of Philadelphia, Red Hot Ramblers, Wack Cheddar, The Jost Project, The Barrel House Brothers, Eric Mintel Quartet
Hotel Bethlehem Platz
Sweetbriar Rose, Ruth Wyand & The Tribe of One, Josh Ronen, Andrea Nardello, Zaire Acoustic Trio
PNC Series at Musikfest Cafe
The Bryan Tuk Complex, Cunningham & Associates, Philadelphia Funk Authority, PMEA District Band, Steelstacks HS All-Star Band, The Moondogs, The SuperNaturals, The Dull Blue Lights, Magnum, Tommy Zito, Craig Kastelnik and Friends with Bernard Purdie[11]
Musikfest 2017
The 34th iteration of the annual music festival took place from August 4 to 13.
On Saturday, August 5, a special 5k run dubbed the 'Musikfest 5K' was held in downtown Bethlehem during the festival [12]
Lutron Electronics Chamber Series at Central Moravian Church's Old Chapel
Denis Azabagic, Fairfield Duo, Zig Zag Quartet, Grace Adele Spruiell, and City Winds Trio
National Penn Bank Jazz Cabaret Stage at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas
Michael Dease, Heather Friedman, The Cook Trio, Barbara Martin & Vince Lewis, Two Cent Jazz Band, Hambone Relay, The Dan Wilkins Group, Nashaz, Blackbird Society Orchestra, The Barrel House Brothers, Hot Club of Philadelphia, Michelle Wiley Quartet, Hot Bijouxx, Brooke DiCaro, Blair Crimmins and the Hookers, Chickentown, Michael Gallant Trio, and Joe Wagner Trio
Yuengling Summer Concert Series at Steel Stage at PNC Plaza
In anticipation for this year's Musikfest, a summer series of concerts are scheduled leading up to this year's Musikfest, with some occurring after the festival has ended.
Wells Fargo Festplatz: Jolly Joe Timmer, The Sofa Kings, The Golden Tones, Bud Hundenski and the Corsairs, The Amish Outlaws, The Nerds, Philadelphia Funk Authority, Brian Kirk and the Jirks, John Stevens' Doubleshot, M80, Rubix Kube, The Exceptions, Joyous, The Soul Cruisers, Boogie Wonder Band, John Stanky and the Coalminers, Scott Marshall and Marshall's Highway, Crazy Hearts, The Main Street Cruisers, Desire, The Fabulous Greaseband, The Polskie Swingmasters, The Polka Brothers, The Aardvarks, The Blue Meanies perform The Kinks, The British Invasion Tribute, The Glimmer Twins, Strawberry Fields – The Ultimate Beatles Tribute Band, Walt Groller Orchestra, Alex Meixner Band, The Uptown Band [15]
Air Products Handwerkplatz: Polynesian Dance Productions and Cast in Bronze
Plaza Tropical: Blue Wave Theory, Briar Rabbit, Lines in the Sky, Arc and Stones, Grandpa Rage, The Romantic Era, Cedar Green, Bushmaster
Musikfest 2013
Musikfest 2013, which is once again presented by ArtsQuest, took place from August 2 to 11. The festival included hundreds of performances by bands, artists, comedians, artisans, and buskers. They performed on over 14 indoor and outdoor stages and venues throughout Bethlehem's historic 18th-century downtown, the Sands Casino SteelStacks Plaza, the Artsquest Center, the PNC Plaza and the Yuengling Musikfest Cafe. This year's festival was special in that it was the 30th anniversary of Musikfest, and as such, many special events and concerts were planned to commemorate this event. The final day of the festival was capped by an impressive fireworks display presented by Garden State Fireworks.
New to the festival was an event called the "Musikfest Color-Me-Rad 5K"; a 5K run with a twist, the runners were pelted with paint bombs from onlookers, as well as dodging and throwing paint bombs at each other. Also new to the festival was the First Annual Musikfest Volunteer Photography Exhibition. The exhibition highlighted the talents of the dedicated volunteers who document Musikfest each year. The exhibition featured the work of Dave Happel, Keith Huylebroeck, Joseph Ledva, Jeff Levy, Greg Ludwig, Diane Richter, Bob Yurko, and Adrianne Zimmerman.
Other events included interactive dance performances, late night stand-up comedy acts, multilingual Catholic masses, Presbyterian worship services, Methodist Celebrations, musical acts booked and presented by marketing students from the Bethlehem Area School District, SOStenuto Music Outreach Program presented by the YOUniversity of Music & Arts, and various retailers, vendors, and sponsored kiosks with interactive events, wares for sale, and contests.[16]
Musikfest's family venue – kids' rides, activities and arts & crafts, children's performers, outdoor venue, with covered and uncovered seating. Planned events this year include a Creativity Tent, Themed Arts & Crafts Sessions, a Musikfest-wide Treasure Hunt, and mural painting done by various children (and adults) as a tribute to the 30th anniversary of Musikfest.
Wells Fargo Festplatz on Main and Spring Streets
Sofa Kings, Lucky 7, Joe Stanky and The Cadets, Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra, The Aardvarks, Fritz's Polka Band, The Nerds, Philadelphia Funk Authority, The Rob Stoneback Big Band, Jump City Jazz Orchestra, Beantown Swing Orchestra, Joe Weber, Brian Clayton, Crazy Hearts, Tommy Guns Band, Joyous, The Exceptions, Boogie Wonder Band, The Soul Cruisers, Main Street Cruisers, Desire, Emily's Toybox, Joe Kroboth, John Stevens' Doubleshot, HALA Dance Expo, Alex Torres Band, The Wholigans, The English Channel, The Blue Meanies, Strawberry Fields, Walt Groller Orchestra, Bud Hudenski and The Corsairs, and The Alex Meixner Band.
Air Products Handwerkplatz
Cast in Bronze
National Penn Bank Jazz Cabaret Stage at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas
Mike Lorenz, Blackbird Society Orchestra, Two Cent Jazz Band, The Smoke Rings, The Uptown Underground, The Hot Club of Philadelphia, Kristi Lynn Quartet, Tony Gairo Trio, Alignment, Helix, Dan DeChellis Trio, Jessy Carolina and The Hot Mess, Pamela Webb, Frenchy and the Punk, Bumper Jacksons, Blair Crimmins and The Hookers, Frank Giasullo Quartet, Hot Bijouxx, and Ben Mauger's Vintage Jazz Band.
Late Night Comedy at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas:
Mandudebro, James Hesky, The Associated Mess, and Randy Tonge
Downtown Bethlehem Association Liederplatz:
Lou Franco, John Gorka, Lehigh Valley Folk Society, Acoustic Roadshow, Daisy Jug Band, Dala, Eric Steckel, Ameranouche, Little Buddy, Goodnight Texas, Tumbling Bones, The StereoFidelics, Wanamaker Lewis Band, James Supra Band, Dina Hall Band, The Mallett Brothers Band, Billy Bauer Band, Zen for Primates, The Guggenheim Grotto, Wooly and The Mammoth, The Abrams Brothers, Craig Thatcher, Nyke Van Wyk, This Way To The Egress, Star and Micey, Gangstagrass, The Dustbowl Revival, Dave Fry, The Whiskeyhickon Boys, The Steel Wheels, New Sweden, Trout Fishing in America, Caravan of Thieves, Best of Open Mic, Lucy Kaplansky, Eighteenth Hour, and The Wiyos.
Martin Guitar Lyrikplatz at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas:
Tim Harakal, Scott Marshall, Twain Blue, Angela Sheik, Just So, Heather Friedman, The Honey Badgers, Gina Sicilia, Erin Kelly, Nalani & Sarina, John Fadem, SJ, Brosky and Meyer, Graham Alexander, Kenny Ferrier, Tall Tall Trees, Skyler, Chris Pickering, Tracy Walton, Jared Weintraub, Nyke Van Wyk, Annaliese Emerick, Ryan Tennis, Lily Mae, Shane Cooley, Angelo M, Lizanne Knot, Karen and Amy Jones, Rachel Marie, Our Griffins, Melissa VanFleet, McClain Sullivan, Louis DeFabrizio, Heidi Winzinger, Matt Wade, Dina Hall, Twin Ghost, Rodger Delany, Dani Mari, Madison Cano, George Dennehy, Kwesi Kankam, John Childers, Amanda Duncan, The Vulcans, Brittany Ann, and Reverend TJ McGlinchey.
Downtown Bethlehem Association Main Street:
John Beacher, Lovebettie, Emily Mure, Harkland, Post Junction, Marc Singley, Miracles of Modern Science, On the Water, Joshua P. James and the Paper Planes, Pearl and the Beard, MiZ, Hillbilly Shakespeare, The Late Ancients, The Whiskeyhickon Boys, Bong Hits for Jesus, Tavern Tan, Kagero, Blue Jersey Band, Cinder Conk, Echo & Drake, John the Conqueror, Bumper Jacksons, Elijah and the Moon, Giani Paci, Shivering Timbers, Crushed Out, The Almighty Terribles, The 4 Walls, The Wallace Brothers, and DJ Fusion.
Street Performers on Main Street:
Johnathan Burns, Wacky Chad, Crazy Boy Coy, Breakatronz, Jason Divad, and Arizona Jones.
PNC Series at the Yuengling Musikfest Cafe:
BC Combo, The Smoke Rings, The Fabulous Greaseband, Sweet Leda and Ron Holloway, Gas House Gorillas, Work Release, Nouveaux Honkies, Craig Kastelnik & Friends, Tommy Zito, Magnum, Eric Mintel Quartet, Bob Lanza Blues Band, The Folkadelics, Cunningham and Associates, The Abrams Brothers, The Slicked Up Nines, Philadelphia Funk Authority, Moonshine Society, Ball in the House, Lucky 7, Hoppin' John Orchestra, Fox Street Allstars, The Aardvarks, Caravan of Thieves, and The Brosky/Meyer Band.
Plaza Tropical:Carlos Núñez, Wito Rodriguez Salsa Jazz Orchestra, Steve Pullara and His Cool Beans Band, Time Will Tell, Ground Up, Bonner Band, Daylight, HOLA Showcase, Rolie Polie Guacamole, Me & My Uncle, Stone Flower, The Large Flowerheads, Craig Thatcher Band, Kira Willey, Lehigh Valley Music Teacher's Association, School of Rock, Sofia Rei, Gilberto Velez y su Orquestra Son 9, We Kids Rock, Twin Rivers Music Ensemble, Performing Artist Learning Center, Sinclarity, La Capitana, Crobot, The Joanie Leeds Duo, William Allen HS Chorale, Saucon Valley Music, Sabroso Video Showcase, StarFish, The Coffin Daggers, Mango Men, The Beach Bumz, Jimmy and The Parrots, The Billy Kelly Show, The Lesson Center, Quiet Company, Cheers Elephant, Great White Caps, Erin Lee and Up Past Bedtime, The Ballroom Thieves, Fox Street Allstars, Dana Twigg, Mad Rapture, Fright Barker & Sons, Hector Rosado, Uncle Rock, Los Hacheros, HALA-SUYA, and Luisito Rosario Orchestra.
TD Bank Community Stage on Air Products Town Square:Lunic, nHeather Friedman, Honey Badgers, Madame Freak and The Funky Fever, Kill the Broadcast, Brick+Mortar, The StereoFidelics, Trouble City Allstars, Taking Tomorrow, The Bigness, Dear Anna, Access Royale, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Julian Fulton and The Zombie Gospel, Butterjive, Trevor Exter, Travel Songs, Spokey Speaky, and Doug Hawk Proposition.
DANCENOW at the TD Bank Community Stage on Air Products Town Square:
Sidra Bell Dance New York and Take DANCE by Phyllis McCabe
Pennsylvania Lottery Volksplatz at Johnston Park:
Vagabond Opera, UUU, O'Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance, Dala, Ocean Celtic, M.A.K.U. Soundsystem, The Red Elvises, Irish Stars Parker School of Dance, Burning Bridget Cleary, Andy Shaw Band, PhillyBloco, Southern Culture on the Skids, Common Bond, Monarch Dance Company, Eco del Sur, Yahn Arkestra, Amish Outlaws, Marla & Juniper Street Band, Allegro Dance Company, SoulRagga, Djembe Jam, The Mickey Fins, Start Making Sense, Zaire, Sharon Plessl School of Dance, Roger Latzgo – Reflections in the Wine Dark Sea, Red Sea Pedestrians, Star and Micey, Gangstagrass, Buckwheat Zydeco, Good Time Charlie, Blue Ribbon Cloggers, African Benga Stars, Black Masala, Mama Jama, Moondog Medicine Show, Ball in the House, The Steel Wheels, Blackwater, Enter the Haggis, Lehigh Valley Cloggers, Trout Fishing in America, The Hunts, Daisy Jug Band, Alo Brasil, Los Straitjackets, Art and Rhythm of Dance with Tahya, Zap and The Naturals, Sylvana Joyce and The Moment, The Large Flowerheads, and Call Your Mama.
2012 Performers
Musikfest 2012, which is once again presented by ArtsQuest, will take place from August 3 to 12. The festival will include hundreds of musical performances on 16 indoor and outdoor stages throughout Bethlehem's historic 18th-century downtown, the Sands Casino SteelStacks Center, the PNC Plaza and the Yuengling Musikfest Cafe. In addition, the event will showcase delicious foods and treats, arts and crafts, and beverages by countless vendors. There are also a large variety of children's activities, multimedia tents, interactive activities and an impressive fireworks display on the final night of the festival.
August 10, 2012 – Avi Wisnia, The Large Flowerheads, Steve Bost and Pat House
August 11, 2012 – Sarah King and The Smoke Rings, Mike Dugan & The Blues Mission, Tyler Rothrock and Ryan Hill
August 12, 2012 – The Difference, Lucky 7
The Platzes and other stages
14 of Musikfest's stages, including the PNC Series at Musikfest Cafe,[17] present free music, arts, and entertainment for all ages.
TD Bank Community Stage on Air Products Town Square: Butterjive, Doug Hawk Proposition, The Pine Hollows, The StereoFidelics, Trouble City All-Stars, Running Late, The 4 Walls, Revolution I Love you, Scott Pine and the Conifers, MiZ, Andrew Portz Band, Tavern Tan, Kill the Broadcast, Boom Chick, Four the Day, Dan Mills, The Young Wolverines, Lunic, XVSK, They Were Only Satellites, Just Married, The Kalob Griffin Band, Sarah Donner, The Almighty Terribles, and the Great White Caps
Aetna Americaplatz at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks: Musikfest 2012 Opening Ceremonies, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Sena Ehrnhardt, The Burrows, Forward Motion, The Blues Brotherhood, Draw the Line, Homemade Jamz, 2U, The Difference, B-Street, MarchFourth Marching Band, Tusk, The Killdares, Live Wire, The Chris Beard Band, Chris Watson Band, The Aardvarks, Eric Steckel, and the Craig Thatcher Band
Martin Guitar Lyrikplatz at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas: Brittany Ann, Mike Krisukas and Zen for Primates, Paulie Knakk, Blue Jean, Freak Owls, Michael Natrin, Connie Edinger and Tom Marchak, Gina Sicilia, Lucy Stone, Maggie Spike, Heidi Winzinger, Brosky 'n Meyer, Tim Butler, Kwesi Kankam, Connor McInerney, Mike and Ashley Duo, Yancarlos Sanchez, Perry Costello, Emily Mure, Paula Scott Duo, Mree, Dallas Vietty, Lizanno Knott, Ben Falandays, Kenny Ferrier, Jessica Smucker, Sarah Ayers, Carlos Barata, Katie Kelly, The Beautiful Distortion, Mule Dixon, Melissa VanFleet, Alex Radus, John Beacher, Hannah and Maggie, The Color Sound, Billy Bauer, Jon Fadem, AJ Silverberg, Shane Cooley, Larry Murante, XVSK, Just Married, Casey Cattie, Sarah Deardorff, Anthony D'Amato, Joe Ike, and Kwesi Kankam
KNBT Jazz Cabaret Stage at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas: Ben Mauger's Vintage Jazz Band, Kristi Lynn Quartet, Caravan of Thieves, Fusion Jazz Trio, Dan DeChellis Trio, Mike Lorenz Quartet, Dan Wilkins Quintet, The Tribute, Tony Gairo Hot Three, Andrea Carlson Trio, Gas House Gorillas, Andrew Pereira Quartet, Hot Bijouxx, Frank DiBussolo Trio, The Hoppin' John Orchestra, Displaced Peoples, Alex Levin Jazz Trio, Sarah King and The Smoke Rings, and Hot Club Philly
Peeps & Company Banana Island: We Kids Rock, The Cat's Pajamas, Steve Pullara's Cool Beans Band, Dave Fry, Erin Lee, Starfish, Alastair Moock, The Uncle Devin Show, Hector Rosado Drum Workshop, Nina Music, Meg's Melodies, Miss Maggie Sings, Fuzzy Lollipop, 2+1 Math Rocks!, Kira Willey, Uncle Rock, Rolie Polie Guacamole, Robbi K, Stacey Peasley Band, Baze and Silly Friends, Miss Amy & Her Big Kids Band, The Fuzzy Lemons, and The Deedle Deedle Dees
Chamber Series: Eliot String Quartet, James Nyoraku Schlefer and Nora Nohraku Suggs/The Bamboo 2, How Fair A Sound, The Dolce Ensemble, and Madeline Rose Link
Wells Fargo Festplatz: Jolly Joe Timmer, Lucky 7, Henry & The Versa Js, Jimmy Sturr Orchestra, Frank Viele and the Manhattan Project, Eddie Forman Orchestra, Polka Country Musicians, Philadelphia Funk Authority, Joe Weber Band, Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push, The Uptown Band featuring Erich Cawalla and Jenifer Kinder, Copper Box, Mike Surratt & The Continentals, UUU, Westallgaier, The Jumpers Orchestra, The Fabulous Greaseband, John Stevens Doubleshot, The Adlers, John Stanky and the Coalminers, Funky Fontana, Joseph Kroboth Band, Bud Hundeski & The Corsairs, HALA Espectacular, La Excelencia, Walt Groller Orchestra, Rob Stonebeck Band, and Alex Meixner Band
Handwerkplatz: Cast in Bronze
Downtown Bethlehem Association Liederplatz: Eric Mintel Quartet, Zen for Primates, Acoustic Roadshow, Roosevelt Dime, Spuyten Duyvil, Miss Tess & The Talkbacks, Lehigh Valley Folk Music Society, Daisy Jug Band, Dina Hall and The Backbeat, Chandler Travis Philharmonic, [Moonshine Society], 3AM (Three Acoustic Musicians—Plus 1), Cunningham and Associates, Bovine Social Club, New Found Road, Tumbling Bones, Billy Bauer Band, BC Combo, The Rosie Burgess Trio, Craig Thatcher and Nyke Van Wyk, Donovan Roberts, The Bucks County Folk Song Society, Hillbilly Souls, Little Buddy, Eric Steckel, Dave Fry, Mike Cross, BOOM, Girls Guns & Glory, and Bob Malone
Downtown Bethlehem Association Main Street: Lindsay Benner, Wacky Chad, Tin Bird Choir, Among Criminals, Runa Pacha, Waitin' on a Train, Caravan of Thieves, Post Junction, Graveyard Lovers, Mama Corn, The Barn Swallows, Kagero, Blue Jersey Band, Hillbilly Shakespeare, The Juice Box, WhiskeyHickon Boys, Phantasmagoria, Double Dutch Empire, The Byways, The Dang-It Bobbys, Freak Owls, Quimby Mountain Band, On The Water, Independence Drive, The Abrams Brothers, The Rosie Burgess Trio, The Wallace Brothers, Gangstagrass, Joe Whyte, and Carter3Productions Presents
The Morning Call Plaza Tropical: The StereoFidelics, Keys N Krates, En Sequencia, SUYA, Irka Mateo, BELEZA!, Hector Rosado y Su Orchestra, 3AM (Three Acoustic Musicians—Plus 1), The Large Flowerheads, Marrakesh Express, John Kadlecik Band, Experience Janis, Irish Stars Parker School of Dance, The Monarch Dance Company, Saucon Valley Music, Born Into Dance, HALA Presents, Lehigh Valley Community Music School, LVPA Music Teacher's Association, School of Rock, Carbon Leaf, Splintered Sunlight, Kendal Conrad, The Scarlet Furies, CB Radio, Pure Country Dancers, Scott Marshall & Marshall's Highway, Connor Christian & Southern Gothic, Caribbean Steel Rhythms, Great White Caps, The Defending Champions, Jimmy & The Parrots, Yellow Dubmarine, The Lesson Center, Mark DeRose and The Way Home, Delta Rae, The Spinto Band, Dave Goddess Group, The Verticolors, Wiretree, Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds, Off The Map, Sabroso Video Showcase, and Alex Torres Band
Pennsylvania Lottery Volksplatz: Tartanic, O'Grady Quinlan Academy, The Mystical Arts of Tibet, Sharon Plessl School of Dance, Rumbafrica, The Red Elvises, Blue Ribbon Cloggers, Caribbean Steel Rhythms, PANA!, The Lou Franco Project, Please Please Me, Incendio, Junior Toots, Start Making Sense, Pavlov's Dawgs, Allegro Dance Company, Seamus Kennedy, MarchFourth Marching Band, Appalachian Fiddle & Bluegrass Association, Steppin' Razor, Djembe Jam with Moe Jerant, Joan Soriano Family Band, The Killdares, Valeria Vigoda, Alex Meixner Band, Philly Bloco, M.A.K.U. Soundsystem, William Allen High Chorale, Amarach, John Byrne Band, Hudost, Diego's Umbrella, Blind Lights, Lehigh Valley Cloggers, Daisy Jug Band, Burning Bridget Cleary, The Prodigals, The Fighting Jamesons, Bhakti, Art of Rhythm and Dance with Tahya and Grant Smith, Telesma, Antioquia, and Matuto
Vesper Concert Series at Moravian College: Satori, DuoSF, Abaca String Band, Choo Choo Hu, and Hickory Brass
2011 Performers
Musikfest 2011, which is once again presented by ArtsQuest, will take place from August 5 to 14. The festival will include some 500 musical performances on 14 indoor and outdoor stages throughout Bethlehem's historic, 18th-century downtown. In addition, the event will showcase delicious food and desserts by more than 60 vendors, a variety of children's activities, visual arts and crafts and a closing-night fireworks display.
This year's theme is "The Song Remains..." and the artists and events will showcase this. The official website indicates that the event will be extra special since there are some exciting, new changes in store as they are planning to incorporate part of the festival into SteelStacks on the Bethlehem's SouthSide.
The 2011 iteration of the yearly festival will also feature new stages and venues as well as an expansion of the physical size of the festival, now extending several venues out to the SteelStacks Center and the newly built PNC Plaza and Yuengling Musikfest Cafe. These new stages and venues have been collectively grouped as a whole and are now officially being referred to as "South Side" venues.
Eleven of Musikfest's 14 stages feature free concerts.[18]
Americaplatz at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks: Entrain, Float Parade, Trampled Under Foot, Los Straitjackets, Bill Kirchen & Too Much Fun, Mingo Fishtrap, MarchFourth Marching Band, Philly Bloco, Trailer Park Troubadours, CC Coletti, Craig Thatcher Band, Love in Stockholm, Sarah Ayers Band, James Supra Band, Scott Marshall and Marshall's Highway, The Blues Brotherhood, Little Buddy, Friar's Point, Hogmaw, Don Cunningham & His Cabinet, Peripheral Vision, FortyGrand, and The Difference
Banana Island: Steve Pullara & His Cool Beans Band, Erin Lee & The Up Past Bedtime Band, Uncle Rock, Miss Amy & Her Big Kids Band, Kira Willey, Yosi & The Superdads, Alex & the Kaleidoscope Band, Shelly Clark & Friends, The Cat's Pajamas, 2 + 1 = Math Rocks, Nina Music, Robbi K, We Kids Rock, BASD Guitar Camp, Mingo Fishtrap, Mike Dugan & The Blues Mission, Chris Bergson Band, Craig Kastelnik, New Tricks, B.D. Lenz, Zen for Primates, Ben Rudnick & Friends, Mustard's Retreat, Bill Warfield Octet, Fusion Jazz Trio, Ten Foot Tall, Eric Mintel Quintet, Alastair Monk, Dan Wilkins Quartet, Lu Mitchell, Ricky Smith & The Crush, Roaring 20s Jazz Orchestra, Tommy Zito, Triple Play, and Synergy Brass
Festplatz: Jimmy Sturr, Walt Groller Orchestra, Eddie Forman Orchestra, John Stanky & The Coalminers, Die Fehrenbacher, Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push, J&J Quartet, The Adlers, Kickin' Polkas, John Stevens' Doubleshot, Polka Country Musicians, Henry & The Versa J's, Jolly Joe Timmer, Here Come the Mummies, The Fabulous Greaseband, Philadelphia Funk Authority, New York Funk Exchange, Sensational Soul Cruisers, Main Street Cruisers, Rob Stonebeck, Lucky 7, M-80, and Alex Meixner Band
Liederplatz: Jimmy Thackery, Cabinet, Fishtank Ensemble, The Arrogant Worms, Vance Gilbert, Yarn, Eric Steckel, Alexis P. Suter Band, Mustard's Retreat, Jann Klose, RUNA, Amarach, Sweetback Sisters, The Headers, Dave Fry, Rosie Burgess Trio, Donovan Roberts, BC Combo, Parkington Sisters, Connie Edinger Trio, Dina Hall, The Hillbilly Souls, Joshua Popejoy, Barnaby Bright, Matt Zeiner, Lou Franco Project, Acoustic Roadshow, Synergy Brass, Lehigh Valley Folk Music Society, and Godfrey Daniels' Best of Open Mic
Lyrikplatz: Jordan White, Jennie Arnau, Kagero, Quincy Mumford, Mike Dugan, Maura Jensen, Jon Fadem, BC Combo, Brosky 'N Meyer, Donovan Roberts, Brittany Ann, Dina Hall, Billy Bauer, Freak Owls, Lizanne Knott, Alastair Monk, Neptune's Car, Lu Mitchell, Robbi K, Shane Cooley, Mree/Marie, Brenda Kahn, Larry Muarante, Lehigh Valley Idol, and Philly Songwriter's Project with J.D. Malone
Main Street: Float Parade, Quincy Mumford, The Culprits, Tavern Tan, Gangstagrass, Freak Owls, The Abrams Brothers, Zaire, mamarazzi, Rosie Burgess Trio, Vintage Dixieland Jazz Band, Parkington Sisters, The Wallace Brothers, and Synergy Brass
Pennsylvania Lottery Volksplatz: Gaelic Storm, Brother Joscephus & the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra, Igor & The Red Elvises, Los Straitjackets, Float Parade, MarchFourth Marching Band, Red Baraat, Diego's Umbrella, Fishtank Ensemble, Start Making Sense, Gagarin Brothers, Trailer Park Troubadours, Kagero, Rosie Burgess Trio, Zen For Primates, Barleyjuice, The Headers, Sweetback Sisters, Daisy Jug Band, Layali El Andalus, Lu Mitchell, Tieweb, The Abrams Brothers, The Alex Meixner Band, Jackie Tice Ensemble, Sharon Plessl Excel Dance, Blue Ribbon Cloggers, Allegro Dance Company, O'Grady Quinlan, and The Lehigh Valley Cloggers
Musikfest 2010, presented by ArtsQuest, took place Aug. 6–15, 2010. The festival included some 500 musical performances on 14 indoor and outdoor stages throughout Bethlehem's historic, 18th-century downtown. In addition, the event showcased delicious food and desserts by more than 60 vendors, a variety of children's activities, visual arts and crafts and a closing-night fireworks display. The official theme of that year's festival was Transformation, and to show this a new stage was added to the festival known as the Transformation Series Stage, located at Moravian College.[19][20]
Similar to Musikfest 2009's Mid-Atlantic Band Competition, Musikfest 2010 features a competition for various bands to compete for spots at Musikfest. This year's competition is going to be called "Amped Up!". Beginning in April 2010 and ending later that month, bands interested in competing are to enter on the festival's official website.[21] 10 bands will be chosen out of the multitude that will enter. Of those 10, the top 3 with the most votes will earn a concert at Musikfest as well as a monetary prize.
Amped Up! Finalists
Blue Wave Theory, BoomBoxRepairKit, Chewsen, Downtown Harvest, Open Till Midnight, Panic Years, Revolution I Love You, The Atomic Square, The Hide and Seek Effect, and The Ugly Club
Bold denotes that the band was one of the three winners of the contest.
The Platzes
Eleven of Musikfest's 14 stages, including the new Transformation stage, feature free concerts.[18]
Fowler & Peña Banana Island:Mingo Fishtrap, Lipbone Redding & The Lipbone Orchestra, Missy Raines & The New Hip, Elvis Bossa Nova, Zen For Primates, Craig Kastelnik & Friends, Bill Warfield Octet, Shelly Clark & Friends, The Gas House Gorillas, Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents, Babatunde Lea, Eric Mintel Quintet, Dueling Pianos, Big Bang Boom, The Cat's Pajamas, boyintheshade, Dave Fry, Frank Gisaullo Quartet, Kira Willey, The Riffters, The Shalitas, Tommy Zito, Uproar of the 70's, Tony & The Tonics, Steve Pullara & His Cool Beans Band, Large Flowerheads, Butterjive, Dan DeChillis Trio, Fusion Jazz Trio, Lachi, Miss Amy & Her Big Kids Band, Yosi & The Superdads, Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band, Hot Peas 'N Butter, Baze & His Silly Friends, Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke, Starfish, Peanut Butter Jellyfish, B.D. Lenz, Uncle Rock, Ernie & Neal, Nina Music, and Guitar Students with BASD.
SuperGuarantee Festplatz:George Gee Swing Orchestra, The Fabulous Greaseband, Mingo Fishtrap, Sensational Soul Cruisers, Rob Stonebeck Big Band, The Flamin' Caucasians, Spitze!, Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, Main Street Cruisers, Lucky 7, M-80, CrazyHeart, Kickin' Polkas, John Stevens' Doubleshot, Dennis Polisky & The Maestro's Men, The Adlers, O.L.B. Part Power, Polka Country Musicians, Walt Groller Orchestra, Henry & The Versa J's, Lenny Gomulka & The Coalminers, The Alex Meixner Band, Joe Weber, Joe Kroboth, Jolly Joe Timmer, Eddie Forman Orchestra, and Lindyhop Swing Dancers.
Handwerkplatz: Cast in Bronze.
Liederplatz:Hoots & Hellmouth, Christine Havrilla, Edie Carey, Pamela Means, The Arrogant Worms, The Guggenheim Grotto, Three Legged Fox, Sweetback Sisters, Eric Steckel, Cabinet, The Bruce Katz Band, Cathie Ryan, The Headers, Todd Wolfe, Tin Bird Choir, Two Man Gentleman Band, Billy Bauer Band, Donovan Roberts, Scott Marshall & Marshall's Highway, Mike Cross, The Rosie Burgess Trio, Lindsay Mac, Dina Hall, Acoustic Roadshow, The Best of Godfrey Daniels' Open Mic Show, The Lehigh Valley Folk Music Society, and The Bucks County Folk Song Society.
Martin Guitar Lyrikplatz: Jennie Arnau, Lachi, Bud Buckley, Mishal Moore, Scott McKenna, Shoulders of Giants, Jacob Vanags, Brosky 'N Meyer, Anna Rose, BC Combo, John Conahan, Lizanne Knott, Ben Arthur (musician), Michael Berkowitz, Dave Fry, Grace McLean, Quincy Mumford, Mr. Chris, Marnee, Daryl Shawn, ilyAIMY, Shannon & Natalie, The Philly Songwriters Showcase, Slate Belt Idol, Wild Flower Cafe Showcase, Barnaby Bright, Sarah Donner, Annie Simoni, Tim Butler, Ashley Lennon Thomas, Brian Mackey, Andrew Portz, Maura Jensen, Olivier Nataf-NO, Chris Bruni, Pat Guadagno, Craig Bickhardt, Ellen Woloshin, Pete Hanks, and Carlos Barata.
Main Street: Overlook, Oso, The Greatest Funeral Ever, Elvis Bossa Nova, My Cousin the Emperor, Andy Suzuki & The Method, Amplify This, The Great Unknown, The Almighty Terribles, Grey Sky Turn, Steve Brosky 'N Jimmy Meyer, Two Man Gentleman Band, Little Buddy, Mark Zaleski, Abrams Brothers, Fellswoop, Loretta Hagen, Kinobe & Soul Beat Africa, Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys, Parkington Sisters, The Hillbilly Souls, Joe White, Marnee, The Rosie Burgess Trio, The Wallace Brothers, Wineskin, Hogmaw, Ben Mauger's Dixieland Jazz Band, The Syncopatin' Six, and Audio Dynamikz Presents Vibrations On Main.
The Morning Call Plaza Tropical: LaExcelencia, The Clarks, Splintered Sunlight, Los Straitjackets, The Arrogant Worms, Celtic Cross, Munelly, Jimmy & The Parrots, Papote Jimenez & Lower East Salsa, Luisto Rosario & Orquestra, Willie Colón, Santa Mamba, The Big Dirty, The Insidious Rays, Orchestra Herencia de Sonoros, CHEMBO and Grupo CHAWORD, Karen Rodriguez Latin Jazz Ensemble, ReggaeInfinity, David Cedeno & His Orchestra, Tieweb, Los Pocos Locos, The Hooligans, Davey & The Waverunners, Inner Visions, Freddie Long Band, Pete Francis, The B-Attitudes, b9 Fate, Five Mile Fall, The Mango Men, Ricky Smith & The Crush, School of Rock – Bank Street Band, Sabroso Video Showcase, Traditions of Hanover, Sumer Bleu's Violin Studio, LV Community Music School, The Doug Hawk Proposition, AMLA, SUYA, HALA – Salseros 2010, Lehigh Valley Piano Teachers Association, The Lesson Center, Bethlehem Music Settlement, and Lehigh Valley Community Music School.
Vesper Series: Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble, Georgia Guitar Quartet, Innovata, The Altino Brothers, and The Dali Quartet.
Pennsylvania Lottery Volksplatz:Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Igor & The Red Elvises, Scythian, Los Straitjackets, Rosie Ledet & The Zydeco Playboys, Mama Jama, Enter The Haggis, Diego's Umbrella, Red Baraat, Brother Joscephus & The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra, Spiritual Rez, RubbieBucket, 2U – U2 Tribute, Zen for Primates, Sweetback Sisters, Seamus Kennedy, Philly Bloco, Barleyjuice, Daisy Jug Band, Kagero, River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs, Malinky, Burning Bridget Cleary, Balla Kouyate & World Vision, The Fabulous Shpielkehs, Kinobe & Soul Beat Africa, Satabdi Express, Abrams Brothers, Alex Meixner, The Alex Meixner Band, Rosie Burgess Trio, Great White Caps, Blackwater, Steppin' Razor, Brown Penny, Limpopo International Band, Jamani Drummers, Barynya Balalaika Duo, O'Grady Quinlan Academy, Sharon Plessl School of Dance, Allegro Dance Studio, Monarch Dance Company, Blue Ribbon Cloggers, Lehigh Valley Cloggers, and The Irish Stars.
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.[22]
Entrance for the bands has since ended and the voting process will begin soon.
Northampton Community College Mid-Atlantic Band Competition Winners
The following four bands have been chosen out of the original Top 10 and have won the Mid-Atlantic Band Competition.
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.[24]
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, Women's 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, 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: Jennie Arnau, Lachi, Bud Buckley, Mishal Moore, Scott McKenna, Shoulders of Giants, Jacob Vanags, Brosky 'N Meyer, Anna Rose, BC Combo, John Conahan, Lizanne Knott, Ben Arthur, Michael Berkowitz, Dave Fry, Grace McLean, Quincy Mumford, Mr. Chris, Marnee, Daryl Shawn, ilyAIMY, Shannon & Natalie, The Philly Songwriters Showcase, Slate Belt Idol, Wild Flower Cafe Showcase, Barnaby Bright, Sarah Donner, Annie Simoni, Tim Butler, Ashley Lennon Thomas, Brian Mackey, Andrew Portz, Maura Jensen, Olivier Nataf-NO, Chris Bruni, Pat Guadagno, Craig Bickhardt, Ellen Woloshin, Pete Hanks, Yancarlos Sanchez, and Carlos Barata.
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,[25] 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[26] 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.
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 Farm, 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 Company, 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, River City Slim, Raposo, and The Blues Brotherhood.
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, GO!GO!7188 and literally hundreds more performers of countless different genres.
Konrad Elser & Renee Morlock, Four Nations Ensemble, Moravian Trombine Choir, Anime featuring music performed by Robin Kani, Rebecca Brown, and Francis Rowell, Scott Jackson Riley and Mary Hurlbut, and Dana Muller and Gary Steigerwalt.
Vesper Concert Series at Moravian College
The Moravian College Collegium Musicum, The Bethlehem A Capella Singers, Concord Chamber Singers, The Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, and Barry Snyder.
Familienplatz: Greater Lehigh Valley Youth Orchestra, DayBreak, Bob Norman, Allegra, A performance by the students of Suzuki Institute at Moravian Academy, Shanachians, Roger Latzgo, The Heartbeats, Beltane, Balloons the Clown, Gene Galligan, Saul Broudy & Friends, David Roth, Elaine Silver, Tom Espinola & Lorraine Duisit, Steamin' Jimmies & the Sugar Cone Horns, Guitar Students of Marvin Falcon, Jay Smar, Janci Brothers, Bill Miller, Juggernaut, Mainstreet Brass Quintet, Rod MacDonald, Last Call, United States Air Force Band, Cliff Wright, Moses Rascoe, Fred Warning & the Jazz Elite, Helicon, Seona McDowell, Vital Link, Pennsylvania Youth Theater, Jimmy Lawrence, The Holt Twins and Tony T, Daisy Jug Band, The Three Sillies performed by Touchstone Theater, Rockroots, and Critton Hollow.
Festplatz: Mike Surratt & The Continentals of Washington D.C., Musikverein Feuerwehrkapelle Huttenheim, Pennsylvania Alpiners, The Joe Reichel Orchestra, Jolly Joe Timmer, Jimmy Soldridge & The Happy Yanks, Steve Huber & The Happy Austrians, Key-Notes Orchestra, Bob Danner's Little German Band, Jolly Joe & the Bavarians, and The Walt Groller Orchestra.
Kinderplatz: Captain Juggle, Clarence the Clown, Melanie Wagner, Mark Reed & Sons, Pan's Fancy, The Mock Turtle Marionette Theater, Al Grout, Joseph Keppel, The Original Hurdy-Gurdy Man, Ray Owen, Jay Smar, Fantasia-Ki, Barbara Pearson, Polly Wally, Jockuler Juggler, Bruce Mitchell, Tom Lohrmann, and Duke & The Brier Patch Puppets.
Liederplatz: Goschenhoppen Cornet Band, Frank DiBussolo Quartet, The Heartbeats, Flor de Cana, Bob Norman, Special Arrangement, Dan Dixon & Mellow Madness, David Roth, Elaine Silver, Lu Mitchell, Timlin & Kane, John Lionarons, Interweave, John Bressler, Vital Link, Rod MacDonald, Riverboat Banjo Band, Xavier Edouard Horemans, Marvin Falcon Ensemble, Janci Brothers, Stephanie Nakasian & Hod O'Brien, Bruce Mitchell, Thom Schuyler, Magpie, Richard Drueding & Tom Gala, Xavier Edouard Horemans with Mo Rolland, Mountain Laurel Bluegrass Band, Kim and Reggie Harris, Tom Yurasits, Municipal Opera Company of Allentown, One Alternative, Steve Brosky Band, Pete Fluck, D.J. & The C.B. Pickers, Daisy Jug Band, and Times Three.
Main Street: Mike Surratt & The Continentals of Washington D.C, Harley Newman, The Memory Makers Orchestra, Jimmy Soldridge & The Happy Yanks, Juggernaut, The Naturals, Joe Weber Orchestra, Happy Polkateers, and Joe Furst Orchestra.
Street Performers: The Silver & Brass Trombone Quartet, Harley Newmann, Al Grout, Captain Juggle, DayBreak, Mark Bodey, Clarence the Clown, Allegra, Fran Fallon, Jamie Watson, Pan's Fancy, Mark Reed & Sons, Joseph Keppel, Gene Galligan, Ray Owen, Jeff Umbehauer, Special Arrangement, Johnny Romann, Riverboat Banjo Band, The Original Hurdy-Gurdy Man, Mainstreet Brass Quintet, Barbara Martyska, Steve Whitaker, Fantasia-Ki, Tom Yurasits, Bruce Mitchell, Renwick Players Flute Ensemble, Tom Lohrman's Puppets, Jockuler Juggler, Four's Company, Polly Wally, and Duke & The Brier Patch Puppets.
Volksplatz: The Horseflies, Musikverein Feuerwehrkapelle Huttenheim, Roger Latzgo, Old World Folk Band, Beltane, Shanachians, Flor de Cana, Saul Broudy & Friends, Beirut Band, Tom Espinola & Lorraine Duisit, David Amram Jazz Quartet, Walt Michael & Company, Juggernaut, Timlin & Kane, John Lionarons, Songs from the British Music Hall, Bill Miller, Roy Book Binder, Shady Grove Band, Robin and Linda Williams, Xavier Edouard Horemans, Dave Roper Trio, Hanover Township Society for the Preservation of the Big Band Sound in America, Moses Rascoe, Helicon, Seona McDowell, Mountain Laurel Bluegrass Band, Magpie, Pavlov's Dawgs, Queen Bee & The Blue Hornets, Laurie Lewis & Grant Street, Flamenco Ole, Critton Hollow, Reading Community Gospel Choir, Kazka Ukrainian Folk Ensemble, D J & The C B Pickers, and The Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band.
The Musikfest Jazz All-Stars Band featuring Craig Kastelnik, Bobby "Lips" Levine, Alan Gaumer, Werner Lutz, Rob Stoneback, Alex Watkins, Pat Flaherty-Kastelnik, Paul Hubbell, Tom Kozik, Nelson Hill, Eddie Metz, Gary Rissmiller, Arnie Wetzel, Robert Routch, and Arlen Diefenderfer
Fresh Vegetables, Daniel Womack, Ray Owen, Johnny Brezovec, John Gorka, Heather and Royston Wood, Mock Turtle Marionette Theatre, Rainbow Collection, An Evening at a British Music Hall, Happy Boombadears, Mountain Laurel, Mike Dugan, Bob Carlin, Mike Craver, Dave Fry, Lu Mitchell, Four's Company, Hot House, Thompson Family Quintet, Fairmount Brass Quartet, Kato, John Bauer, Broadway's Greatest Songs in Concert, Mail Pouch Express, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Kim and Reggie Harris, Peter Tork, Swing Shift, Ilona's Strolling Violins, Chorus of the Lehigh Valley, Darlene Rose and 1,001 Hawaiians, John Gorka, Roland Kushner, Lord Burgess, Happy Boombadears, Beethoven Choruses of Bethlehem, Fess Roundtree, Cranberry Lake Jug Band, Alan Gaumer Quartet, Kevin Roth, Steve Brosky, Alan Gaumer Quartet, Cornerstone, Lord Burgess, Garnet Rogers, Hanover Township Society for the Preservation of Big Band Sound in America, Harley the Clown's Washtub Circus, Diamond State Saxophone Quartet, Satin 'n' Lace, The Writer's Group: Thom Schuyler, Chris Rawlings and Gilles Losier, Ilona's Strolling Violins, Mario Acerra's Show Biz Revue, Touchstone's Theatre – "Comic Book Kid", The Writer's Group: Fred Knobloch, Steve Whitaker, Sweet Adelines, Sadie Green Sales, Johnny Brezovec, Alan Gaumer Quartet, Shanachians, Lew London, Meixner Kinder, and Pennsylvania Playhouse: "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat".
1984 Performers
1984 marked the first year for the annual festival. There were far fewer acts then there are currently, and the size of the festival was much smaller than it is right now. 182,000 people attended the first festival, and since then that number has greatly increased.[27]
Other performers included Steve Huber and The Happy Austrians,John Gorka, Mary Faith Rhodes, John Pearse, Claudia Schmidt, Touchstone, Howard and Frank Swope, Jim Davis, Keith and Karlene Brintzenhoff, Mock Turtle Marionette Theater Workshop, Madeline MacNeil, Seth Austen, Clem Bowen, Kathy Pierce, Mike Dugan, Dave Fry, Johnny Rommann, Sharon Ettinger, Mike Krusukas, Mark Golin, Roger Latzgo, The Thompson Family Quintet, Happy Boombadears, Hanover Township Society for the Preservation of Big Band Sound in America, Leroy Heffentrager German Band, The Happy Yanks, The Bavarian Ambassadors, John Brezovec, Beirut Band, Wild Rose, Touma, and The Bethlehem A Cappella Singers.[28]
