THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY MUSIC ASSOCIATION & ARTSQUEST

The spotlight will shine on the Lehigh Valley music scene like never before as the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association (GLVMA) and ArtsQuest, two of the region’s leading nonprofits dedicated to highlighting local musicians, partner together to present the 15^th edition of the Lehigh Valley Music Awards. The LVMA 15 will take place March 9, 2014 at the Musikfest Café located at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

The new partnership between the GLVMA and ArtsQuest is designed to unite each organization’s strengths in an effort to increase awareness of the local music awards and the high caliber of the musicians living and working in the Lehigh Valley. Both organizations have strong ties to the local music community and partnering will allow them to share resources and fundraise together in an effort to grow the event in coming years. One of the new elements of the music awards starting in 2014 is that it will be broadcast on Service Electric Cable TV at a date to be announced.

“One of the most important aspects of the newly formed partnership between ArtsQuest and the GLVMA for the LVMA 15 event and beyond will be our ability to pull both of our extensive resources together to take this show to an entirely new level,” says GLVMA Board of Directors Chair Geno Barron. “Thanks to our new partnership, the support of the Philadelphia Chapter of The Grammys, the new awards show date and the Service Electric broadcast, the musicians, the music industry and music fans of the Lehigh Valley will really have something special to look forward to.

“The Musikfest Café is such an awesome place for music events. The last two LVMA shows held here proved to be a perfect match. The LVMA’s have found a home. This is very exciting news and I have no doubt it will help increase the recognition of the amazing talent and the wonderful music community we are so lucky to have here in the Lehigh Valley.”

Since 1984, one of the primary focuses of ArtsQuest’s mission has been providing opportunities for local musicians to perform. Each year, approximately 100 artists and groups from the Lehigh Valley and surrounding region are selected to play at the nonprofit’s festivals and events such as Musikfest and the TD Bank Community Stage at SteelStacks, with the majority of these shows offered at no charge to the community.

The LVMA, created in 1998, is run by the volunteer, nonprofit GLVMA and is designed to honor, reward and celebrate the music industry in the Greater Lehigh Valley. At each edition of the LVMA, the organization presents more than 70 awards honoring the region’s best performers in a variety of genres including blues, rock, folk, gospel, hip-hop, jazz and more, as well as awards honoring local music schools, recording studios, music stores and other local music organizations.

“ArtsQuest is honored to partner with the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association to help raise the profile of this dynamic event celebrating the incredible artists found right here in our own backyard,” says ArtsQuest Vice President of Performing Arts Patrick Brogan. “Our missions and goals overlap in several areas and this partnership will allow us to combine our strengths and our efforts in a way that will have a very positive impact on the local music scene. ArtsQuest is always looking for partnerships that will improve access to music and the arts and benefit the community as a whole. This one is absolutely a win-win for everyone involved.”

In addition to co-presenting the Lehigh Valley Music Awards, the GLVMA and ArtsQuest plan to work together to develop new music and education initiatives for the community, as well as provide additional opportunities for local artists to perform in the region.

“I am truly excited about this joint venture between these two great Lehigh Valley institutions. Having been associated with both the LVMA and ArtsQuest for many years, I feel I can speak for many Lehigh Valley musicians when I say we’ve watched both organizations grow, mature and prosper and they, in turn, have nurtured and provided us with many wonderful opportunities that have helped us grow into the performers that many of us have become today,” says Coopersburg-based guitarist and multiple-time LVMA winner Craig Thatcher.  “I think the entire arts community at large will benefit from this new association and I see many more possibilities in terms of marketing, attracting larger audiences and actual performance opportunities that will result from it.  Congratulations and best wishes for a very bright future.”

For more information on the LVMA, please visit lehighvalleymusicawards.org.

The sunset ceremony will be held at the Williams Twp. Municipal Building, 655 Cider Press Rd. Robert Wagner, retired Captain, U.S. Army and township resident, will deliver the address. Joseph Motil, one of the township’s oldest veterans, will lay a wreath at the base of the memorial to the township’s Fallen Heroes. Vincent Foglia, township supervisor, will convey greetings from the Williams Township Board of Supervisors. Ronald Reichard, Memorial Committee member, will serve as master of ceremonies.

A Community Service Recognition Award will be presented to Rayanne Parry, a teacher at Williams Township Elementary School, who has encouraged the school students to create memorial compositions to honor the veterans and to place flags for the service branches during the program. She has increased in the children an awareness of the sacrifices made by veterans.

Also participating are the Wilson Area High School Brass Ensemble, Boy Scout Troop 31 of Williams Twp., Pastor Brett Kindig of Christ Evangelical Congregational Church, the firing squad of Marine Corps League/Northampton County Detachment, students from Williams Township Elementary School, members of the Veterans Memorial Committee, and many individual citizens.

The community at large is invited to join this program of recognition. Parking is available at the Williams Township Municipal Building.

Coalitions are being formed, potential building sites are being evaluated, and a community outreach effort is under way for the establishment of an Air Force JROTC based charter high school in Bethlehem.

The Advanced Military Aerospace Science Academy (AMASA) will be applying for a charter through the Bethlehem Area School District in the fall of 2013, with the intension of opening the academy in the 2014-15 school year with 9^th and 10^th grade and adding a grade each year thereafter.

AMASA will be the first public charter high school of its kind that is based on using an aerospace science and leadership development program provided by the U.S. Air Force (AFJROTC). Additional curricula that will provide hands-on study in aerospace engineering, as well as other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subjects will be provided through Project Lead The Way (PLTW  www.pltw.org ). College preparatory core subjects in English, Math, Science, Health, and History/Social Science, as well as electives such as Art and Music, will complete AMASA’s diverse course offering. AMASA’s purpose is to provide a 21^st century STEM focused education in a “No Excuse” environment that instills self-discipline, personal responsibility, self reliance, and other leadership qualities necessary to overcome obstacles in life, and increase options (or paths to success) available to students post high school.

AMASA already has the support and participation of several prominent members of the Lehigh Valley community such as WW2 hero and Military Liaison for Allentown, Major Nathan Kline USAF-Ret.; former astronaut with NASA and present engineering professor at Lehigh University, Terry Hart; and former vice-president at Cedar Crest College and former CEO for the Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School, Barry Cohen. A positive response to the school was also provided by Bethlehem’s Mayor John Callahan and Bethlehem’s Police Chief Jason Schiffer.

A community open house style, informational meeting is being held this Saturday, May 18^th 10am at the Bethlehem Public Library, 1^st floor Main meeting room. Organizers will provide a brief presentation and be available to answer any questions about the school. A light breakfast will be provided. More information about AMASA can be obtained via its website at www.amasacharter.com and you can sign the petition online at www.amasacharter.com/sign_our_petition

Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society Participates in International Museum Day

In partnership with more than 30,000 museums around the world, Northampton County Historical Society will open the doors of the Sigal Museum and the 1753 Bachmann Publick House on Saturday, May 18 with free admission for all.

Established by the International Councils of Museums (ICOM) in 1977 to encourage public awareness of the role of museums in the development of society, International Museum Day is now celebrated in more than 100 countries on five continents. This year’s theme of Museums (Memory + Creativity)=Social Change portrays the traditional role of museums in preserving and exhibiting our heritage and the recent shift toward using creative methods to educate and engage audiences, leading to the belief that museums dynamically impact and change society.

In celebration of International Museum Day, the Sigal Museum will offer the program “Lewis and Clark and Me” at 1:00 pm. This presentation by Peter Osborne brings to life the Lewis and Clark expedition as he shares the story of his twelve week journey following the trail of the first overland expedition to the Pacific coast and back.

Visitors to the 1753 Bachmann Publick House will walk through the restored colonial tavern, learning about the evolution of the tavern, Northampton County’s oldest courtroom, and colonial lifestyles.

The Sigal Museum will be open from 9:30am to 3:00pm and the Bachmann Publick House will be open for tours from 10:00am until 3:00pm. Admission is free in honor of International Museum Day, donations are gratefully accepted.

About Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society

The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society was established in 1906 and continues to serve Northampton County PA and researchers throughout the world, by preserving, showcasing, exhibiting, and interpreting its more than 60,000 collection items. The Society maintains four locations in Easton, PA – the Mixsell House Museum at 4^th and Ferry Streets, the Jacob Nicholas House Museum at 5^th & Ferry Streets, the 1753 Bachmann Publick House at 2^nd & Northampton Streets, and the Sigal Museum at 342 Northampton Street. Sigal Museum and Society office hours are: Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30am to 3 pm, Sunday, noon-4pm. The Jane S. Moyer Library for Local & Genealogical Research is located at the Sigal Museum and is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:30am to 3pm. All other locations open by appointment.

A dynamic slate of up-and-coming professional fighters eager to climb the boxing ranks highlights the first Fight Night at SteelStacks June 6, 7 p.m., at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Tickets for the event, which features Jeffrey Dorsey Holmes, grandson of former WBC world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, as well as the pro debut of female fighter Catrina Lentini, will go on sale May 3 at 10 a.m. They’ll be available at www.artsquest.org and 610-332-3378.

Presented by boxing promoter Jay Newman, Fight Night at SteelStacks features seven action-packed bouts. Fans looking for the ultimate Fight Night experience will want to purchase Fight Night VIP tickets, which include the opportunity to meet Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney, the two fighters who matched up for a highly-anticipated heavyweight title match in 1982. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $100 each and include a photograph and autograph session with Holmes and Cooney prior to the event, as well as a dinner buffet and a private area to watch all the action in the ring. Regular tickets to Fight Night are $25-$60. The $60 tickets are reserved ring-side seats that also include the opportunity to meet Holmes and Cooney.

“Fight Night at SteelStacks will showcase local boxers who were hand-picked and trained to become top-ranked fighters recognized nationally and worldwide,” said Newman. “Designed to be a Guys Night Out, this evening will include some very talented fighters, as well as great food and the opportunity to meet two legendary boxers in Holmes and Cooney.  Our goal is to bring back boxing with an atmosphere that appeals to the fans, and then bring them back for more.”

Highlighting Fight Night will be a main event featuring Jeffrey Dorsey Holmes of Easton vs. Marquis Pierce of Easton.  Also on the card are Lentini of Allentown, a Golden Gloves competitor who has her sights set on becoming the first ranked female fighter from the Lehigh Valley, and Rashad Bogar, who had a 79-10 record as an amateur and has moved to the Lehigh Valley to train with American Top Team of Allentown.  Jonathan Williams of Allentown and Christian Molina of Lancaster, two talented amateurs who just turned pro, will also square off in a bout that’s sure to be a grudge match from their days in the amateur ranks.

Fight Night at SteelStacks is sponsored by Contrail Inc., Embassy Bank and John Yurconic Agency. For more information on the event, please visit www.artsquest.org.

It’s a double dose of good, old rock ‘n’ roll when George Thorogood & The Destroyers, along with special guests Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, perform at Musikfest’s Sands Steel Stage Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the concert are $34 and $44 and go on sale May 21, 10 a.m., to ArtsQuest Members and May 24, 10 a.m., to the public. They’ll be available at www.musikfest.org and 610-332-3378.

For four decades, George Thorogood and the Destroyers have delighted fans with their tumultuous brand of blues-rock. The group’s hits, such as “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “Bad To The Bone,” “Who Do You Love” and “I Drink Alone,” have remained staples on rock radio for years

Originally formed in 1973, the band initially enjoyed success opening for the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Hound Dog Taylor.  In 1982, it became a household name thanks to its MTV hit, “Bad to the Bone.”  Through the years, Thorogood and the Destroyers have strengthened their reputation as one of the hardest-working and most successful live acts in all of rock. The group’s most recent release is 2011’s 2120 South Michigan Ave., featuring blues legends Buddy Guy and Charlie Musselwhite.

Originating from the Jersey Shore music scene of the mid ’70s, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes have entertained countless fans over the past 35-plus years with their distinctive blend of blues and rock. The group, which was formed by John Lyon and Steven Van Zandt, has produced numerous albums and performed to audiences around the world. Its 1978 release, Heart of Stone, was named one of the top 100 albums of the 1970s and ’80s by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Media sponsors for the George Thorogood and the Destroyers concert are 999 The Hawk and WZZO. The 30th edition of Musikfest, set for Aug. 2-11, will feature more than 500 musical performances on 14 stages throughout Bethlehem, as well as 60 food vendors, 45 artisans and more. Other performers include Ke$ha, Avenged Sevenfold, Styx & Foreigner, Skillet with Thousand Foot Krutch, OneRepublic, Darius Rucker, Carly Rae Jepsen, Peter Frampton & B.B. King, Buckwheat Zydeco, Southern Culture on the Skids, Trout Fishing in America, Holly Williams, Here Come the Mummies and more.

KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND HEADLINE MUSIKFEST AUG. 8

It’s time to “Get Down Tonight” when the one-and-only KC and the Sunshine Band bring their infectious brand of dance music to Musikfest Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the concert, which will take place at the festival’s Sands Steel Stage, are $32 and $42. They’ll go on sale May 21, 10 a.m., to ArtsQuest Members and May 24, 10 a.m., to the public and be available at www.musikfest.org and 610-332-3378.

Founded in 1973 by Harry Wayne Casey, KC and the Sunshine Band produced a string of No. 1 hits in the ’70s including “Get Down Tonight,” That’s the Way (I Like It),” “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty,” “I’m Your Boogie Man” and “Keep It Comin’ Love.”  In 1978, KC earned two Grammy Awards – Album of the Year and Producer of the Year – for his work on the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever.

Over the past four decades, KC and the Sunshine Band have sold more than 100 million records and their music has appeared in more than 200 motion picture films. In 2001 KC was honored with a National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Governor’s Award and the following year the band received a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The KC and the Sunshine Band concert is sponsored by AD Computer, in association with 100.7 WLEV. The 30th edition of Musikfest, set for Aug. 2-11, will feature more than 500 musical performances on 14 stages throughout Bethlehem, as well as 60 food vendors, 45 artisans and more.

Headliners at this year’s festival are:
Aug. 2: Carly Rae Jepsen
Aug. 3: OneRepublic with Mayer Hawthorne and Churchill
Aug. 4: Skillet with Thousand Foot Krutch
Aug. 5: Frampton’s Guitar Circus with Peter Frampton & B.B. King
Aug. 6: George Thorogood and the Destroyers with Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes
Aug. 7: Styx & Foreigner
Aug. 8: KC and the Sunshine Band
Aug. 9: Darius Rucker
Aug. 10: Ke$ha
Aug. 11: Avenged Sevenfold
Other performers include Buckwheat Zydeco, Southern Culture on the Skids, Trout Fishing in America, Holly Williams, Here Come the Mummies, John Gorka and more. For details on Musikfest 2013, visit www.musikfest.org.

Celtic rock group Gaelic Storm, comedian Dave Attell, the MarchFourth Marching Band and The Hunger Games parody “The Hungry Hungry Games” are among the seven new performances announced for the Musikfest Café at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA. Tickets for the shows will go on sale May 14, 10 a.m., to ArtsQuest Members and May 17, 10 a.m., to the public. They’ll be available at artsquest.org and 610-332-3378.

The complete list of new shows:
Takeover Lehigh Valley –
June 21, 6:30 p.m.
This is a free event

The English Beat – July 17, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$35

Dave Attell – Aug. 17, 8 and 10:30 p.m. (two shows)
Tickets: $30 and $35 in advance; $35 and $40 day of show

Gaelic Storm – Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $22-$32

MarchFourth Marching Band – Sept. 29, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $17-$27

Hungry Hungry Games: A Parody - Oct. 15-16, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $29-$39
The creative minds behind the critically-acclaimed comedy SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody take aim at The Hunger Games blockbuster series with The Hungry Hungry Games: A Parody. Sharpen your survival skills as this show tackles all the fun of the novel and movie: poverty, oppression, war, 12-year olds with bows and arrows, the perfect recipe for a side-splitting night out. No matter what “district” you’re from, prepare for an evening of outrageous and hysterical fun; the ultimate “tribute” to the best-selling novel and hit movie.

David Bromberg – Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $39 and $49

For more information on these and all upcoming Musikfest Café performances, please visit artsquest.org.

From May 28-June 2, the public is invited to visit wode.listenernetwork.com to vote for their favorite choir. The contest winner will be announced on 99.9 The Hawk June 3 at 8 a.m. and join Foreigner onstage when the band performs at the Sands Steel Stage Aug. 7. In addition to performing with the choir, Foreigner will donate $500 to the high school’s choir program.

Legendary rock group Foreigner has been delighting audiences from coast to coast since its debut in 1976. Over the years, the group has produced 16 Top 30 hits, including nine that made the Top 10 on the charts. Among its biggest singles are the smash “I Want to Know What Love Is,” which topped the charts in 1984, as well as “Waiting For a Girl Like You,” “Double Vision,” “Hot Blooded,” “Feels Like the First Time,” “Urgent” and “I Don’t Want to Live Without You.” In 2012, three of the band’s songs – “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Juke Box Hero” and “Waiting For a Girl Like You” -  were included in the blockbuster movie Rock of Ages.

Complete details on the WODE Foreigner Choir Contest are available at www.999thehawk.com.

The Family Movie Series features some of the most popular family movies in history including The Muppets, Paranorman, Shrek and The Lion King. The series gets underway June 19, 8 p.m., with Mary Poppins, the 1960s Walt Disney classic starring Julie Andrews. The movie won five Oscars including Best Actress in a Leading Role (Andrews).

The complete Family Movies Series lineup includes:
June 19 – Mary Poppins
June 26 – The Muppets
July 3 – Rise of the Guardians
July 10 – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
July 17 – Paranorman
July 24 – The Lion King
July 31 – The Pirates: Band of Misfits
Aug. 14 – An American Tail
Aug. 21 – Madagascar 3
Aug. 28 – Shrek

Family Movie Series attendees are invited to bring their blankets and lawn chairs to sit on. Free parking is available at the parking lots on First Street adjacent to SteelStacks; a diverse array of food and beverages will be available at the Levitt Pavilion’s Mack Truck Stop, as well as the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks across the street.

The Family Movie Series at SteelStacks is sponsored 100.7 WLEV. For more information, please visit www.artsquest.org.

Comedian Tracy Morgan, Dennis DeYoung performing the music of Styx, Japanese salsa singer YOKO, and pianist and singer-songwriter Vienna Teng are among the new acts set to perform at the ArtsQuest Center’s Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Tickets for the shows are available at artsquest.org and 610-332-3378.

Latin Dance Night featuring Salsa Singer YOKO – July 13, 10 p.m.

Tickets: $12 and $15 in advance; $18 and $20 at the door

Expanding cultural frontiers with the most unique voice in Latin music, YOKO brings the sounds of salsa to SteelStacks.  YOKO started her career in Osaka, Japan at age 15 and has since changed the Latin genre. Her debut album, Yoko, La Japonesa Salsera, reached the No. 1 slot several times on Latin Beat’s New York Chart, and it’s also topped the internet radio charts.

Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx – July 18, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $49 and $64

As a member of Styx, Dennis DeYoung was the lead vocalist, keyboardist and creative force behind many of the band’s multi-platinum selling albums and hits including “Rockin’ the Paradise,” “The Best of Times,” “Suite Madam Blue” and “Lady.” DeYoung has also recorded several solo albums including Desert Moon, Back to the World, Boomchild, 10 on Broadway and 100 Years from Now , with the singles “Desert Moon” and “Call Me” scoring on the Billboard charts.

Tracy Morgan – Sept. 27, 7:30 and 10 p.m. (2 shows)

Tickets: $44 and $49 in advance; $49 and $54 at the door

Tracy Morgan has made a name for himself as an inventive and entertaining stand-up comic, as well as through his work on Saturday Night Live and his role on the hit TV series 30 Rock.  Morgan, along with the 30 Rock cast, won a 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. He has also received two NAACP Image Award nominations.

Vienna Teng Trio – Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $25 and $55($55 VIP package includes soundcheck access and Meet & Greet with the artist)

Stanford computer-science graduate turned singer-songwriter Vienna Teng hit the California music scene after opting out of a lucrative career in the Silicon Valley. Classically trained on the piano since age 5, the Taiwanese American reached the national spotlight when she made appearances on numerous late night shows and opened concerts for musicians such as India.Arie, Shawn Colvin and Sarah Harmer. Her first album, Walking Hour, peaked at No. 5 on Amazon.com. She has gone on to produce four albums including Warm Strangers, which charted on three Billboard charts

Enter the Haggis – Nov. 27, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $20-$30

Five albums and more than a decade on the road have seen Toronto roots rock band  Enter The Haggis evolve from wildly popular local band to established international touring act. The group’s formula for success has been a simple one: record great music, back it up with inspired live performances and tour constantly. The band has garnered Top 10 charting positions on Billboard, Amazon and iTunes, as well as major television appearances such as A&E’s Breakfast with the Arts, Live with Regis and Kelly and its very own PBS special.

For more information on these and all upcoming Musikfest Café performances, visit artsquest.org.