Community Corner

Musikfest Highlights: August 11

Former American Idol finalist Daughtry jams at the Sands Steel Stage; enjoy a Celtic music feast at Volksplatz, or salsa the night away at Festplatz.

 

The Weather: It will be cloudy and rainy in the morning, but conditions should improve into the afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service forecast. There will be a chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon with a high of 83 degrees.

The Headliner: Rock band Daughtry is fronted by Chris Daughtry, who was an American Idol finalist in season 5 in 2006. The band, which plays tonight at the Sands Steel Stage at PNC Plaza, has released three albums since its formation, the most recent Break the Spell in November. Tickets at $49 and $34 are still available. Gates open at 6 p.m. Show starts at 7:30.

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The Highlight: Project M, a party for teens, returns for its second night at Payrow Plaza, next to , starting at 5 p.m. There will be skateboard and BMX demonstrations, contests and giveaways with help from the . There will also be a dance contest and dance party with DJ Cap Cee spinning the tunes. You won’t find this in your Musikfest program, but it was organized by the Bethlehem Youth Council to give teens a better place to hang on a Musikfest Saturday night than Main Street.

For the Little Ones: Bug trivia and bug coloring will be one of the attractions at Banana Island as Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers host educational activities with water bottle and crayon giveaways. The theme at the Peeps & Company Craft Tent is “Under the Sea.” Live music by Baze and Silly Friends, Miss Amy & Her Big Kids Band and the Stacey Peasley Band.

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Mary Ellen’s Celtic Corner: It’s a full night of Celtic music at Volksplatz tonight, starting at 5:30 with local fiddling favorites Burning Bridget Cleary; New York-based Celtic rock band The Prodigals follow at 7:30; Celtic rockers the Fighting Jamesons from Virginia take the stage at 9:30.

The Best of the Free Platzes: If you like Texas blues and Southern rock, you might want to check out the Chris Watson Band from Denton, Texas, at Americaplatz (the Levitt Pavilion at ) at 6 p.m. Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds (Plaza Tropical, 7:30 p.m.) is a nine-piece, horn-loaded band with a big-voiced lead singer from Brooklyn, N.Y., that “puts a modern spin on classic soul.” La Excelencia is an 11-piece salsa orchestra, also out of New York, that ArtsQuest’s partners in the Latin community recommended. You might not be able to resist dancing, which is why it’s a good thing they’ll be playing behind the dance floor at Festplatz at 9 p.m.

Musikfest After Hours: Late-night comedy with stand-up comedian Ryan Hill, 11 p.m. at the . Tickets are $5. Truth & Soul plays at Club Mural in the from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.; Acoustic cover artist Paulie Knakk plays at The Wooden Match (the former Main Street Depot) at 61 W. Lehigh St., from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.


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