ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A new free summer concert series designed to "bring music and community together in the heart of Allentown" will launch in June, it was announced Monday.
ArtsQuest, in partnership with the city, announced ArtsQuest’s Friday Concerts at Union Terrace Amphitheater. ArtsQuest presents the massive Musikfest festival in Bethlehem each August.
Among the shows family-friendly shows will be Orleans, which had the Top 10 song “Dance With Me” in 1975 and a Top 5 hit with the upbeat “Still The One” in 1976.
Also, a Billy Joel tribute, and nights of funk and reggae, Latin-Merengue and classic rock.
“This new series is all about celebrating community, creating shared experiences through live music and bringing people together.”ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan
The shows will be open to all residents of Allentown, especially those in the Union Terrace Park neighborhood, as well as visitors from across the Lehigh Valley, ArtsQuest said in a release.
They'll be able to "enjoy live music in a relaxed, neighborhood-style atmosphere," the release said.
All concerts will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with the City of Allentown to bring the ArtsQuest Friday Concerts to Union Terrace Amphitheater,” ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan said.
“This new series is all about celebrating community, creating shared experiences through live music and bringing people together.”
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said, “ArtsQuest is uniquely suited to bring musical vibrancy to the iconic Union Terrace Amphitheater.”
The amphitheater, built as a Works Progress Administration project "is an awesome blend of nature and architecture that will create an amazing setting for our community to celebrate the joy of life together," Tuerk said.
"We look forward to welcoming city families and neighbors to Allentown — the beating heart of the Lehigh Valley — this summer.”
ArtsQuest ventures off campus
The series will be ArtsQuest's latest venture off its South Bethlehem campus at SteelStacks.
ArtsQuest in 2023 and 2024 offered a music festival and other concerts as Concerts on the Grange in Upper Macungie Township.
That series is not being held this year.
“These concerts will bring nearby neighbors and music lovers from across the region to the one-of-a-kind Union Terrace amphitheater. Where they will enjoy top-notch music, in a jewel of a community park, throughout the summer.”Lehigh Valley Health Network Chief Marketing Officer Richard Levy
Union Terrace also has been the site of concert series in the past.
In its earliest years in the later 1980s, Union Terrace was among the sites the city's Mayfair festival of the Arts used to present shows — along with West Park and the Rose Garden.
In addition to music, there will be several food options, including Taco Town and La Frikitona, with more to be announced.
Street parking will be available on Union Street and Walnut Street, with a parking lot on South St. Elmo Street; ADA parking lot near the corner of Walnut and South St. Elmo Streets; and Circle, Steel and Platinum ArtsQuest Members will have access to a parking lot on South St. Elmo Street.
“These concerts will bring nearby neighbors and music lovers from across the region to the one-of-a-kind Union Terrace amphitheater," said Lehigh Valley Health Network Chief Marketing Officer Richard Levy.
"Where they will enjoy top-notch music, in a jewel of a community park, throughout the summer.”
LVHN will sponsor the new series.
Series lineup
Here’s the line-up for The Friday Concerts at Union Terrace Amphitheater:
June 13: Funk & Reggae
- G.O.E. Troupe — Blending genres and faith, the Lehigh Valley-based band plays for artists among the gospel and mainstream communities.
- Cosmic Soul Collective — Lehigh Valley-based musicians fuses R&B, hip-hop and jazz.
- Philadelphia Funk Authority — An area favorite dance and party band.
July 11: Latin-Merengue
- Mako Swing, with La Tribù Del Este–The Louis E. Dieruff Latin Ensemble — A modern Merengue group bringing live music to all of Pennsylvania since 2018 joined by a student musical group that brings together current students, alumni and local musicians celebrating the musical traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Aug. 22: We May Be Right Billy Joel Tribute
- Ensemble that re-creates the music of Billy Joel.
Sept. 12: Orleans, with DMC DUO
- The soft-rock band had gold, Top 10 hits with "Dance With Me" in 1975 and "Still the One"
in 1976, and just missed the Top 10 in 1979 with "Love Takes Time." It was last in the area when it performed a free show at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks in 2012. It was scheduled to perform in 2011, but canceled when lead singer Larry Hoppen, the voice of the band’s hits, died. - DMC DUO plays a variety of acoustic rock, pop and country covers and originals.
