BETHLEHEM, Pa. — It was July 9, 2011, and then-Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan stepped onto the gleaming new stage at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks.
Callahan looked out on the 1,500 people gathered on the lawn — also new — in front of the pavilion to hear the venue's first concert ever, by Texas boogie-woogie blues pianist/singer Marcia Ball.
“The last thing you want to do is throw a party and have nobody show up," Callahan said in his opening remarks. "But Bethlehem’s always up for a party.”
"From families dancing under the stars to volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes, every note played on our stage is a tribute to the spirit of shared experiences that defines Levitt."ArtsQuest President Kassie Hilgert
That sentiment still is true — played out year after year at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks.
There, each summer, crowds gather for a season of about 50 free concerts offered by ArtsQuest, in collaboration with the national Levitt Foundation.
At 7:30 tonight, May 16, the pavilion will open its 15th season with a concert by Boston indie pop-funk band Couch.
"For 15 years, Levitt Pavillion SteelStacks presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health has brought people of all ages and backgrounds together through the power of free, live music," ArtsQuest President Kassie Hilgert said.
"This season, we’re celebrating not just the artists, but the incredible community that makes it all possible.
"From families dancing under the stars to volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes, every note played on our stage is a tribute to the spirit of shared experiences that defines Levitt."
A dream realized
ArtsQuest officials have said that from the time the organization first imagined SteelStacks as a permanent entertainment complex to extend its Musikfest festival all year round, it included the idea of an outdoor music pavilion for free performances.
As the story goes, that vision became a reality when in 2009, ArtsQuest founder Jeff Parks participated in a panel discussion at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters annual conference in New York.
Parks sat next to Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch, the daughter of the founder of the Mortimer Levitt Foundation, which operates the nonprofit Levitt Pavilion program. The group develops and financially supports pavilions to “inspire and strengthen communities through live music experiences.”
"I thought, 'Wow, that’s exactly what we want at the SteelStacks — a music pavilion that provides live, free, family-friendly concerts for at least 15 nights a year.'"Musikfest founder Jeff Parks
In an interview at the time, Parks said he heard Hirsch speak, “and I thought, 'Wow, that’s exactly what we want at the SteelStacks — a music pavilion that provides live, free, family-friendly concerts for at least 15 nights a year.'"
Shortly thereafter, Levitt officials visited the proposed site
on the former Bethlehem Steel property in South Bethlehem, right in front of Bethlehem Steel’s iconic blast furnaces.
Within two years, the venue opened with the show by Marcia Ball — the first of 42 concerts that first year.
The Levitt lawn has a capacity of 2,500 people on lawn chairs, blankets or simply standing. Its slight slope means that, even from a lawn chair three-quarters of the way back, it’s easy to see the stage clearly.
The late Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch, a daughter of Mortimer Levitt who headed the Levitt Pavilion program and founded the Levitt Foundation that funds it, said at opening ceremonies that, "I want to say how proud Bethlehem makes me.”
Hirsch’s mother, Mimi, who also spoke at that opening ceremony, said, “I love everything I have seen here. It’s absolutely perfect.”
'Rising stars to beloved acts'
That perfect concert setting has continued, with Levitt SteelStacks attendance growing.
"From rising stars to beloved local acts, the Levitt Pavilion has been a launchpad for incredible talent and a heartbeat of musical expression in the Lehigh Valley," Levitt Pavilion Executive Director Shayna Super said.
"Levitt Pavillion SteelStacks has been committed to a varied musical repertoire for our audiences so everyone is sure to find something that resonates with them."Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks Director Shayna Super
"Over the past 15 years, our stage has welcomed a dynamic mix of genres and artists, from soul-stirring singer-songwriters and electrifying Latin bands to crowd-favorite tribute acts.
"Each season has been a showcase of artistry and energy that only live performance can deliver. It’s a celebration of music and memories.”
Super said Levitt Pavilion has been a success not only for audiences, but for music acts, as well.
Levitt has been "a launchpad" for artists such as Lake Street Dive, Black Violin, Low Cut Connie, Lucius, The War and Treaty and Tank and the Bangas.
"Over the years, [they] have gone on to have extremely successful careers and command a high ticket price at venues, but you saw them here first, free," Super said.
But in addition to rising stars and undiscovered talent, Super noted Levitt SteelStacks also has offered recognizable names such as Dishwalla, Cracker, Blind Boys of Alabama, Poco & Pure Prairie League and The Verve Pipe.
"Not to mention our genre-based festivals" such the Blast Furnace Blues festival, ¡Sabor! Latin Festival, One Earth ReggaeFest and, of course, becoming Americaplatz during Musikfest.
This year's Levitt lineup is no different. The lineup will include concerts by four former contestants from popular television singing competition shows including "American Idol."
But it also will include salsa, blues, funk, pop, indie rock, Americana, alternative, R&B/soul, folk, reggae, roots and world music offerings.
"Levitt Pavillion SteelStacks has been committed to a varied musical repertoire for our audiences so everyone is sure to find something that resonates with them," Super said.
More details on this year's Levitt lineup are available on the venue's webpage.
