QUAKERTOWN, Pa. — A music festival set for next month will feature several Lehigh Valley performers — including two set to play at Musikfest — in an effort to help area food pantries.
Joyful Noise Music Festival is set for 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. June 14 at Univest Performance Center, 501 W. Mill St. Doors will open at 10 a.m.
Lehigh Valley guitar favorite Craig Thatcher, who will play at Bethlehem's Musikfest festival in August, will perform 12:55-1:55 p.m.
All proceeds raised will be shared among four Quakertown-area food pantries: Quakertown Food Pantry, F.E.A.S.T, Saint Isidore's Food Pantry and Heaven's Bounty.St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Applebachsville release
Also scheduled is On The Cusp, a Lehigh Valley-area band set to play Musikfest in August.
The festival will be rain or shine. Admission will be free, but attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food donations.
All proceeds raised will be shared among four Quakertown-area food pantries: Quakertown Food Pantry, F.E.A.S.T, Saint Isidore's Food Pantry and Heaven's Bounty.
Festival attendees also are encouraged to bring their own chairs; the festival will be lawn seating.
The biennial festival is organized by St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Applebachsville, Bucks County.
Other performers, more
The church's St. Paul's Joyful Noise Band, which plays praise music, will open the festival at 11 a.m.
In addition, there will be five other musical acts:
- The 307, a local rock band that feature featuring three recent Pennridge-area high school graduates. It has played several shows at Musikfest.
- Denia Shanelle, a Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter.
- Bob Halligan Jr., a nationally known singer/songwriter who has performed at evert Joyful Noise event.
- On The Cusp, a Lehigh Valley-area band performing original music as well as covers. The band also will perform on one of the free stages at Musikfest.
- Laura Cheadle & The Girls, an all-female trio featuring bluesy "girl-power" pop, soul and rock.
In addition to music, there will be a festival marketplace, with local food, artists and craft vendors.
There will be concessions from The Brickside, kids crafts throughout the day and more.
'Working hard to meet large need'
The church said in a release that since its inception in 2005, the Joyful Noise Music Festival has raised nearly $80,000 for the community.
"As grocery costs soar, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Applebachsville is proud to continue their support of local area food pantries," the release said.
"We encourage everyone to come out to the festival, enjoy some music, support local businesses and help show our love for our neighbors."St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Applebachsville release
It said that, according to a “Map the Meal Gap” report produced by Feeding America, Bucks County’s food insecurity rate is about 6.6%, or slightly more than 42,000 individuals, including 12,690 children.
"And many of these neighbors will get lost in the 'mushy middle,' where they have a need for food assistance, but do not qualify for government programs," the release said.
"This is a small congregation working hard to meet a large need in their community.
"We encourage everyone to come out to the festival, enjoy some music, support local businesses and help show our love for our neighbors."
For more information, go to the festival's website.
