BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Welcome to LehighValleyNew.com's Fest in Show, a daily offering of some of the can't-miss acts on the free stages of Bethlehem's Musikfest festival.
This year, 422 acts will play those stages during the festival's 11 days.
Read us daily during Musikfest for suggestions of the best music — and more.
Here are music acts you should see for today's first official day of Musikfest 2024, Friday, Aug. 2:
Fleece, 7:30 p.m., Americaplatz
Canadian indie-rockers Fleece are among acts from eight countries outside the United States at Musikfest this year, ArtsQuest Senior Programming Officer Patrick Brogan said. A YouTube posting called Fleece "gorgeous" music, and it's an appropriate description — heavily influenced by psych rock and contemporary pop. "It's beautiful. It's ethereal, a little bit. Yeah, it's romantic, lush, in ways," Brogan said.
The Large Flowerheads, 8:30 p.m., Zinzenplatz
While a favorite aspect of Musikfest is discovering new musical acts, another is getting to see some top regional acts free. That's the case with The Large Flowerheads, who in October played a paid-ticket concert at Allentown's Coca-Cola Park. The group performs a set of hits from the 1960s and early '70s, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Mamas & The Papas and more.
Scott Marshal and The Highway Souls, 9 p.m. Liederplatz
Another of those familiar regional acts that's hard to ignore. The country music-leaning, Americana/folk rock of Marshall over the years won more honors at the former Lehigh Valley Music Awards than any other act.
Igor & the Red Elvises, 9:30 p.m., Stadtplatz
Siberian surf rockers Igor & The Red Elvises has long been a favorite of Musikfest, consistently among the festival's most fun shows. Performing covers of favorite modern and throwback hits, and mashups and medleys like a live DJ, it's been described as a rock 'n' roll party with thick Russian accents.
Robert Jon & the Wreck, 9:30 p.m., AmericaPlatz
Closing the night on the Levitt Pavilion stage, the California band "are another great blues rocker," Brogan said. The band merges Southern rock with soaring guitars and even vocal harmonies.
