BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Welcome to another year of LehighValleyNew.com's Fest in Show, a daily offering of some of the can't-miss acts on the 16 free stages of Bethlehem's Musikfest festival.
This year, more than 400 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 our picks for Wednesday, Aug. 6:
littlebird & the bad eggs, 5 p.m. Zinzenplatz and 8 p.m. Lagerplatz
What ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan calls "a packed Wednesday" kicks off with littlebird and the bad eggs — an eclectic, anthemic indie rock ensemble that brings together an array of styles including folk/Americana/R&B, soul, hip-hop, reggae and even jazz. The group spun off from the former Roseto-based Cody Templeton Band.
Elias Hix, 6 p.m. Stadtplatz
Hix, an18-year-old from rural South Carolina, grew up on a cattle farm but trained in classical upright bass, but "now he's making this kind of indie, country, folk, alt sound," Brogan said. "His vocals are just brilliant, I think, for an 18-year-old." He's been called a star in the making, and released his debut album, "Thinner," in 2023.
Dustin Douglas and The Electric Gentlemen, 6 p.m. Americaplatz
Douglas is the former guitarist for famed Northeast Pennsylvania roots-rockers The Badlees, who in the 1990s had the hits "Fear of Falling" an "Angeline is Coming Home." He now fronts a swaggering band that captures the vibe of late 1960s and ‘70s blues-laced rock, but Brogan said, "I still hear that balance in there."
Truth — A celebration of Jeff Beck, 7:30 p.m. Musikfest Cafe
There are hundreds of tribute bands dedicated to The Beatles, The Grateful Dead and others, but Truth says it's the only one covering late blues-rock great Beck. Led by Lou Franco, a Lehigh Valley favorite who played with Robert Hazard, Pretty Poison and more, the group's show is improvised, making every performance unique.
Nikki Hill, 7:30 p.m. Americaplatz
Hill, a blues-rocker from North Carolina, is making a return to Musikfest. With Hill's soulful, sensual style that's both sweet and swaggering backed by bar-rocking, roots-revivalist musical, "We are big fans of hers," Brogan said.
Shamarr Allen, 9:30 p.m. Americaplatz
A New Orleans jazz and funk trumpeter who adds rap and hip-hop. "When you think New Orleans music, you think of Shamar Allen," Brogan said. "He's someone who you would need to pay a ticket to see in a club in the northeast. He just oozes charisma and charm and everything." In addition to being lead vocalist and trumpeter for his Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs, Allen has collaborated with Willie Nelson, Patti LaBelle, Galactic, Harrick Connick Jr. and Lenny Kravitz.
