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 music acts you should see today, Friday, Aug. 1.
Fabricio Orihuela, 6:30 p.m., Plaza Tropical
A singer-songwriter originally from Uruguay, now based in the Lehigh Valley, Orihuela has "a Latin pop, also some ballads, but real, singer songwriter or guitar feel," ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan said.
Rainbow Girls, 7:45 p.m. Americaplatz
California alt-rockers Rainbow Girls are a three-piece band that's honed its craft for 15 years and released seven albums, including last year's "Haunting." They're "really straight-ahead female rockers," Brogan said.
The Hot Club of Philadelphia, 8 p.m. Jazz Cabaret stage
One of the best aspects of Musikfest is the breadth of music it offers, and The Hot Club of Philadelphia alone covers several of those. An acoustic ensemble dedicated to playing "gypsy Jazz" in the style of guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stéphane Grappelli, Hot Club expands that to modern influences including Americana, folk and world music.
Steal The Sky, 8:30 p.m., Festplatz
Steal The Sky, a Philadelphia-based band that mixes pop, rock and dance music, tours all along the East Coast, is a cover band that mixes in original music. "We always try to open the festival with a party — Musikfest is the Lehigh Valley's biggest party," Brogan said. "Steal the Sky is a great, pop party band."
Life After Dead: Grateful Dead Tribute Band, 9:30 p.m. Stadtplatz
In the world of musical tribute cover bands, The Grateful Dead isn't an easy band to replicate well, with its sometimes improvisational style and free-form following. But Life After Dead is among two (!) that Musikfest is offering this year. The band says its desire is "to create exciting new music which stretches the boundaries of imagination, while inspiring their audiences to dance at the same time." The second Grateful Dead tribute, DEAL: Celebrating the Music of the Grateful Dead, performs at Noon Aug. 9 on the Community Stage.
