BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Based on ticket sales alone, it was country music's year at Musikfest.
The festival's four country music shows — Megan Moroney, Riley Green, Darius Rucker and Jordan Davis — all were sellouts.
But does that mean they were the best of the 11 main Steel Stage headliners at Musikfest this year?
Now that the last notes of Musikfest have floated off for another year and our reviewers at LehighValleyNews.com have had time to reflect, we have ranked our favorites.
Last year, in what ArtsQuest Senior Program Director Patrick Brogan acknowledged was a "year of rock" at Musikfest, our reviewers chose rock acts as the Top 2 (and three of the Top 4).
In the meantime, the reviewers at LehighValleyNews.com have ranked their favorite headline shows this year.
Here are our rankings of the best main Steel Stage shows this year:
1. Megan Moroney, July 31.
Musikfest started its 42nd year with its best — a fast-rising country singer the festival caught at the perfect time. While Moroney has clearly walked through that door that Taylor Swift opened for young female stars, Moroney takes it several steps further, and with more innate talent. People who attended the sold-out show are going to talk about it in the future as "I saw her when — at Musikfest!"
2. The Black Keys, Aug. 10.
As if to book-end the festival, Musikfest finished with its second -best, and it was rock, not country. Reviewer Brian Myszkowski said, "Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, backed by a full band, brought an intense amount of punk-rock energy and a bit of an indie-hipster twist to the genre of blues-rock, captivating the audience with a slew of hit singles and fan favorites."
3. The Black Crowes, Aug. 4.
More rock (which should tell Musikfest presenter ArtsQuest something). Reviewer Micaela Hood said The Black Crowes "weren't there to perform for a weeknight crowd; they were there to reclaim their spot in rock 'n' roll." as frontman Chris Robinson "danced with energy, used the mic stand as a prop, and unleashed a voice that echoed the band’s Southern roots of blues, rock 'n' roll and R&B."
4. Gilberto Santa Rosa, Aug. 7.
El Caballero de la Salsa, Gilberto Santa Rosa, led a fitting tribute to Puerto Rico, delivering a night of flawless vocals and salsa beats (props to his 16-member orchestra), reviewer Micaela Hood said. "A vocal projection smooth and effortless, the six-time Latin Grammy winner lived up to his nickname as the 'Gentleman of Salsa.'"
5. Jordan Davis, Aug. 9
Amid a sea of Western-chic attire, Davis glided through his vocal ranges with ease, charming families and couples alike as the concert felt more like an intimate gig in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, than a headlining Musikfest one, reviewer Hood said. Davis also charmed the crowd with a “Burnt CD” medley of hits by White Stripes, Blink 182 and Train.
6. Riley Green, Aug. 1
It took a bit for Green to show the sold-out crowd what all the fuss over him (13 gold and platinum hits in the past seven years) is about, but mid-concert, Green's first hit, 2018's "There Was This Girl," turned that around. The main-set-closing "Worst Way" was easily the best of the set to that point — believable, with his vocals invested and distinguishable.
7. Chicago, Aug. 5
There was no mention of missing original member Robert Lamm, reviewer Chris Sexton said, but there was great energy, vocalists hit most of the notes and adjusted phrasing on a few of the big hits to get there when needed. They kept the songs rolling and got the crowd going with quick stories and invites to stand up and dance. They were nearly sold out for a reason ... it’s Chicago!
Other headliners were Avett Brothers on Aug. 2, Nelly on Aug. 6, Darius Rucker on Aug. 4, and Third Eye Blind on Aug. 8.
Staff writers Micaela Hood, Brian Myszkowski, Chris Sexton and Brad Klein contributed to this report
