BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Local and national blues acts will take the stage at SteelStacks this weekend.
ArtsQuest’s annual Blast Furnace Blues Festival, celebrating its 13th year, will return with 11 musical acts paired with plenty of delicious, smoked eats.
The free outdoor festival will be from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 19 and 2-11 p.m. Saturday, July 20.
Even though the festival has been scaled back (ArtsQuest announced in April it would run two days), there still are new events planned.
The Steel City Smokeout, which also will have free admission, will be at noon on Saturday on PNC Plaza.
The barbecue cookout is a partnership between ArtsQuest and Nick's BBQ and includes a food competition authorized by the Mid-Atlantic BBQ Association and the Kansas City Barbeque Society.
The event will feature professional and amateur teams from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region competing in categories to win cash prizes up to $10,000.
You can see how they prepare their meats while sampling eats from local food trucks, including Slabs and Crabs and 4 Raices Street Tacos.
VIP tickets will be available and offer guests access to an exclusive area with a private cash bar, a complimentary “BBQ Brunch” prepared by Nick’s BBQ and a session with Rich Monts and Mike Piparato of Cigars International.
Also on Saturday: Learn how to make high-end backyard BBQ by attending the classes with pit masters Bob Trudnak and Moe Cason.
Friday's musical lineup
On Friday, Eden Brent will kick off the festival at 5 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion.
Brent, a Mississippi native, has won several awards including 11 Blues Music Award nominations and three Blues Music Awards.
Her hits include "Getaway Blues," "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water," and "Leave Me Alone."
Here is the rest of Friday's schedule:
Bedlam Blues: 6:30 p.m., Town Square.
A nine-year-old Lehigh Valley blues rock band with experienced band members rooted in blues.
Harlem Gospel Travelers: 7:30 p.m. Levitt Pavilion.
Expect to hear some of the group's latest songs, such as "Fight On!" and "Nothing But His Love," along with some of its older ones from "He's On Time," which made its debut in 2019.
Tony Holiday & The Velvetones: 9 p.m., Town Square.
Memphis blues harmonicist Holiday describes himself as part of a soul blues revival in Memphis and is touring to support his new album “Motel Mississippi,” his third album.
Saturday's lineup
Nate Myers and the Aces: 2 p.m., Town Square.
A central Pennsylvania band for more than 20 years, led by vocalist Myers and his harmonica.
The band creates a loose, casual atmosphere with blues, funk, hip-hop, rockabilly, country and improvisation.
Sierra Green and the Giants: 3 p.m., Levitt Pavilion.
The New Orleans group blends soul with a contemporary sound. Green is revered as the "Queen of Frenchmen Street."
The SlideWinder Blues Band: 4:30 p.m., Town Square.
The Doylestown, Bucks County, band offers up Texas and Chicago contemporary blues.
The Skyla Burrell Band: 5:30 p.m., Levitt Pavilion.
The couple are known for a traditional and blues rock sound.
The duo founded in 2002 by guitarist/singer Skyla Burrell and guitarist Mark Tomlinson, who share songwriting credits.
Eddie Davis and Blues Anatomy: 6:30 p.m., Town Square.
The group comprises five Philly natives who are inspired by the blues styles of Memphis, New Orleans Texas, Mississippi, Chicago and Harlem.
Eric Lindell: 7:30 p.m., Levitt Pavilion.
Lindell released his debut album, "Change In The Weather," in 2006 under Alligator Records.
After recording two albums with the label, he left to record other works, and later returned to Alligator Records with 2018's "Revolution In Your Heart."
Jive Jump & Wail: 9 p.m., Town Square.
The blues group formed in 2012 and plays a variety of what they refer to as house-rocking music mixed in with swing, jump blues, classic R&B, roots and Dixieland tunes.
The band has performed at the Wawa Fourth of July Welcome America in Philadelphia, 1st Energy Stadium in Reading and Rehoboth Beach Summer Concert Series.
The band features Demetria Joyce Bailey on vocals and the Molten Brass horns The setlist will consist of songs from their album, "Let the Good Times Roll" and other hits.
