Arts & Culture

Fans at the Allentown Fair got a triple dose of hair metal nostalgia as Quiet Riot, Ace Frehley, and Great White shared the stage for a night of heavy riffs and anthems on Saturday evening.

Country singer Kane Brown's concert headlining Allentown Fair's grandstand Friday showed not only that it's real enough to connect with fans of both genres, but really good, too.

Country rock group Alabama on Thursday played a record 10th headlining show at Allentown Fair grandstand (it first played there 42 years ago).

There are plenty of free acts to enjoy at the unofficial last of summer celebration, including a comedian/juggler with a crown of Solo cups and a tent filled with multi-colored butterflies.

Heart's headline opening night of Allentown Fair's grandstand on Wednesday wasn't the typical 50th anniversary blowout, but seemed more an acknowledgement of the band's triumph.

Mac and cheese on a stick, barbecue-infused ice cream, and horseradish cheesesteaks are hoping to win over fairgoers in this year's food contest. Voting is done on-site, and the winners will be announced on Monday.

John Fogerty, who with the group Creedence Clearwater Revival sold 30 million albums — 13 of which sold gold or platinum — will perform his Legacy Tour at 8 p.m. Nov. 8.

After a three-year hiatus, chick hatching is back at the Allentown Fair. The exhibition will be open daily at the Lehigh County 4-Club Livestock Experience tent.

With Allentown Fair opening its 173rd year today, music critic John J. Moser has 25 years of reviewing grandstand shows behind him. These are the best he's seen, ranked in order.

Heart will perform a grandstand show at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 on the opening night of Allentown Fair. Tickets remain available.

Three Dog Night, which had hits such as "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," "Joy to the World" and "Black and White," will perform at 7 p.m. Sept. 27, and the stage musical of Charles Dickens’s "A Christmas Carol," will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3.

Sangriafest, Tacofest and Ginvitational will be back with "craft spirits and global flavors," ArtsQuest said in a news release.

The Coral Reefer Band, which includes nine members who each played live shows with Jimmy Buffett for more than 25 years and appeared on multiple gold and platinum albums, will perform at Wind Creek Event Center at 7:30 p.m. July 9.

Russell Dickerson, best known for the 2017 triple-platinum hit "Yours" and the double-platinum hits "Blue Tacoma" in 2018 and "Love You Like I Used To" in 2020, will perform at 7 p.m. July 31, it was announced.

The My Generation Tour of Gary Lewis & The Playboys, The Lovin' Spoonful and The Hollies' Terry Sylvester that stopped Friday, March 13, at Easton's State Theater was a wonderful collection of memories — and an occasional surprise.

The Oak Ridge Boys will stop at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at Easton's State Theatre. Tickets, at $65-$85, remain available at the theatre website and are expected to be available at the door at 453 Northampton St.

Gary Lewis & The Playboys and The Lovin' Spoonful will perform as part of The My Generation Tour at 7:30 p.m. March 13 at Easton's State Theatre. Joining them will be Terry Sylvester of The Hollies, one of those British groups with which they competed, and which had five Top 10 hits of their own in the 1960s.

Looking at what has transpired at The Archer since it opened, Live Nation Head of Clubs Programming Molly Warren said, "We had an amazing first year."

Wilco, whose songs "I Might" and "Speak Into the Rose" hit the Top 5 on Billboard's Singles chart in 2011, will play "An Evening With Wilco" show at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks at 8 p.m. June 17.

T.I., best known for his eight-times- platinum hits "Whatever You Like" in 2008 and "Live Your Life (featuring Rihanna)," will perform at 6 p.m. Aug. 6.

James McMurtry, who in 1989 had the hit "Painting By Numbers," will perform with his band The Marshall Law Review at 7 p.m. June 21, it was announced.

The venue will hold its Archerversary at 8 p.m. March 7 in its smaller, 500-capacity Arrow room, with DJ sets from Leek and Vndtta, it said in a release.