BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Welcome to LehighValleyNew.com's Fest in Show, a daily offering of some of the can't-miss acts on the free stages of Bethlehem's Musikfest festival.
This year 422 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, the fifth official day of Musikfest 2024, Tuesday, Aug. 6:
Joe Lazorik, noon Main Street stage
Lehigh Valley resident Joe Lazorik is a virtual jukebox, having a wealth of musical knowledge and experience gathered over more than 40 years of professional piano playing experience. He plays folks, ballads, patriotic selections, show tunes, TV theme songs and hits of the 1950s, '60s and 70s. His shows also often are immersive, so expect to sing along.
Myron Elkins, 7:30 p.m. Americaplatz
This year's Musikfest doesn't have a lot of country music, ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan said, but Elkins, out of Michigan, is one that squarely hits the target. His music "hearkens back to a great country sound," Brogan said. "Much more traditional, older country sound that we're excited to have at the festival." He's been featured in Rolling Stone magazine, which called his debut album "Factories, Farms & Amphetamines" "an irresistible mix of country-funk, rock & soul."
The Chivalrous Crickets, 9 p.m. Liederplatz
Irish-Celtic band Chivalrous Crickets headline Irish Pub night at Liederplatz that also includes Wee Foggy Dogs and The Jolly Roving Tars. "They're a much more traditional Irish band," ArtsQuest's Brogan said of The Chivalrous Crickets, who all hail from the tri-state area. "You're going to hear more Irish Trad music than some of the pop American Irish sounds like a Bastard Bearded Irishman [who played Aug. 3] or Scythian [Aug. 8 at Plaza Tropical and Aug. 9 at Americaplatz] kind of play throughout the festival. This is much more Irish Pub music."
Ocean Avenue Stompers, 6 p.m. Americaplatz
The Ocean Avenue Stompers is an ever-evolving musical collective of more than 30 professional session players from Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York who celebrate the roots of American music, with a focus on funk and soul and the brass band sounds of New Orleans. Originating as a six-piece brass band in Asbury Park, New Jersey, they gained acclaim by busking during the COVID-19 pandemic. They're now regulars along the Jersey Shore, known for their energetic performances. The Stompers' horn section regularly joins Lehigh Valley-based Talking Heads tribute band Start Making Sense, and are scheduled to again go out with them in spring.
Space Kamp, 9:30 a.m. Plaza Tropical
One member of alternative rap/reggae duo Space Kamp is Oskee, son of salsa/merengue Lifetime Latin Grammy recipient Cuco Valoy (the other is partner Adoo). You might think the genre-bending pair would lean Latin, but their sound is much more psychedelic-reggae. Its 2020 album "Electric Lemonade" hit No. 15 on the iTunes Reggae chart, and 2022 's "Butterfly Effect" debuted at No. 7 on Billboard's Current Reggae Chart and No. 9 on iTunes Reggae Charts. Here's how Space Kamp describes itself: "a mixed cocktail of Merry Pranksters and Hunter S. Thompson, with the sonics of The Grateful Dead and Bob Marley, stirred in a pot with Redman, Method Man and Tego Calderon."
