BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Welcome to LehighValleyNews.com's Fest in Show, a daily offering of some of the can't-miss acts on the stages of Musikfest.
Read us daily during Musikfest for suggestions of the best music — and more.
The Music
Here are music acts you should see today, Friday, Aug. 4:
Magic! 9 p.m. Americaplatz
Canadian reggae fusion band Magic! is best known for its 2013 No. 1, eight-times-platinum hit “Rude,” which also was nominated for the American Music Awards Single of the Year and gave the group a Top 10 album, “Don’t Kill the Magic,” in 2014. ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan said Magic! also puts on “a really engaging live show. We’ve been working on them for a number of years to be at Musikfest; they’re finally here.”
Dizzy Bee, 7;15 p.m., Americaplatz. Also, 3 p.m. Saturday, Musikfest Cafe
Musikfest for many years until the early 2000s partnered with its German sister city Schwäbisch Gmünd to bring over polka bands for the festival. In homage to the festival’s 40th year, the festival again worked with its sister city, but this year brought over modern-rock band Dizzy Bee, which has three albums of original music. “They’re a party,” ArtsQuest’s Brogan said. “They’ll even throw in some covers – it’s a rock party band that we know audiences are going to love, and we love that connection to Germany from the origins of Musikfest, but making it a little more modern.”
There There: Tribute to Radiohead, 9:30 p.m. Stadtplatz
Musikfest in recent years – like most music venues in general – have been more open to musical tribute acts, and there are several this year. There There, which Brogan calls “a great Radiohead tribute,” is among the most interesting this year. Radiohead, with hits such as 1992’s multi-platinum “Creep,” isn’t a band that’s typically copied.
Cunningham & Associates, 7:30 p.m. Musikfest Cafe
The rock-party band cover band that’s fronted by former Bethlehem mayor/state General Services Secretary Don Cunningham, now Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. president and CEO, isn’t just a novelty. Heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen — in fact, it plays many of his songs — it’s a solid musical act.
Hot Club of Philadelphia, 8 p.m. Jazz Cabaret
The manouche jazz quartet is dedicated to playing and preserving the music of Django Reinhardt, the Belgium-born French-Romani guitarist and composer. It’s been around for more than 20 years and a hit at Musikfest for much of that.
For foodies
Craving some street meat?
Try the Chicago-style frank from Van Pelt Hot Dog Co. ($9) on the SteelStacks campus.
The yummy concoction is made with a beef frank, yellow mustard, onions, tomatoes, sport peppers, neon relish, celery salt, a pickle and poppy seed bun.
Drink of the day
Still on the clock, the staff at the outdoor bar at the ArtsQuest Center served us a delicious mocktail on Preview Night made with pineapple, cranberry and lime juices.
The best part? It only cost $3.
