Music

The Allentown Symphony Association's El Sistema program is expanding to a new school to offer more student opportunities.

Occasional light drizzle did nothing to keep the crowd away from the opening night of the 14th Oktoberfest at SteelStacks on Friday night. The festival runs through the weekend and again Oct. 11-13.

John Legend, best known for his 14-times platinum No. 1 hit “All of Me” from 2013, will perform “A John Legend Christmas" at 8 p.m. Dec. 19 at PPL Center, it was announced.

Melissa Etheridge, who had chart-topping songs such as “Bring Me Some Water,” “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 26. She'll be joined by Joss Stone and Taylor Dayne.

Oktoberfest at SteelStacks begins on Friday, Oct. 4. The two-weekend celebration will feature four biergartens, a bratwurst eating contest, weiner dog race, polka music and a drag show.

Howie Day, whose 2004 song "Collide" sold four times platinum and helped his album "Stop All the World Now" reach platinum sales, will perform at the free annual Harvest Fest street fair. The event will be noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 20 at Main and Broad streets.

The four-day festival will feature performances by Kinetic Light, a disability arts ensemble and a Latin fest. It starts Thursday, Oct. 3, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 6.

Live Nation, the country's top music promoter, will book shows for the state-of-the-art entertainment venue at 935-939 Hamilton St., the promoter announced.

The rink, which again will be erected in front of the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks stage at the foot of the blast furnaces, is scheduled to open Nov. 22 and run through Jan. 5.

Rascal Flatts, which has sold more than 23 million copies of its 10 studio albums, will perform at 7 p.m. March 15, PPL Center said.

Mac Powell, who led Christian rock band Third Day to produce 13 gold and platinum albums, will perform at Calvary Baptist Church in Bethlehem Township. Also on the bill are contemporary Christian band Cochran & Co. and songwriter Jon Reddick.

Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern Jukebox, which reinterprets contemporary hit songs as jazz, ragtime and swing music, will perform at 8 p.m. July 26. And "Dancing with the Stars Live," featuring 2024 Mirrorball winners Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson, show co-host Stephen Nedoroscik special guests, will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 17.

The a cappella group will scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb.7 at Zoellner Arts Center.

Napalm Death, the English band credited as pioneers of the grindcore genre, will perform Tuesday, May 6, with The Melvins, the Washington band often credited with helping form Nirvana.

Sabrina Carpenter won two Grammy Awards on Sunday: Best Pop Solo Performance for her chart-topping hit "Espresso," and Best Pop Vocal Album for "Short n' Sweet," and also performed on the awards broadcast.

Easton's State Theatre will offer its final Blue Suede: The Premiere Elvis Birthday Bash, at 4 p.m. today, Feb. 2

Sixteen hardy souls braved the elements Friday to buy the first tickets for Kane Brown and top comedian Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias, who will perform Sept. 1.

Totally Tubular Festival, which features acts including Right Said Fred, The Motels, The Tubes, Men Without Hats and more, will perform Thursday, July 17.

The Musical Box, a Canadian band that says it recreates "historic Genesis concerts of the past," will perform the 1973 album "Genesis Live" at 7 p.m. June 15.

ArtsQuest has announced three new shows for Musikfest Cafe.

Archer Music Hall developers City Center and operators Live Nation gave the media an early look at the venue before its scheduled March 8 opening by gold-selling Brazilian metal band Cavalera.

Tickets, at $119, go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31 at the fair's website or at its box office on Allentown Fairgrounds at 17th and Liberty streets.