Music

The group showed why it has had that staying power: Its hits — in a sprawling 26-song, 2½-hour show, the band offered 14 gold and platinum hits — still resonate.

The Four Tops, who in the 1960s helped define the Motown sound with hits such chart-topping hits as "Reach Out I'll Be There," will perform at 7 p.m. Sept. 2, backed by Allentown Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets, starting at $126.65, remain available at the PPL Center website or the box office at 701 W. Hamilton St., Allentown.

In PPL Center's nearly 12-year history, it has been host for a handful of "final" tours. On Thursday, June 11, ballad-rockers Journey will be the latest.

Bad Company Legacy, which includes two members of the group that from 1974-92 sold 20 million copies of hits such as “Can’t Get Enough,” “Feel Like Making Love” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy,” will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 1. And Morgan Wade, whose hit "Wilder Days" helped get her nominated for the Academy of Country Music's New Female Artist of the Year in 2023, will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 28.

Straight No Chaser will perform at the theater at 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 5. And the stage play "Waitress" at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16.

The Freddy Awards is now in its 24th year. The ceremony will take place on May 21 at State Theatre.

Country music star Martina McBride and Justin Hayward, who led The Moody Blues for more than 50 years, are among four new shows announced for the theater's 100th season.

All Time Low, which had the hits “Dear Maria, Count Me In” in 2008 and “Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)” and “Weightless” in 2009, will perform at 7 p.m. Sept. 5.

Musikfest announced 331 music acts announced for about 500 concerts on the festival's 15 free stages during its July 31-Aug. 9 run, with a July 30 preview night.

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.

Broadway's "Rock of Ages" Band features the musician case of the Broadway show playing what it calls playing "the greatest rock hits from the glam metal bands of the '80s."

Comedian/actor Steve Martin and funnyman Martin Short, who together have starred in successful film comedies, will perform The Best of Steve Martin and Martin Short on Friday, Nov. 6.

The Idobi Radio Summer School Tour will undertake its "junior" (as in third year of high school) year with performances by five "independent artists and bands on the verge of breaking out," the tour said in a release.

Steve Earle, best known for his 1998 Top 10 Mainstream Rock hit "Copperhead Road," will perform a show titled "51 Years of Songs & Stories" Friday, Aug. 21, at Musikfest Cafe.

Let Freedom Sing will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, at Allentown’s Coca-Cola Park. The IronPigs also will bring together adult, community and school choirs from the Lehigh Valley and surrounding counties.

Don McLean, whose 1971 song “American Pie” was No. 1 for four weeks and was chosen No. 5 on the RIAA's list of Songs of the Century, will perform at Saturday, May 30.

Kane Brown, best known for his 11-times-platinum hit "Heaven" and his nine-times-platinum hit “What Ifs” with Lauren Alaina, will perform at Wind Creek Event Center at 8 p.m. April 23, it was just announced.

You can still get tickets to the show, but as of Sunday morning, just two premium balcony seats remained, and general admission floor tickets were up for resale at a 131% markup.

In his first public performance since the "American Idol" episode with him on it aired, Allentown singer Seth Witcher on Thursday was cagey about his status on the show.

Dashboard Confessional will perform at Archer Music Hall in Allentown on Tuesday, April 14. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 13.