Music

Catch a breakdown of some of the best free acts performing during Musikfest 2024 tonight on PBS39. The 30-minute program airs at 5:30 p.m. and again at 11:30 p.m. It features ArtsQuest's Patrick Brogan and LehighValleyNews.com's John J. Moser.

Joe Russo's Almost Dead is led by Russo, who was drummer in the Grateful Dead splinter group Furthur with Dead guitarist Bob Weir and bassist Phil Lesh.

There will be two “Twist & Shout” Musikfest Sunday Brunches in Hotel Bethlehem's Grand Ballroom — Aug. 4 and Aug. 11.

Wheatus, best known for its 2000 single “Teenage Dirtbag,” will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 in Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, it was announced.

The celebration of the Isla del Encanto in Allentown was organized by the Puertorrican Culture Preservation and held on Sunday, July 28.

Musikfest 2024 begins with a preview night on Thursday. The 11-day festival will feature more than 422 artists and more than 500 concerts. Headliners include Greta Van Fleet, ZZ Top, Ludacris and Jowell & Randy.

College Hill PorchFest, a celebration of music and community across the Easton neighborhood, will return in September, with applications for performers and porches being accepted until July 31.

Tickets for the 50 shows in the new season go on sale to theater members at 10 a.m. Aug. 1 and to the public at 10 a.m. Aug. 8 at www.statetheatre.org, or at the box office at 453 Northampton St., Easton.

Erica Silver, a music teacher with the Allentown School District, is the youth chorale's newest conductor and Alaina Swartz is the new director of education and community engagement.

Diana Ross, who with The Supremes had a dozen No. 1 hits in the 1960s, then a half dozen more as a solo artist in the 1970s and ’80s, will perform at the center at 8 p.m. Oct. 18.

Rapper Ludacris, best known for the hits "Stand Up" (featuring Shawnna)" and "Money Maker" (featuring Pharrell), is the first headliner announced for next year's Musikfest.

For students in the Moravian University marching band, playing the right notes is just part of what makes someone a great bandmate.

From the Bach Choir to the Central Moravian Church, celebrate the season through song at these local concerts.

The famous soprano singer will perform her favorite holiday hits and top-charting tunes at Wind Creek Event Center on Nov. 29.

Dave Goddess Group will play songs from its new album, "Back in Business," and other from his past, at an "unplugged" show by his Dave Goddess Group at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 at Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. 4th St., Bethlehem. Tickets remain available at $20.50 advance and $25.50 day of show at www.godfreydaniels.org.

On display are Baez's guitars, artwork, personal letters and other items on loan from the singer.

Over the next few weeks, the Musikfest poster will appear on all platforms, including ArtsQuest websites. It will be used as the official festival 2024 poster and mug, as well as incorporated into other official festival merchandise and apparel throughout the year.

11Fest features performances by local rock, pop and rap groups. The concert helps support the studio's operational costs.

Curator and collector Landon Annoni owns hundreds of wardrobe pieces belonging to Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. His new exhibition in Allentown runs through Nov. 15.

Celebrate the legendary singer at events throughout the city ahead of her concert at the PPL Center on Saturday.

The last showing of "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinema in Bethlehem’s ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks is Nov. 5. It also ends its run then at AMC Allentown 16, 1700 Catasauqua Road, Allentown, and The Movie Tavern-Trexlertown, 6150 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown.

Clarice Assad, a Grammy-nominated composer, vocalist and pianist, has joined the Allentown Symphony as the Miller Symphony Hall's 2023-24 composer in residence.