Featured Images: The first four artists performing live as part of Levitt SteelStacks in Your Living Room, and a photo of the new Levitt SteelStacks face coverings

 

Coordinated Health, part of Lehigh Valley Health Network, and Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation Help Free Concert Series Continue Virtually Until Community Can Gather in Person

 

BETHLEHEM, PA—Free livestreams by artists like The Slackers, Kat Wright Acoustic Trio, American Dinosaur and Yam Haus, as well as a glimpse of the virtual programming being offered by all eight Levitt Pavilions across the country, highlight the start of the 10^th year of the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks as the nonprofit music venue designed to bring the community together through free concerts shifts to keeping our community connected through free virtual programming. 

The new “Levitt in Your Living Room” series is made possible through the support of Coordinated Health, part of Lehigh Valley Health Network, and the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation. 

The 2020 Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks Concert Series presented by Coordinated Health, part of Lehigh Valley Health Network, will feature a virtual format that includes Thursday night livestreams by artists originally scheduled for the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks stage, web broadcasts of past Levitt Pavilion concerts on Fridays courtesy of Service Electric Cable TV & Communications, and livestreams on Saturdays presented by the other Levitt Pavilions around the nation. 

“All of us at Lehigh Valley Health Network and Coordinated Health are proud to stand by our partners at ArtsQuest through this time and continue our support of the Levitt Pavilion at SteelStacks,” says Erin Ludwig, Director of Community Engagement for Lehigh Valley Health Network. “At LVHN, safety is our highest priority, and we are pleased to help provide a safe way to continue to enjoy Levitt Pavilion programming for the 2020 season.” 

During each evening, the community will also have opportunities to donate and support Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks, which has presented more than 525 free concerts to more than 585,000 people since opening in July 2011. All contributions will go directly toward supporting the community outdoor music venue so it’s ready to engage and entertain audiences when the crisis is over. 

The “Levitt in Your Living Room” series is scheduled to take place Thursdays-Saturdays starting May 28. The first’s month programming lineup is listed below; additional performances and schedule updates will be announced at  www.levittsteelstacks.org/ and the Levitt Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/levittsteelstacks/. 

May 28            Levitt SteelStacks in Your Living Room live with Victor “Vic” Ruggiero of The Slackers

May 29            Levitt in Your Living Room with Service Electric: The Deltaz at Levitt SteelStacks in 2019

May 30            Levitt in Your Living Room with the BoDeans at Levitt Shell Memphis

June 4             Levitt SteelStacks in Your Living Room live with The Kat Wright Acoustic Trio

June 5             Levitt in Your Living Room with Service Electric: Empire Strikes Brass at Levitt SteelStacks in 2019

June 6             Levitt SteelStacks in Your Living Room with Jackie Venson at Levitt Shell Sioux Falls 

June 11           Levitt SteelStacks in Your Living Room live with American Dinosaur

June 12           Levitt in Your Living Room with Service Electric: Splintered Sunlight in the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling in 2016

June 13           Levitt in Your Living Room with Donna the Buffalo at Levitt Shell Memphis

June 18           Levitt SteelStacks In Your Living Room live with Yam Haus

June 19           Levitt in Your Living Room with Service Electric: Sun Parade at Levitt SteelStacks in 2018

June 20           Levitt in Your Living Room with Hippo Campus at Levitt Pavilion Denver

ArtsQuest is hopeful that as COVID-19-related restrictions are eased in the region, concerts will be able to resume live at the Levitt Pavilion following any social distancing and other health and safety guidelines put in place by the city and the state. No date, however, has been established for in-person concerts to take place this year.

“The mission of the Levitt Pavilion has always been to bring the community together through free, shared musical experiences,” says Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks Executive Director Anne Sturm. “Right now, the number-one priority for everyone is the safety and well-being our patrons, performers, volunteers and staff. We are in touch regularly with our local government and public health authorities to stay updated on our state and city’s mitigation efforts and, as this situation evolves, we will continue to keep everyone updated.  

“On behalf of everyone at ArtsQuest, we thank Lehigh Valley Health Network, Coordinated Health and Levitt Foundation for continuing to support our free music series, including these virtual performances.  We look forward to helping our community heal and celebrating our region’s resiliency when we are all able to get back together in person to enjoy great live music.” 

Artists originally selected to perform at the 2020 free outdoor concert series before the COVID-19 pandemic hit included The Wailers, The Verve Pipe, The James Hunter Six, Ruthie Foster, Tinsley Ellis, Eileen Ivers, Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials and more. Fans of Levitt Pavilion can support the community resource to help it prepare for when everyone can get back together in person by: 

• Making a donation at donorbox.org/levitt.
• Becoming a Friend of Levitt supporting member and enjoy exclusive online & in-person benefits.
• Making a donation to the virtual buckets during the live stream concerts on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and receive a Levitt SteelStacks face covering (limited to the first 100 people who donate).
• Sponsoring a concert, either virtually or a live – contact ArtsQuest Director of New Business Development Nicole Dotta, ndotta@artsquest.org or 610-332-1334, for more information.

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/

 

---