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Allentown, PA – June 18, 2021 After a one-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Downtown Allentown Business Alliance in partnership with the Allentown Chamber of Commerce and the City of Allentown will present the 13th Annual Blues, Brews & Barbecue Festival on Saturday, July 31st from 12 noon until 10 p.m. in downtown Allentown. This year’s festival represents the most impressive Blues line-up Allentown has ever witnessed and we’re excited for the return of this event.
Headlining this year’s festival is multiple award-winning Blues superstar, Shemekia Copeland. Shemekia has grown to become one of the must-see artists on the Blues and Roots music scene in the world today. With a recording career that dates to 1998, she proved she is on top on Sunday, June 6, 2021 in Memphis, TN at the Blues Music Awards (BMA). Shemekia was the evening’s big winner with three awards, including the coveted B.B. King Entertainer of The Year award, the Contemporary Female Artist of The Year award, and Album of the Year award. “Shemekia Copeland is a powerhouse – a superstar. She can do no wrong.” Rolling Stone Magazine
Also, headlining this year is King Solomon Hicks, the 26-year-old guitar phenom from Harlem, NY. King Solomon is an American guitarist, songwriter and composer who is fast becoming a household name.
Hicks won the BMA for Best Emerging Artist for his 2021 CD release, Harlem on Provogue Records.
New to the festival this year is Bruce Katz who continues to have a distinguished career spanning over five decades. He has toured the world with a Who’s Who of legendary artists including, Ronnie Earl, Gregg Allman, Delbert McClinton, Butch Trucks, Jaimoe, among others. Currently Bruce performs non- stop with The Bruce Katz Band, as a power trio with Bruce on keyboards, Aaron Lieberman on guitar, and Ray Hangen on drums.
Also making his debut this year is Dave Keller from Montpelier, Vermont who has been influenced by the likes of Mighty Sam McClain, Ronnie Earl, Robert Ward, Johnny Rawls, and Otis Clay. A tireless performer and prolific songwriter, Dave Keller is someone to watch closely as he continues to advance his career with his award nominated “soul drenched” work and infectious personality.
Also, on the line-up this year are the following:
- Lonnie Shields from West Helena, Arkansas. Lonnie has recorded seven albums throughout his long career. His primary musical influence is BB King, but he has numerous Blues mentors including Big Jack Johnson, Sam Carr and Frank
- Clarence Spady from Scranton. Clarence has released three albums since the late 1990’s – all to rave reviews. His brand-new release on Nola Records “Surrender” is currently #3 In the Living Blues Chart and #9 on the Billboard Blues
- Mikey Junior is a tremendous entertainer. Based in the Philadelphia area, Mikey just celebrated twenty-five years of performing Blues & Roots music to his devoted fan
- JP Williams & Ekat Peyerya Singer/songwriter JP Williams was born in NYC and performs a variety of Blues, folk and soul original compositions and covers. Russian Born Ekat has a dynamic vocal range and performs very well when she is together on stage with JP
In addition to Shemekia, Solomon and the above-mentioned performers, the lineup also includes Lehigh Valley favorites, including the Craig Thatcher Band with Special Guest, Mike Guldin, The BC Combo, Pentley Holmes, the Mississippi Pig Farmers, Norman Taylor, and Tavern Tan.
“After 15 months of Covid related “workarounds” in all aspects of our work, we are ecstatic to be able to present the 13th Annual Allentown Blues, Brews & Barbecue festival this summer. Working with our partners – the city, our board, volunteers, and other downtown stakeholders – we will produce this high- caliber Blues music festival with a wide range of musical talent. That’s what people have come to expect from us and that’s what they’ll get on July 31st!” Miriam Huertas is the producer of the festival and the senior vice president for the Allentown Chamber.
Now in its 13th year, Allentown is proud to host this community event which also features delicious barbecue and a variety of other specialties, including, Mr. BBQ 911, Grumpy’s BBQ, the Allentown Bull & Bear restaurant, to name a few. Other vendors include, Chocolate Moonshine specialty chocolates, Habby Fruit salsa and barbecue sauces, and blues fest favorite, Funtastic Faces & Body Art face painting and henna.
Blues Fest also features alcoholic drinks – domestic and craft brews (Allentown BrewWorks), mead from the Colony Meadery, and new this year, cocktails from Allentown distiller and the main sponsor, Mishka Premium Vodka.
This event is open to the public free of charge.
The musical lineup is complete, our bricks and mortar businesses and vendors are ready to host you – make plans to join us for a fantastic day of live music and great food and drink in Downtown Allentown.
For more information on what to expect, check out DowntownAllentown.com.
When: Saturday, July 31, 2021
Time: 12 Noon – 10 p.m.
Where: Hamilton Street from 6th to 8th streets and 7th Street north and south
What: Music and food festival, featuring Blues music and all styles of barbecue, plus great crafters, and non-food vendors.
Presenting Sponsor – City of Allentown
2021 sponsors include, Adams Outdoor Advertising, Air Products, Alvin H. Butz, Bell Hall, blended by Brü Daddy’s, Brü Daddy’s, City Center Allentown, The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Mishka Premium Vodka, The Morning Call, PPL Center, PPL, PSECU, and RCN. (Effective June 18, 2021.)
About the Chamber: The mission of The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce is to improve the economy and quality of life in the Lehigh Valley Metropolitan Area. We accomplish this through business-to-business networking events and marketing products, affinity programs and exclusive, money saving member benefits, training programs, government affairs initiatives and public policy advocacy, and community development enterprises. With nearly 5,000 members who employ more than 200,000, the Chamber is the largest in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in the top ten nationwide.
Information provided to TVL by:
Miriam Huertas
Sr. Vice President of Allentown Initiatives
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
https://www.lehighvalleychamber.org/
