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Photography By: Diane Fleischman | Review By: Janel Spiegel
Event Review: Maren Morris with special guest October Rose
August 12, 2023
711 E. First Street
Bethlehem, PA
Musikfest 40th Anniversary
Well, Bethlehem, I lost an earring tonight, I won something, I talked to a bunch of amazing people. I ran into friends I haven’t seen in a while. It’s late, and it’s storming. Tomorrow will be the last official day for Musikfest with Train and Better Than Ezra taking the main stage.
Today was a beautiful day and Mother Nature was having a moment or two. There was talk of shutting Musikfest down again due to the weather but Mother Nature may have enjoyed the music coming from Levitt Pavilion. I walked around today, and sort of took in some things that I missed or didn’t get a chance to see. I ran into some friends I have not seen in a while. I stopped by the 99.9 The Hawk van and had a conversation with everyone. It was fun as usual. 99.9 The Hawk always has great giveaways, and they are fun to talk to.
The Dunkin’ Donuts truck was lined up with 99.9 The Hawk today. They were helping to give away concert tickets, and iced coffee samples. That seemed to make a lot of people happy. I mean, its coffee, how could it not make people happy. Okay, onto the concert, Maren Morris with special guest October Rose. October Rose is made up of, Leanne Weiss from New Jersey, and Derek Allan from Pittsburgh, Pa. Yes, the Eagles fans took time to boo the Steelers fans. All in good fun.
October Rose is a talented duo/group, and Leanne and Derek are married with a baby on the way. They danced together on-stage; they sounded great. They performed a cover of “Shallow,” and Leanne put a lot of soul in. They performed and got the crowd ready for Maren Morris.
Maren Morris was greeted by an energetic crowd. It was the end of the day, Saturday night, and having a blast was on everybody’s mind. Maren performed a variety of songs including: “Circles Around This Town,” “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” “I Wish I Was,” “The Middle,” which hyped the crowd up, and everyone sang along. It was a fun moment.
She performed a song called, “Drunk Girls Don’t Cry,” and that went over great with the crowd. Maren interacted with the crowd; she told stories about songs. She took us to church on a Saturday. The crowd was into this song. She got her “Hallelujah” and I appreciated the Johnny Cash reference. The breakdown of this song was great and the crowd loved it. I appreciated the song because to me, it’s sort of saying just driving and listening to music you love is your church. Call it whatever you choose.
She ended right before the rain started. Mother Nature was in her feelings. Maren wanted to finish the songs and kept singing despite it did start raining. It was beautiful. There is nothing in the world like that feeling. Imagine it, I’ll take you there. You’re listening to your favorite band or singer at a concert, and it starts raining. The band or singer decides to stay and keep singing, you know like STYX did, and they rocked it. Joan Jett and The Blackhearts did!
Maren Morris stayed and kept singing, and the crowd also stuck around. That feeling of feeling the rain, and knowing it’s sort of like a cleansing for all of us, and maybe Mother Nature had something to say. Right as she sang, “Let it rain,” it did indeed keep raining. Musikfest was a lot of fun, and it continues tomorrow. Space Kamp, Train, and Better Than Ezra.
Maren Morris and October Rose delivered. They put on a good show, and the crowd had such good energy. I know my section was singing and dancing. The Musikfest staff, the Bethlehem Police Department are all working hard. It was a good night.
https://www.octoberrosemusic.com/
