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Featured Image: 2018 (c) Keith Huylebroeck
Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA., May 22, 2024 – ArtsQuest is proud to announce several free to attend, patriotic events to be held during Memorial Day weekend and Flag Day, presented by Embassy Bank.
For the 14th year, the Hometown Heros Display will transform the SteelStacks campus into a living memorial honoring our hometown heroes. From Memorial Day weekend through mid-July, the campus will be draped with images of local military heroes as a display of appreciation and gratitude for their sacrifices and contributions.
Performer Schedule:
Saturday, May 25:
3 p.m. – Good Times Rock ‘n’ Roll and Legendary Country with Chuck Rissmiller
Chuck is a guitarist/vocalist who has been studying his craft for years. Having committed himself totally and exclusively to performing live music, he performs over 100 shows per year. Chuck is noted for strong emotional connection to the music he sings. The heartbreak in timeless country and the fervor of early rock’n’roll is what he loves to express the most. Legendary artists such as Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty, Jerry Lee Lewis and Waylon Jennings are a few of his many influences which he performs regularly.
5:30 p.m. – Friar’s Point Band
Just playing’ the blues…. past, present and future.
Original, high energy, contemporary blues-rock, recording artists, 3-time International Blues Challenge Semifinalists and Staple of the NE festival Circuit. Friar’s Point Band offers a wide array of “Original” contemporary Rockin’ Blues Music as well as covering the classics with their high-energy, yet dynamic approach to the blues genre.
9 p.m. – Lonely Parrots
Lonely Parrots is a brand-new folk-pop duo based in the Bay Area. One part Michael Martinez and one part Max embers, the two singer-songwriters have been making music and performing professionally for the past eight years. Notable collaborations include the likes of Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Ryan Tedder and Naika & John Oates. They met in Boston at Berklee College of Music nearly a decade ago but only realized their creative chemistry in the fall of 2022. What started as a sunset jam on the beach turned out to be the first of many songs, the heart of which revolves around human connection, the highs and lows of friendship and love, as well as our beautiful planet and its incredible, delicate nature. Think Simon & Garfunkel, but with a modern Coldplay twist! After a successful tour through the Pacific Northwest last year the duo is excited to start releasing music this year! Michael & Max are also founders of the MORF initiative (Music on Regenerative Farms) which aims to bring concerts to sustainable farms and projects, giving earth-conscious artists an opportunity to share their music in breathtaking outdoor settings and to raise awareness about the regenerative movement.
Sunday, May 26:
3 p.m. – Acoustic Kitty Project
Born in Houston, TX and raised in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, Carter Lansing grew up in the shadow of a decaying industrial landscape and rapidly disappearing farmland. He found his escape in 1970’s FM radio. Steeped in the classic singer-songwriter tradition mixed with rock and country sensibilities, Carter writes songs about love and loss, sorrow and sweetness. Real songs about real things for real people.
5:30 p.m. – Band of Brothers
Band of Brothers is a group of seasoned musicians who play a wide variety of music, including classic and modern rock, dance, funk and pop; music that appeals to all generations. Always danceable, entertaining and energetic, the Band and its music engages the audience, keeping them on the dance floor. Band of Brothers has been gigging for many years, and it shows in their energy, tightness and enthusiasm.
9 p.m. – Taven Tan
Named for the sort of complexion you get from the neon nightly beer lights, Tavern Tan play what they call “Live American Music.”
A staple in the Lehigh Valley music scene for many years, Tavern Tan is the sound that used to be standard in taverns, pubs, bars, clubs, juke joints, dancehalls and the local dive in every town and city in America. This is the sound of eclectic, original blues, roots music and rock ‘n’ roll…heck, anything with a little grit n’ soul to it. With each band member contributing their huge collection of original material as well as a slew of eclectic covers, and after 5 CDs releases on Fez Monkey Records and over 15 years plugging in and carrying on, through thick and thin, Tavern Tan’s sound is still going strong.
Monday. May 27:
3:30 p.m. – The Swing Time Dolls
The Swing Time Dolls is an all-female vocal group consisting of three of the area’s most accomplished vocalists that shine a new light on the tunes of the American Hit Parade of the 1940s and the 1960s classics of the Vietnam era. Drawing on inspiration from The Andrews Sisters, the Dolls pride themselves on tight and intricate harmonies that are sure to keep any listener engaged. Because all three women are well versed in musical theatre, The Swing Time Dolls bring another facet of entertainment to their audiences with pin-up styled costumes and energetic choreography. A Swing Time Dolls show is sure to capture the hearts of any age with the original covers of timeless classics such as Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” and even some modern hits like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. The Dolls will take you on a sentimental journey back in time with a show you’re sure to remember.
The weekend will conclude with a memorial service to remember the Lehigh Valley’s fallen soldiers from the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. The ceremony begins on the Air Products Town Square with a moment of silence followed by the National Anthem performed by The Swing Time Dolls and includes brief speeches from elected officials and a reading of names by American Gold Star Mothers in remembrance of those we have lost. The ceremony ends with a playing of “Taps” by Mitchell Roth and a singing of “God Bless America” by The Swing Time Dolls.
On June 8, Embassy Bank’s Annual Flag Day event, honoring Lehigh Valley Veterans, will be held from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Musikfest Café at SteelStacks. Dunk a Banker to support local non-profit organizations. In this fun game, following a perfect pitch an Embassy Bank team member will take a dip in the dunk tank. See K9 officers in action during the K9 Cop Project event. Courageous and highly skilled K9 officers will perform demonstrations alongside their human counterparts to highlight their commitment and unwavering loyalty to our safety.
Enjoy food and drink from Palette & Pour, and don’t forget to grab some sweet treats from The Ice Cream Drizzle Truck.
Starting at 1:30 p.m., guests can make their way to the 3rd floor Musikfest Café to enjoy the patriotic performance of the season with the famous Allentown Band. Veterans attending the event will be eligible to win a number of exciting raffle prizes, including tickets to an Iron Pigs baseball game at Coca Cola Park. Winners will be announced during the Allentown Band concert intermission.
“You do so much and your big event in August is certainly incredible. But my favorite ArtsQuest event is Flag Day,” says Embassy Bank Chief Executive Officer David M. Lobach, Jr. “Seeing the veterans participating in the event, and the Gold Star and Blue Star mothers and support animals paired with performances by the Allentown Band and Evelyn Stewart make this an absolutely beautiful event. Evelyn Stewart just takes the roof off the Musikfest Café with her rendition of ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’.”
About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, of which over 50% are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.
Information provided to TVL by:
Bryn Keeney
