BETHLEHEM, PA—Soul and R&B icon Aaron Neville, John Denver tribute artist Ted Vigil and singer-songwriter Josh Ritter are among the nine new performances announced for the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. Tickets for the performances go on sale Tues., Aug. 21, 10 a.m., to ArtsQuest Members and Fri., Aug. 24, 10 a.m., to the public at www.steelstacks.org and 610-332-3378.
On Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m., Aaron Neville takes the stage at the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling. Starting his career in the 1960s, Neville had his first hit in 1967 with “Tell It Like It Is,” which reached No. 2 on the pop charts and became a No. 1 R&B smash. In the late ’70s, he and his brothers – Cyril, Charles and Art – came together as a backing unit for their uncle’s Wild Tchoupitoulas before striking out on their own as The Neville Brothers. The sibling group found success on the touring circuit, but also garnered attention for albums like their 1989 debut for A&M Records, “Yellow Moon,” one of the most critically acclaimed albums of that era. In 1989, Neville had his first major hit in 23 years with “Don’t Know Much,” a No. 2 pop smash that was one of several duets with Linda Ronstadt that Ronstadt included on her album “Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind.” Tickets are $49-$59.
Celebrate Halloween as Splintered Sunlight presents a spooky evening of psychedelic tunes Oct. 31, 8 p.m., in the Musikfest Café. Formed in 1992, Splintered Sunlight quickly became the most popular Grateful Dead tribute band in the Philadelphia region, gaining praise from Dead Heads and others alike. Following a series of successful shows at SteelStacks, the group was honored as the Musikfest Café’s first-ever Artist in Residence in 2016. Tickets are $10-$15 advance and $12-$17 day of show.
On Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling welcomes singer-songwriter Josh Ritter of The Royal City Band. Over the course of his acclaimed career, Ritter has released seven full-length albums including, 2013’s “The Beast in Its Tracks,” which debuted at No. 22 on the Billboard 200 and No. 8 on the Top Rock Albums chart. His latest album, “Gathering,” continues to receive critical praise, with NPR proclaiming, “Josh Ritter remains at the top of his game two decades into a highlight-strewn career. He’d be forgiven for loosening his grip, but his hand has never felt surer.”
Rolling Stone describes the recording as “midway between the country, gospel and soul camps, with thickly stacked harmonies that evoke the Dead’s own folk-rock classic American Beauty.” Returning to the northeast for a select number of solo acoustic shows, Ritter will showcase new works, as well as songs from his extensive, critically acclaimed catalog. Tickets are $29-$35.
The complete list of newly announced shows is:
Fruition (tickets on sale now)
Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling
Oct. 3, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$18
Wild Adriatic
Fowler Blast Furnace Room
Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $12 advance, $15 day of show
Splintered Sunlight
Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling
Oct. 31, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$15 advance, $12-$17 day of show
Josh Ritter
Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling
Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $29-$35
Richard Thompson Electric Trio (tickets on sale now)
Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling
Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40-$49
Philadelphia Funk Authority
Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling
Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$20 advance, $18-$25 day of show
Swingin’ The Holidays with Rob Stoneback Big Band
Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling
Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$20- advance, $20-$25 day of show
Aaron Neville
Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling
Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $49-$59
Ted Vigil’s John Denver Tribute
Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling
March 2, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$25
The ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks is located at 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. For more information on these and all ArtsQuest Center shows, visit www.steelstacks.org.
Information provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/
