BLAST FURNACE BLUES RETURNS WITH INAUGURAL “LEHIGH VALLEY BIKEFEST” ADDITION
This 9th annual free event, presented in partnership with Keystone Harley-Davidson®, takes place Fri., July 22 to Sun., July 24, 2022 at SteelStacks campus.
Blast Furnace Blues Festival, presented by Keystone Harley-Davison, will return to ArtsQuest’s SteelStacks campus on Fri., July 22 through Sun., July 24. This 9th annual free event will feature three days of live music and the inaugural Lehigh Valley BikeFest.
“We are excited to compliment our diverse line up of blues artists with an array of engaging activities featured in the debuting ‘Lehigh Valley BikeFest’ in partnership with Keystone Harley-Davidson,” ArtsQuest’s Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan said. “It is such a natural fit and we’ll be proud to welcome both music lovers and bike enthusiasts to this free three-day festival.”
Local favorites BC Blue, lead by Lehigh Valley blues music staple Bev Conklin, will kick off festivities Friday at PNC Plaza. Moonshine Society, winners of the 2020 International Blues Challenge (IBC), will headline the Levitt Pavilion stage on Friday night. Soul singer Phillip Michael Scales, nephew of blues legend BB King, is among the talented artists performing on the Air Products Town Square.
On Saturday, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Jackie Venson will headline Levitt Pavilion. Philadelphia-based Slim and the Perkolators will rock PNC Plaza. On Sunday don’t miss Musikfest performers Scott Marshall and The Highway Souls on PNC Plaza. Little Red Rooster Blues Band, who has playing the blues since 1988, will take the Air Products Town Square stage that afternoon. Veronica Lewis, nominated for best emerging artist album and best instrumentalist for piano by The Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards, will also perform. Headliners Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, for Blues Music Award for Band of the Year, will close out the festival Sunday night on the Levitt lawn.
For this year’s festival Yuengling will bring its Mobile Tour experience to SteelStacks campus that features an extended bar, its signature cold beer and a unique photo booth. Motorcycle enthusiasts can shop from dozens of vendors and enjoy food from local food trucks, ArtsQuest’s Mac Truck Stop and Palette & Pour restaurant. The three-day fest will have a variety of entertainment options including stunt riding by King Tony of Busted Knuckles Stunt Tour and a bike wash benefitting Penn State’s THON. Additional activities will be announced throughout the spring. Visit steelstacks.org for more information.
“We are excited to partner alongside ArtsQuest bringing this event to the Lehigh Valley,” Keystone Harley-Davison owner, Bob Eggstein said. “The SteelStacks Arts and Cultural campus is an excellent venue to attract motorcycle and music enthusiasts from the area and provides plenty of space to grow the event in the coming years. We would also like to thank our supporting industry sponsors helping make our inaugural event a success.”C
Blast Furnace Blues Festival is made possible by presenting sponsor Keystone Harley-Davidson®, supporting sponsors Blackman’s Cycle Center and Kitay Law Offices, along with partners Sundance Vacations and Green Mountain Energy. Blast Furnace Blues is part of Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks free concert series, presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network. The much-anticipated lineup for the summer will be announced on May 1st.
