Music

Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour hits the grandstand stage at Allentown Fair at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. Tickets, at $30 each, remain available at the fair website.

Nearly 50 years later, Blue Öyster Cult still is performing, and this year even released "Ghost Stories," its first album of new material in four years and only second in 23 years. The group also will open for fellow 1970s rockers Cheap Trick as the grandstand feature for opening night at Allentown Fair at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Jayna Elise, who auditioned on "Idol" in both Season 21 in 2023 and Season 22 the past spring, recently was chosen for the role of Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, which performs at Easton's State Theatre on Oct. 1-2.

Allentown Fair’s main Grandstand stage is inarguably one of its biggest draws — offering top music, performances and other acts in the Lehigh Valley’s largest-capacity arena. Here's how we rank this year's headliners.

The Hooters play Univest Performing Center in Quakertown at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23. The group performed to a nearly sold-out crowd in Quakertown last year.

Performances by tribute bands The Four Horsemen: A Celebration of Metallica on Aug. 30 and Strutter, a tribute to KISS, on Aug. 31 both will be free with fair admission. Maingate is adjacent to the fair and can be accessed from the fairgrounds at 17th and Liberty streets, Allentown.

Jonny Craig, the singer who led indie bands Dance Gavin Dance, Emarosa and Slaves, will perform at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Northampton's Gin Mill & Grille.

Musikfest, the largest non-gated music festival in the country, said it still had record crowds for its headline Steel Stage, and the most sold-out headline shows in its history.

Rod Stewart, who in his 55-year recording career has sold more than 40 million albums in the United States alone and had nearly 30 Top 25 hits, will perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Rock 'n' roll road veterans ZZ Top brought its time-tested Texas blues-driven sound to South Bethlehem’s Steel Stage for the final headline show of the 10-day festival.

The free Blues, Brews & Barbecue festival will be Saturday, June 22, along Allentown's Hamilton Street from Fifth to Ninth streets, and on North and South Seventh Street.

The Front Bottoms, the New Jersey-based band that had the Top 20 Alternative hit “Peace Sign” in 2018, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 18, in the second paid Levitt Pavilion show announced for this season.

Gin Blossoms, Toad The Wet Sprocket and Vertical Horizon are on the bill for Aug. 15 at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem. The show unites three acts that from 1991 to 2001 collectively produced 17 Top 20 alternative hits and five gold and platinum albums.

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is the oldest American Bach Choir. As it closes its 125th anniversary celebration, it's about to do something it's never done before — release a live CD. The choir also has released details of its upcoming 116th Bethlehem Bach Festival.

Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan's Grits and Glamour stories and songs stops at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at Mount Airy Casino. Tickets, at $55 and $65, remain available at the Mount Airy website.

The Living Room Big Band held its first of what will be monthly performances at the Civic Theatre.

Piano-pop rock icon Ben Folds will make an appearance at Wind Creek Event Center this April, drawing from his most recent album "What Matters Most" in addition to decades of hits.

Greta Van Fleet, who have been widely compared to Zeppelin with its his rock hit "Highway Tune," "Safari Song" and "You're the One," will headline the festival’s main Steel Stage on a preview night Aug. 1, the festival announced.

Bruce Hornsby, best known for his hits chart-topping hits "The Way It Is," "Mandolin Rain" and "The Valley Road" in 1986-87, will perform at 7 p.m. July 2 at Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center.

Sublime With Rome, the version of the ska band Sublime that reformed with new lead Rome Ramirez in 2009, will perform 8 p.m. Aug. 22 at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem.

Scotty McCreery, who won “American Idol” in 2011 and since has released three No. 1 Country chart albums and two other Top 10 discs, will perform at 6 p.m. Friday, June 21.

Top reggaeton Jowell and Randy will perform on Musikfest's main Steel Stage at 7 p.m. Aug. 4.