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The top 3 Lehigh Valley-area concerts this week continue the Musikfest fun currently taking over the streets of Bethlehem. First, we have one of the most influential salsa bands in the world, often referred to as “La Universidad de la Salsa” for their impressive impact on salsa music, bringing hits from their 60+ year career. Next, we have a garage band performing classic British Invasion and garage rock classics all written prior to 1967. Last, we have a popular platinum selling group who hit the mainstream in the late ‘90s during the post-grunge era, making their way from San Francisco to the main stage at Musikfest.
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Musikfest — Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza, SteelStacks Campus (South Side)
How much: $10-$65
Tickets: https://www.artsquest.org/ 610-332-1300
Musical style: Salsa, Tropical, Latin Pop
Known for hits like: “El Menu,” “Brujeria,” “Ojos Chinos,” “Amame,” and, “Me Libere.”
Honors: For over 60 years, El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico has been one of the most influential groups to come out of Puerto Rico, earning the moniker “La Universidad de la Salsa” (The University of Salsa) in Colombia. Numerous famous salsa artists got their start with the band (including Andy Montanez). The group has received seven Grammy nominations, has won numerous awards, and in 2000 they were inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame. In 2015, they received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2017 they were presented with the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award.
Check them out if you like: Fania All-Stars, Ray Barretto, Willie Colón, Willie Rosario, Cheo Feliciano, Andy Montanez, Tito Nieves
The Truants
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Musikfest — Wells Fargo Festplatz – Main and Spring streets (North Side)
How much: Free
Tickets: 610-332-1300
Musical style: Garage rock, British Invasion, rock and roll
Known for hits like: Covers of classic British Invasion and farage rock songs including, “19th Nervous Breakdown,” “96 Tears,” “All Day and All of the Night,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and, “Louie Louie.”
Meet the band: A garage rock band covering classic British Invasion and rock and roll tunes from another era, The Truants play hits and obscure classics with the rule that they play nothing created after 1967. Started from a Craigslist ad, and named after a fictional band in a book written by their drummer/vocalist Bill Scheft, the Truants continue to spread the gospel of 1960s rock with note-for-note renditions of some of the greatest songs ever written.
Check them out if you like: The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, The Animals, The Troggs, Count Five
Train
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Musikfest — Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza, SteelStacks Campus (South Side)
How much: $25-$69
Tickets: https://www.artsquest.org/ 610-332-1300
Musical style: Pop rock, adult alternative, rock
Known for hits like: “Hey, Soul Sister,” “Drops of Jupiter,” “Drive By,” “50 Ways to Say Goodbye,” and, “Marry Me.”
Honors: Formed in 1993, Train began achieving notoriety with the release of its first album, “Train” in 1998. The single “Meet Virginia” was their first Top 20 hit, and in 2001 they released the album “Drops of Jupiter” containing the lead single of the same name. The “Drops of Jupiter” single earned them two Grammy Awards in 2002, with the album becoming certified double platinum. In 2009 they released, “Save Me, San Francisco,” which was certified gold by the RIAA and ARIA, and contained the RIAA 6× platinum-certified single, “Hey, Soul Sister.” The band has sold over 10 million albums worldwide.
Check them out if you like: Goo Goo Dolls, Five For Fighting, Matchbox Twenty, Counting Crows, Lifehouse, Collective Soul, Jason Mraz
Jay Honstetter is a freelance writer. Follow him on Twitter @jayhonstetter
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