BETHLEHEM, Pa. — One of the longest-running and most successful rock bands of all time will headline Bethlehem's Musikfest festival, it was announced Monday.
Chicago, which is among the Top 30 bestselling music acts of all time, with more than 120 million copies of its 46 albums sold worldwide, will perform on Musikfest's main Steel Stage on Aug. 5.
Tickets, at $35-$109, go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at the Musikfest website.
The show is the seventh headliner announced for Musikfest's 2025 lineup.
For its 42nd year, Musikfest will run Aug. 1–10, with a preview night on July 31.
The announcement gives the Musikfest lineup just the third act for 2025 that's not country music. Musikfest has announced four country music headliners, the most the festival has ever had in a single year.
Previously announced country acts are Megan Moroney on preview night, July 31, Riley Green on Aug. 1, Darius Rucker on Aug. 3 and Jordan Davis on Aug. 9.
Also announced for this year are top Americana-rock band The Avett Brothers on Aug. 2 and rapper Nelly on Aug. 6. Tickets for all previously announced shows remain available.
A long history of hits
Chicago was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
Billboard magazine says that besides The Beach Boys, Chicago is the second-most successful American rock group of all time.
In a 56-year career, the group has had 37 Top 20 hits, eight of which went to No. 1 — “If You Leave Me Now,” “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” “Look Away,” “Here in My Heart,” “You’re the Inspiration,” “Wishing You Were Here,” “Call on Me” and “Beginnings.”
“If You Leave Me Now” won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group in 1977.
In addition, Chicago had the iconic hits “25 or 6 to 4,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is” and “Colour My World.”
In all, the band has had 22 gold and 18 platinum albums, five of which went to No. 1. Its album “Chicago 17” in 1984 was its biggest seller, with 6 million copies.
At one point Chicago had five consecutive No. 1 albums. It is the first American band to chart Top 40 albums in five different decades.
Its latest studio album, "Chicago Greatest Christmas Hits,“ was released in 2023. In addition to its 39 studio albums, it also has released nearly 20 live and compilation discs.
All together, Chicago has won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.
Lead singer Peter Cetera left in the mid-1980s. Three of the six founding members remain with the group.
Chicago played a show on its 50th anniversary tour at Musikfest in 2018.
It played Allentown’s PPL Center with Earth, Wind and Fire in a nearly sold-out show, also in 2018. It also played Allentown Fair in 2009, drawing a crowd of almost 6,400, and previously played the fair in 1990, 1987 and 1978.
It also was a headliner at Bethlehem’s Musikfest festival in 2001 and played at Sands Bethlehem Event Center, now Wind Creek Event Center, in 2013, and again in October.
