BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The latest version of a band that was a godfather of ska-punk and had two multi-platinum albums in the 1990s says it will bring its farewell tour to Bethlehem.
But it isn't saying where or when.
Sublime With Rome, the version of the ska band Sublime that reformed with new lead Rome Ramirez in 2009 — 13 years after frontman Bradley Nowell’s death — on Friday night posted on its Facebook page a list of locations for its "Farewell Tour."
On Sublime With Rome's list of 24 Farewell Tour shows is Bethlehem, Pa., but it doesn't say where or when.Sublime With Rome's Facebook page
On Sublime With Rome's list of 24 Farewell Tour shows is Bethlehem, Pa., but it doesn't say where or when.
Musikfest, the huge August festival in downtown and South Side Bethlehem, says on its Facebook page that it will announce two new shows Tuesday — one sponsored by rock radio station WZZO-FM.
Jennifer LoConte, director of communications for ArtsQuest, which presents Musikfest, said in an email she couldn't "release any details on who the next headliner will be earlier than" the official announcement Tuesday.
Sublime With Rome's lineup also includes and drummer Joe Tomino. Original Sublime drummer Bud Gaugh left Sublime With Rome in 2011 and original bassist Eric Wilson last year.
Ramirez announced in December that he would leave Sublime With Rome at the end of 2024.
A history with Sublime
Musikfest has a history with Sublime With Rome.
In 2010, Sublime, which had the hit “What I Got” from its 1996 self-titled album and was part of the California punk revival that spawned blink-182 and other bands, played to 6,318 (a mere 182 tickets short of a sellout) in the pouring rain at the final show at Musikfest’s old RiverPlace main stage.
It then returned to headline the festival again in 2012.
Sublime's 1996 self-titled disc sold five-times platinum and produced the singles “What I Got,” which hit No. 1 on the modern rock chart, and “Santeria” and “Wrong Way,” both of which went to No. 3.Billboard archives
ArtsQuest also has presented Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime — a popular Sublime tribute act — at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks in 2021 and 2023.
The original Sublime released its debut disc, “40 oz. to Freedom,” in 1992, and it sold double platinum. The band's 1994 sophomore album “Robbin’ the Hood” went gold.
But it was 1996’s self-titled disc, released just after Nowell’s death, that made the biggest impact.
It sold five-times platinum and produced the singles “What I Got,” which hit No. 1 on the modern rock chart, and “Santeria” and “Wrong Way,” both of which went to No. 3.
Sublime had a platinum-live album, “Second-hand Smoke,” in 1997 and had three compilation albums go gold from 1998 to 2002.
Sublime With Rome released its first album, “Yours Truly,” in 2011. It hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Rock albums chart. The group followed up with 2015's "Sirens," with also hit No. 3 on that chart.
Its latest disc was 2019's "Blessings," which peaked at No. 6 on the Indie albums chart.
Sublime With Rome also played at Easton's State Theater in 2019.
Musikfest has announced three of what it has said it expects to be 11 headliners for this year's festival, scheduled to run Aug. 2-11, with an Aug. 1 preview night.
Rapper Ludacriswill play Saturday, Aug. 10, country music group Old Dominion will perform Tuesday, Aug. 6 and Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrdwill play Wednesday, Aug. 7.
Tickets for all three shows remain on sale.
