BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A menagerie of unusual goods as diverse as tangy hot sauce and psychedelic pop art will be for sale at the Lehigh Valley Punk Rock Flea Market on Saturday.
The flea market will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Charles A. Brown Ice House, 10 East Church St.
Then, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., punk bands Sin Bin, World Breaker, My Messy Hands and Pucker Up! will take the stage.
Now in its fourth year, the free event also will look to spread goodwill.
"Our entire idea was that when you go to an area and you set up and have these events, it's important to be conscious of who's in the area and what's going on and what the issues are that are happening."Shamus McGroggan, co-founder/producer of Tape Swap Radio and Punk Rock Flea Market organizer
For the first time, organizers are collecting toiletries, makeup and accessories for Valley Youth House’s The Synergy Project Street Outreach Program.
The donated items will benefit the homeless in the city, specifically individuals on or around the outskirts ofSand Island, the Ice House, and the Minsi Trail Bridge.
"Our entire idea was that when you go to an area and you set up and have these events, it's important to be conscious of who's in the area and what's going on and what the issues are that are happening," Shamus McGroggan, co-founder/producer of Tape Swap Radio, said.
McGroggan is one of the event's organizers.
"We didn't want just to go in there and have our event and leave and ignore the problem," he said.
"That's sort of right next to us. This is one small thing we thought we could do, and it's a way to help the situation that's happening right there positively."
Unopened items that will be collected for the homeless include socks, bug spray, sunblock, flashlights with batteries, shelf-stable food and headphones or earbuds.
Also, Dove body wash, shampoo and conditioner, toothbrushes, deodorant, period products and makeup.
'Not your grandparents' flea market'
The flea market began in 2018 inside Bethlehem Area Public Library, before relocating to the Ice House in 2019. The flea market was put on pause for a few years during the coronavirus pandemic.
This year, 50 vendors are scheduled to attend, with displays set up both indoors and outside the venue.
" It's bringing people together who are not only interested in the local music scene, but also like different kinds of art."Shamus McGroggan, co-founder/producer of Tape Swap Radio and a Punk Rock Flea Market organizer
"I like to say it's not your grandparents' flea market," McGroggan said.
"This is everything from wood-burning art to framed ethically sourced insects to lots of rare vinyl records for collectors, music instruments.
" It's bringing people together who are not only interested in the local music scene, but also like different kinds of art.
"And we want to offer that platform and raise the flag, saying, if you're interested in something out of the ordinary, if you want something cool going on in your backyard, this is your event."
Among the vendors will be Never Ending Glassworks, Barthold Studio, Lava Lamp Bebop Art, Murphy’s Curious Goods and The Savage Beat! Records.
Also, MissMary Mack Terrarium Emporium and Tchotchkes, Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations and G. Gentile Art, Seed Bomb.
Leashed and camera-friendly pets are welcome to attend and meet the owner of Paws and Portraits by Zoe, who will offer pet photography services.
Local punk rockers
McGroggan and his Tape Swap Radio co-founder, Matt Molchany, teamed up with the Ice House by Punk & DIY to organize the punk music part of the event.
Molchany, who owns Shards Recording Studio in South Side Bethlehem, previously worked with some of the Lehigh Valley's bands, including Sin Bin and World Breaker, which perform later in the day.
The other punk groups Pucker Up! and My Messy Hands have been on McGroggan's radar, he said.
"Pucker Up is from Scranton, and they're getting a lot of buzz right now," McGroggon said. "In June, they are playing at the Road to Warped Tour in Scranton and are getting a lot of exposure for that."
He said My Messy Hands are from Slatington and are "more of the Screamo end of the punk spectrum."
Local DJ Warlock also will spin a mix of punk, power pop, glam and soul music while the vendor sales are happening.
For more information on the event, visit Tape Swap Radio's website.
