BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem’s Musikfest festival has announced a pop rock headliner for its 40th anniversary year.
Walk The Moon, best known for its 2014 hit "Shut Up and Dance," will headline the main Steel Stage at the massive music festival in downtown and South Side Bethlehem at 7 p.m. Aug. 4, it was announced Tuesday.
- Walk The Moon will headline Bethlehem's Musikfest festival at 7 p.m. Aug. 4
- Tickets, at $25-$79, go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Friday
- The announcement is the 10th headline act revealed for the festival, which this year stretches to 11 days for a run Aug. 3-13 in downtown and South Side Bethlehem
Tickets, at $25-$79, go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Friday at the ArtsQuest Center box office at 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, at www.musikfest.org and 610-332-3378.
The announcement is the 10th headliner announced for Musikfest this year — leaving just one more headliner to be announced. That show is expected to be announced later this morning.
Early success
Walk The Moon released its first album, “I Want! I Want!” in 2010, but didn’t find success until its 2012 self-titled second album, which hit the Top 10 on the Alternative chart and had the platinum, Top 20 Rock chart hit "Anna Sun."
The group played Allentown's Crocodile Rock Cafe in 2012.
But the band had its biggest success with its 2013 third album, "Talking is Hard." That disc went to No. 1 on the Alternative chart and Top 15 on the overall chart and sold platinum.
It also produced the hit "Shut Up and Dance," which sold five times platinum and topped the Rock chart.
In 2015, the group was nominated for the American Music Award for New Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop Rock Band and Favorite Artist. "Shut Up and Dance" won Billboard Awards for Top Radio Song and Top Rock Song.
The band followed that with the 2017 album "What If Nothing," which peaked at No. 3 on the Alternative chart and had the gold, Top 5 Alternative hit "One Foot."
The group's latest album was 2021's "Heights."
Musikfest's 40th year
This year will be the 40th anniversary year for Musikfest. The festival, which normally is 10 days, will stretch to 11 days this year with a preview night, meaning it will run Aug. 3-13.
Walk The Moon is the 10th headline act announced so far for this year.
Previously announced was indie-pop trio AJR on the opening preview night, Aug. 3; rapper G-Eazy on Aug. 5, Grammy Award-winning country music duo Dan + Shay on Aug. 6; country singerWalker Hayes on Aug. 7; R&B singersKeith Sweat and Monica on Aug. 8; alt-rockers Goo Goo Dolls and O.A.R. on Aug. 9; comedian Gabriel Iglesiason Aug. 10; Maren Morris on Aug. 12; and Grammy Award-winning soft rock group Trainon closing night, Aug. 13.
It will be the third straight year Musikfest has added an 11th headline act by offering a Thursday “preview” concert. It was country star Darius Rucker in 2021 and Boyz II Men last year.
