BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A platinum-selling alternative metal band that has headlined Musikfest is coming back to the Lehigh Valley.
And a U.K. band that for a time rivaled U2 in popularity also is coming, headlining a Totally 80s tour of new wave acts from that decade.
Chevelle, whose 2002 album “Wonder What’s Next” went double platinum and produced the double-platinum hit song "The Red," will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Wind Creek Event Center.
And Big Country, whose 1983 debut album "The Crossing" went gold and produced the No. 3 Mainstream Rock hit "In a Big Country," will headline at 8 p.m. Friday, June 20, with the Totally 80s tour.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 28, at the Wind Creek website, and at the box office at 77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem.Wind Creek Event Center website
Opening for Chevelle will be rock band Asking Alexandria, which in the 2010s had three Top 10 albums, and Dead Poet Society, which had the 2023 hit rock single "Running In Circles"/"HURT."
Sharing the Totally 80s bill will be Tommy Tutone, known for the gold hit "867-5309/Jenny"; Bow Wow Wow, known for its 1982 hit "I Want Candy"; and Gene Loves Jezebel, which had the No. 1 Alternative hit "Jealous" in 1990.
Tickets are $53.50 for general admission standing and $89.50 for seated wings for Chevelle. They're $29.50 for general admission standing and $49.50 for seated wings for Big Country and the Totally 80s tour. Both shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 28, at the Wind Creek website or at the box office at 77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem.
16 Top 10 Rock hits
Chevelle started its career on a Christian label and won Gospel Music Association Awards before being embraced by the wider rock community with its sophomore disc, “Wonder What’s Next,” went platinum in 2002.
Its next two albums, 2004's "This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In)" and 2007's "Vena Sera," went platinum and gold, respectively, and 2009's "Sci-Fi Crimes" became its first of four albums to hit No. 1 on the Alternative chart.
The group since has had 16 Top 10 rock hits, including six No. 1s. Its most recent chart-topper was "Self Destructor" in 2021. Seven of its singles sold gold or platinum.
It has a new single, "Rabbit Hole (Cowards, Pt. 1)," from an upcoming album.
Its 2014 album "La Gárgola” (Spanish for “The Gargoyle”), went to No. 1 on the alternative chart and its single “Take Out the Gunman” hit No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
Its latest album, "NIRATIAS," was released in 2021 and also hit No. 1 on the Rock chart.
Chevelle played a headline show at Bethlehem's Musikfest festival with Bush in 2016, and headlined the event center, then called Sands Bethlehem Event Center, in 2014.
Early success for Big Country
Big Country, from Scotland, with "The Crossing" caught the public's attention with its Scottish folk influences and guitar that evoke the sound of bagpipes and fiddles.
In addition to "In a Big Country," the album contained the singles "Fields of Fire (400 Miles)" and "Harvest Home."
Early on, the band toured with U2, which had its breakout with the 1983 album "War."
In addition to "In a Big Country," Big Country through 1988 had hits with the songs "Wonderland," "Look Away" and "King of Emotion."Billboard charts
In addition to "In a Big Country," Big Country through 1988 had hits with the songs "Wonderland," "Look Away" and "King of Emotion."
In all, it released eight albums, the last of which was 2013's "The Journey."
Lead singer Stuart Adamson died in 2001, and from 2010-2013 the band was fronted by former The Alarm singer Mike Peters.
Guitarist Bruce Watson, now 64, is the only remaining original member of the band.
The Totally 80s tour is the second 1980s package show being offered by Wind Creek Event Center.
It previously announced the I Want My 80s Tour, with Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Chung and Paul Young, on July 13.
Tickets for that show remain available at the event center website.
