Music

At the Allentown Fair grandstand on Thursday, the hyperactivity was dialed back a measure for Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour, and the kids — who made up about half the audience of perhaps 3,000 — were at least exposed to learning.

The crowd at Allentown Fair for Cheap Trick and Blue Oyster Cult was there to hear the hits of their youth and — for the most part — got what they wanted.

Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour hits the grandstand stage at Allentown Fair at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. Tickets, at $30 each, remain available at the fair website.

Nearly 50 years later, Blue Öyster Cult still is performing, and this year even released "Ghost Stories," its first album of new material in four years and only second in 23 years. The group also will open for fellow 1970s rockers Cheap Trick as the grandstand feature for opening night at Allentown Fair at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28.

Jayna Elise, who auditioned on "Idol" in both Season 21 in 2023 and Season 22 the past spring, recently was chosen for the role of Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, which performs at Easton's State Theatre on Oct. 1-2.

Allentown Fair’s main Grandstand stage is inarguably one of its biggest draws — offering top music, performances and other acts in the Lehigh Valley’s largest-capacity arena. Here's how we rank this year's headliners.

The Hooters play Univest Performing Center in Quakertown at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23. The group performed to a nearly sold-out crowd in Quakertown last year.

Performances by tribute bands The Four Horsemen: A Celebration of Metallica on Aug. 30 and Strutter, a tribute to KISS, on Aug. 31 both will be free with fair admission. Maingate is adjacent to the fair and can be accessed from the fairgrounds at 17th and Liberty streets, Allentown.

Jonny Craig, the singer who led indie bands Dance Gavin Dance, Emarosa and Slaves, will perform at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Northampton's Gin Mill & Grille.

Musikfest, the largest non-gated music festival in the country, said it still had record crowds for its headline Steel Stage, and the most sold-out headline shows in its history.

Accessorize your festing togs with a mug.

Muhlenberg College is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its radio station with a special concert on Thursday, May 4 at the Saengerbund.

The free summer concerts series returns in Bethlehem. The weekly events showcase a variety of genres and regional musicians every Thursday through July 20.

G-Eazy will headline Musikfest's main Steel Stage at the massive music festival in downtown and South Side Bethlehem at 7 p.m. Aug. 5.

Highlights among the nearly 50 concerts in the Levitt Pavillion's 13th season include gold-selling punk rockers The Ataris, top blues singer/saxophone player Vanessa Collier, jazz-pop singer Morgan James, Cincinnati indie-rockers Motherfolk and Grammy Award-winning Latin rock-fusion band La Santa Cecelia.

The outdoor block party has been put off this year due to the rain and cold temperatures.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. has announced a set of pop-up festivals and other outdoor events scheduled throughout the city during spring and summer. The free events will feature free food, drinks and entertainment for all.

Irish singer and comedian Seamus Kennedy and singer Gerry Timlin will perform in the same show at 7 p.m. on June 22 in Moravian College’s Foy Hall.

Local musicians submitted videos from their new singles in hopes of winning the contest.

The festival features free outdoor concerts on Fridays and a special presentation of Bach's Mass in B Minor on Saturdays.

Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown is introducing a new "Young Professionals Circle" hoping to connect a younger audience to the symphony and provide networking opportunities and break down barriers

The groups will perform in August at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks.