The Craic Comes to SteelStacks: Musikfest Café Welcomes Top Acts This Summer
Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA. May 12, 2025 – The spirit of Celtic music is coming alive at the Musikfest Café this season, with a vibrant lineup of acclaimed performers set to grace the stage. Join us for an unforgettable celebration of Celtic sound and storytelling with Carbon Leaf, The High Kings and Skerryvore – three powerhouse acts blending rich tradition with contemporary flair.
Carbon Leaf, known for their fusion of Celtic, folk and rock influences, will kick off the festivities on Sunday, May 18 with their genre-defying sound and poetic lyrics that have captivated fans for over two decades. Their high-energy performances and musical craftsmanship promise an evening of both nostalgia and new discoveries.
Next up, The High Kings bring their signature harmonies and foot-stomping ballads to the stage on Tuesday, July 22. Having held the position as the distinctive voice of Irish Folk music across the world for the last 15 years, The High Kings have shattered records in the streaming world and their remixed songs have garnered millions of streams. Renowned for revitalizing traditional Irish folk music with a modern twist, this chart-topping quartet delivers a show filled with heartfelt emotion and infectious charm.
Closing out the series, Skerryvore is a musical force like no other – taking the Musikfest Café stage on Sunday, September 7. Three-time winners of Scotland’s Live Act of the Year award, the band has grown from their West Coast beginnings to become one of Scotland’s premier global musical exports. With their dynamic blend of bagpipes, fiddles, accordions, whistles, guitar, vocals, bass, drums and keys, their electrifying stage presence and innovative arrangements make them a must-see for fans of Celtic music and beyond.
More Celtic Music at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks:
For those looking to explore even more Celtic sounds this summer, the Levitt Pavilion Summer Concert Series presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health, offers a robust lineup of FREE concerts at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday through Saturday, unless otherwise noted.
Highlights from the Levitt Pavilion lineup include:
- House of Hamill – Thursday, August 21
- Young Dubliners – Saturday, August 30*
*Come out at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 30 for a full night of Irish music with additional performers on the ArtsQuest Campus at SteelStacks!
Celtic Vibes at Musikfest:
Looking for a taste of Ireland during the largest non-gated festival in the United States? Don’t miss “Irish Pub Night” at IBEW Local 375 Liederplatz on Tuesday, August 5 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.! Raise your Musikfest Mug and enjoy high-energy sets from The Rogue Diplomats, Cassie and Maggie and The Muckers.
PLUS – experience something truly unique with Gadan, bringing Irish traditional music and Celtgrass…from Italy! Catch them:
- Monday, August 4 – PNC Stadtplatz from 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Tuesday, August 5 – Air Products Americaplatz at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks from 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
So grab your kilts, tune your ears and prepare to jig—these Celtic celebrations bring the craic to Bethlehem like never before!
About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, of which nearly 40 percent are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.
