Blast Furnace Blues Festival Returns for its 14th Annual Event
Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA. June 5, 2025 – The Blast Furnace Blues Festival presented by Highmark Blue Shield will return to the ArtsQuest Campus at SteelStacks for its 14th year on Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19. This free, two-day celebration brings the community together with live music performances honoring the deep roots and powerful legacy of the American blues tradition.
“What a lineup for music lovers!” says ArtsQuest Chief Programming Officer Patrick Brogan. “Including headliners Shemekia Copeland, who is returning to SteelStacks fresh off a year where her album received three Grammy Nominations, and Indigenous, a Billboard Blues Music chart-topping band that flat out rocks every time they come to the Lehigh Valley. Blast Furnace Blues celebrates an American art form with local greats and national acts who you simply can’t miss.”
In addition to the stellar musical acts, the festival will feature delicious food options. Udder Bar will be on-site on Friday, July 18 from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.., offering their crowd-favorite ice cream and treats. On Saturday, enjoy food from the Kutztown Pub, who will be serving their delicious pulled pork, mouth-watering bites and special treats from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. More vendors will be announced as the event approaches.
Friday Schedule:
| The BC Combo | 5 – 6 p.m. | Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health |
| Alexis P. Suter Band | 6 – 7:15 p.m. | Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square |
| Indigenous | 7:30 – 9 p.m. | Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health |
| Jax Hollow | 9 – 11 p.m. | Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square |
A seasoned blues band from Lehigh Valley, PA, active since 1992 led by Bev Conklin, The BC Combo perform a diverse mix of blues, jazz, swing, folk, R&B and soul. Known for energetic performances and sharing stages with legends like Ray Charles and Buddy Guy, they reached the finals of the International Blues Competition and continue to be a staple of the Northeast music scene. Their motto: “It’s all about having fun!”
Alexis P. Suter owns that big, booming voice heard roaring out of Brooklyn and straight into the heart of North America and beyond. Her voice ranges from a pained passion to explosive and soul-bearing. She and her backing band have released six albums to date. The Alexis P. Suter Band, a powerful and unique six-piece ensemble, artfully blends the lines between blues, soul and rock music. The band burst onto the music scene with regular performances at Levon Helm’s legendary Midnight Rambles in Woodstock, NY.
Indigenous front man Mato Nanji, a Native American blues musician from the Yankton Sioux reservation in South Dakota, dedicates his music, specifically his 2014 album Time Is Coming, to Indigenous youth. Influenced by his late father Greg Zephier Sr., a spiritual leader and musician, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn, Mato formed Indigenous with his family, toured with artists like B.B. King and joined the Experience Hendrix Tour, working with other blues artists. His music reflects the challenges of reservation life and emphasizes family, heritage and the Indigenous community.
In a city swarming with some of the world’s most talented entertainers, Nashville’s Jax Hollow emerges as a rare triple threat: a nuanced and hard-hitting songwriter, a powerhouse vocalist and a world-class guitarist. She’s a true embodiment of the Music City Trifecta. A Berklee College of Music graduate and ISC Songwriting Competition winner, Jax fuses blues, rock and Americana. She’s shared the stage with rock legends and is celebrated for her electrifying live shows and lyrical depth.
Saturday Schedule:
| Sarah Ayers Band | 2 – 3 p.m. | Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square |
| Dyer Davis Band | 3 – 4:15 p.m. | Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health |
| Kelly Bell Band | 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. | Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square |
| Zach Person | 5:15 – 6:15 p.m. | Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health |
| Mckinley James | 6:15 – 7:15 p.m. | Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square |
| Shemekia Copeland | 7:30 – 9 p.m. | Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health |
| Dylan Triplett | 9 – 11 p.m. | Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage on the Air Products Town Square |
Sarah Ayers Band is a classically trained singer who formed her band in 2002 and has become a prominent figure in the Northeast Pennsylvania blues and rock scene. She’s known for her powerful vocals and has garnered numerous Lehigh Valley Music Awards, including Best Female Vocalist and Best Singer-Songwriter. Sarah has also collaborated with other musicians, including a successful partnership with James Supra.
Dyer Davis is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his electrifying performances and a sound deeply rooted in southern blues rock. Davis’s powerful debut album, Dog Bites Back, debuted at #6 in the Billboard Blues Charts and was praised by DownBeat Magazine. Dyer graced the cover of Blues Blast Magazine and was nominated for the magazine’s Blues Blast Awards – Best New Artist. His highly anticipated second album, Kiss The Ring, was released in May, further cementing his place as a rising force in modern rock and blues.
The Kelly Bell Band blends soul, blues, reggae, funk and more into a unique urban sound that’s earned them the title of Baltimore’s Top Blues Band for 12 straight years. Mixing Motown vibes with modern rock and pop, their high-energy shows are unlike anything else. Frontman Kelly Bell—a pro wrestler, radio personality and teacher from inner-city D.C.—brings powerful stories and charisma to every performance. With over 100,000 records sold independently and tours alongside legends like Ziggy Marley, Buddy Guy and Maroon 5, this band is a must-see.
American recording artist Zach Person, is the new face of indie rock. Wielding his electric guitar, Person plays loud, raw and connects with his music fans on a primal level sonically. His brand-new sophomore album entitled Let’s Get Loud showcases the songwriter’s ability to produce a variety of both high energy rock anthems and head-bobbing funk rhythms. Produced by Nashville-based rocker, Tyler Bryant, Person describes the album as an audio diary of his mid-twenties, bestowing it the title, Let’s Get Loud, as a nod to his musical mantra.
McKinley James is equal parts old soul and modern man. Armed with an electric guitar and sharp songwriting chops, he breathes new life into classic sounds with Working Class Blues, a debut album that introduces his mix of American rock & roll, amplified soul and raw rhythm & blues.
Shemekia Copeland is an award-winning blues, soul and Americana singer known for her soulful voice and honest, humorous music. Her latest album Done Come Too Far, produced by Will Kimbrough, blends social commentary with personal reflection, addressing gun violence, racial tensions and police brutality while celebrating life in songs like “Fried Catfish” and “Bibles” and “Fell In Love With A Honky.” Born in Harlem, Copelan earned critical acclaim from NPR and Rolling Stone. Her music champions change and hope on a global stage.
Dylan Triplett is a Blues and Soul prodigy from E. St. Louis and raised in a music family, He began at age nine and has been performing professionally since late 2016, when he began singing with Ms. Carolyn Mason. He’s graced many stages in the U.S. and many notable stages abroad as well. He’s only 23. Buckle up…
Visit https://www.steelstacks.org/festivals/blast-furnace-blues/ for additional information.
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.
