“The Voice” Winner Jordan Smith Talks His New Album and Big Dreams

By Emily Cummins, ArtsQuest Public Relations Coordinator

Jordan Smith showed the world his musical gifts in 2015 when he became the best-selling artist in the history of NBC’s reality television singing competition “The Voice.”

During his run, superstar recording artists Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams each claimed a red swivel chair during a blind audition. Smith then progressed to live performance shows and competed for America’s votes, ultimately winning Season 9 and a coveted recording contract.

On October 23 Jordan Smith visits the Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling, where fans can watch the Kentucky native as he shares the inspirational songs of his debut album “Something Beautiful”. While traveling the world on his first tour, Smith recently took the time to speak with ArtsQuest about his music and explosive success ahead of the release of his new holiday album “Tis The Season,” available October 28. Here’s what he had to say!

A lot of fans know you from “The Voice.” What is your life like now after that breakthrough moment?

Not only was “The Voice” an opportunity to grow as a musician and person, it was a platform that jumpstarted my career in a way that I couldn’t have on my own. I get to spend my time traveling and performing all across the US and even the world. Dream after dream has come true since the finale in December.

As you continue touring and meeting new fans, what experience on the road has been the most fun?

Traveling to new places is my favorite part of this journey. In early September I actually had the opportunity to travel to Florence, Italy and perform along with legends like David Foster, Andrea Bocelli and Reba McEntire at a charity event called Celebrity Fight Night. What a rewarding experience that was! I’m also very fortunate to travel with my wife on many occasions and having her by my side to explore and enjoy each new destination is one of the best parts.

After touring, what are you looking forward to most? Will you be returning to your hometown, Harlan, Kentucky?

I return to my hometown often. The mountains of Eastern Kentucky are a safe place for me and just being there renews my spirit. After touring, I will be sure to get back there and celebrate the upcoming holidays with my family!

Your music and the message behind your songs are an inspiration to others, but where did the inspiration for the original songs on your album “Something Beautiful” come from and what drives you as an artist?

Much of the original music on the album came from a place of personal experience. All of the songs on the project, both original material and cover songs, help tell my story so far as an artist. I want to make relatable music that people connect with; I want people to hear my songs and think of a time, person or event in their life when they felt the same way. I also want my music to be a positive force in the lives of my listeners that causes them to feel uplifted and more encouraged than before they started listening.

What music or artists influence you, and what’s your favorite song of 2016?

I pull influence from many different artists of very different genres. I like everything from Sara Bareilles to Hillsong to Florence and the Machine. I am inspired most by music that is authentic to the artist and carries a message that is important to them. It’s hard to choose a favorite song of 2016, but if I did it would have to be Adele’s “Remedy.”

With your first album, tour, your wedding and other huge milestones checked off, do you have a bucket list of things you want to accomplish or do?

I am always setting new goals. For example, I would love to write a book one day. Closest to the top of the list is one day singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl!

What animal do you think reflects your personality best and why?

This is a hilarious question! Badgers are my spirit animal. I mean, who doesn’t love a badger? I do.

Jordan Smith of The Voice
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23
Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling

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Your Musikfest Favorites Return!

Photo of Scythian: Alyssa Meadows

Musikfest is undoubtedly the best ten days of the summer, bringing hundreds of incredible musicians to Bethlehem once a year. The problem is just that, though: it’s only once a year. It’s difficult to wait 365 days to see and hear your favorite bands you’ve grown to love! But we’ve got you covered, fellow ‘festers…

The Musikfest spirit continues year-round in the Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling at SteelStacks! ArtsQuest brings in hundreds of world-class acts to the venue every year. The ones on this list are the performers you’ve made memories with while holding a mug of cold beer in one hand and some corn in the other! With Mummies, Sofa Kings, Elvises, Outlaws, Nerds and many more on the schedule, the warm summer months won’t feel so far away…

The Nerds– 1/6 – buy tickets

The Nerds may not have been invited to many popular parties as kids, but they sure know how to throw one at Musikfest every year! Their entertaining act is 20 years old and still going strong like the Energizer bunny, or more like the deadly bunny guarding the cave from Monty Python’s Holy Grail…

The Amish Outlaws– 1/27 – buy tickets

The crowds spilled out of Volksplatz this year to see the Rumspringa to end all Rumspringas! Four out of The Amish Outlaws’ original six members were born and raised in Lancaster, PA and had a strict Amish upbringing. Since then, they’ve become very well acclimated to the pleasures and vices of the modern world…music, most of all!

The Blues Brotherhood– 1/28 – buy tickets

Hold on to your hats, shades and Musikfets mugs as the Blues Brotherhood captures the sound, energy, and persona that propelled the original “Blues Brothers” into the phenomenon that still thrills audiences around the world.

Strawberry Fields– 2/24 – buy tickets

Strawberry Fields, The Ultimate Beatles Tribute Band, were a huge hit as the headliners for Musikfest’s British Invasion Night in 2016! Strawberry Fields performs in full costume to play all of the hits that made the Beatles most famous. They’ve even played Beatles-sized venues like Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium! “Come Together” for this awesome show!

Nik Greeley and the Operators– 2/25 – buy tickets

If you caught Nik Greeley and the Operators’ set this past Musikfest at Air Products Americaplatz, you know why he’s arguably the best frontman and performer in Philadelphia. We’re excited to welcome them back to Bethlehem for a special show in the Fowler Blast Furnace Room!

Enter the Haggis– 3/10 – buy tickets

For several ‘fests, Toronto’s Enter The Haggis has been bringing a rock edge to contemporary celtic music by effortlessly melding bagpipes and fiddles with classic rock n’ roll instrumentation. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, they’re back in Bethlehem!

Burning Bridget Cleary– 3/17 – buy tickets

Burning Bridget Cleary has earned a reputation for presenting high-spirited Celtic tunes at Musikfest. When is it more appropriate to hear them again than the week of St. Patrick’s Day! Grab your lucky friends, a couple green Yuenglings and come party with the band in the Musikfest Cafe!

Boogie Wonder Band– 3/18 – buy tickets

If you missed Boogie Wonder Band’s presence at Musikfest this year (unforunately, we can’t have every band back every year), now’s your chance to get your fix! The funkiest, most disco-loving band in all the land, Boogie Wonder Band is party central. With crazy costumes and a very solid set of musicians, they get crowds into the music like few others can.

Here Come the Mummies– 3/31 – buy tickets

Here Come the Mummies may be the undead, but they make Musikfest feel alive every time they take the stage! This eight-piece funk-rock band of 5000 year-old Egyptian Mummies and their “Terrifying Funk from Beyond the Grave” is sure to get you into them (and possibly vice versa).

Beyond your favorite Musikfest acts, world-class acts are always being added to the lineup at SteelStacks and the Musikfest Cafe presented by Yuengling! Check out the full list of upcoming acts coming to Bethlehem soon!

8 Classic Rock Shows Coming to SteelStacks this Fall

Do you yearn for the no-frills rock of yesteryear? Do you miss the hisses and pops of vinyl records? Do you appreciate artists that sound as good live as they do on recordings?

At ArtsQuest, we're big fans of classic rock, too! That's why SteelStacks has your fix of great rock & roll coming to the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling this October and November! Some of the best performers and songwriters will be in your backyard here in Bethlehem soon...

MACEO PARKER - October 12 - Buy Tickets

While Maceo Parker's name is synonymous with funk music, he has crossover appeal in classic rock! Parker has been the saxophonist for James Brown, George Clinton and Prince (see the video below). His collaborations over the years have included Ray Charles, Ani Difranco, James Taylor, De La Soul, Dave Matthews Band and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

JUDY COLLINS - October 21 - Buy Tickets

While more well-known for her folk and pop hits, Judy Collins has had a large influence in classic rock. While romantically involved with Stephen Stills, she was the inspiration for Crosby, Stills & Nash's hit song "Judy Blue Eyes" and had Stills play on her own album. Collinss has also recorded her own versions of songs by Bob Dylan, Randy Newman and many others.

JIM MESSINA - November 3 - Buy Tickets

As one half of Loggins & Messina, co-founder of Poco and key contributor to Buffalo Springfield, Jim Messina has left an indelible footprint on popular music. He’ll drop by the Musikfest Café to perform a mix of his solo work and hits from throughout his legendary career.

JIMMY WEBB - November 4 - Buy Tickets

Jimmy Webb's songs have been recorded or performed by the best including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Judy Collins, Isaac Hayes, Art Garfunkel, Linda Ronstadt, R.E.M., Michael Feinstein, and Carly Simon. He was the youngest man ever inducted into the National Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.

RENAISSANCE - November 9 - Buy Tickets

Renaissance is a band with a rich history unique unto themselves as progressive rock pioneers who rose from the ashes of the seminal UK rock band, The Yardbirds. Their career has spanned forty plus years spearheaded by the 5 octave voice of Annie Haslam.

TUSK: Fleetwood Mac Tribute - November 11 - Buy Tickets

Named after Fleetwood Mac’s 1979 album TUSK, this dynamic tribute act features seasoned musicians recreating Fleetwood Mac classics like “Go Your Own Way,” “Don’t Stop,” The Chain” and more. Their performance at Levitt Pavillion SteelStacks earlier this year was one of the most popular shows of the summer lineup!

JOHN HIATT - November 18 - Buy Tickets

John Hiatt began his career working as a songwriter in Nashville and performing in clubs throughout the city. Many of his songs have been covered by other prominent artists including Joe Cocker (“Have a Little Faith in Me”), Bob Dylan (“The Usual”) and Eric Clapton (“Riding with the King").

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY - November 26 - Buy Tickets

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes are known as one of the prominent "Jersey Shore sound" bands that started in the 1970s. As you can see below, they are closely associated with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, having worked on many songs and albums together.

BONUS SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!

Pumpkin Spiced Fall Comedy at SteelStacks!

By Ben Youngerman, ArtsQuest Marketing Manager

It’s fall, which means the kids are back in school, leaves are changing into beautiful colors, and food companies are cramming pumpkin spice into every item they can think of! If pumpkin spice was laughter, our fall comedy shows would be the equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte with pumpkin spice whipped cream alongside a pumpkin spice bagel with pumpkin spice cream cheese served in an actual pumpkin (with a sprinkle of pumpkin spice on top). Yeah, these comedians are that pumpkin-spicing hilarious.

The Regularly Scheduled Shows

There are a handful of shows that happen on a regularly scheduled basis. That doesn’t make them less special, on the contrary, it makes them dependable ways to get out of the house.

• ManDudeBro: Every Friday, 10:30pm – Longform improv comedy from Lehigh Valley Style’s “Best Local Comedian” 2015
• The Associated Mess: Every-other Saturday, 10:30pm – Shortform improv in the style of “Whose Line is it Anyway”
• Improv Comedy Power Hour: Every-other Thursday, 10pm – Improv comedy from our very own house teams

Comedy Classes

• Sign up today: Do the thing you’ve always wanted to do! Improv and stand-up!

Jim Tews – 10/21 – buy tickets

Comedian and writer Jim Tews is the creator of the New York Times Bestseller “Felines of New York.” He made his stand-up television debut on Last Comic Standing and was featured in an episode of Louie.

Alex House – 10/27 – buy tickets

Easton’s own Alex House is a two time winner in the Bud Light’s Ladies Of Laughter Comedy Contest and has participated in many other festivals. She has also been on ABC’s “The View” twice in the course of two weeks and was one of the East Coast Semi-finalists chosen out of thousands of comics on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”.

Brendan Eyre & Kyle Ayers– 11/3 – buy tickets

Brendan can be seen on Comedy Central’s Adam Devine’s House Party, Red Eye on Fox News and recently made his network debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Kyle has written for the Roasts on Comedy Central CBS and its Untitled Sports Show, the New York Times, the Huffington Post, BBC, Wired, Buzzfeed & more.

Brendan Eyre & Kyle Ayers– 11/3 – buy tickets

The crowd favorite improvised comedy show that explores the internet’s dirtiest clickhole: Craigslist. Featuring the Lehigh Valley’s shadiest improvisers.

John Hodgman: Vacationland – 11/17 – buy tickets

John Hodgman is the longtime Resident Expert on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the host of the popular Judge John Hodgman Podcast. He has also appeared on Conan, The Late Late Show, @midnight, and This American Life.

Josh Gondelman – 12/1 – buy tickets

Josh Gondelman is a writer and comedian who is a writer on Season 2 of HBO’S Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. His talent for smushing words together earned him work writing for Fuse TV’s Funny Or Die Presents: Billy On The Street, and then got him his position as Web Producer for Season 1 of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

Alan Starzinkski: Umconfortable – 12/1 – buy tickets

Have you ever felt uncomfortable? Of course you have! Did you feel uncomfortable trying to say “Umconfortable” out loud? Of course you did, we do too! Join Alan Starzinski for an evening of hilarious and uncomfortable characters fresh from his run at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre in New York.

My Father as a Founding Father

By Ben Youngerman, ArtsQuest Marketing Manager

My dad Mitch is a Benjamin Franklin nerd.

He named his only child Benjamin (that’s me). He has multiple shelves filled with Franklin paraphernalia at home. His recent wedding was held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, where a decade ago he was the first person in line for the venue’s tercentennial Franklin exhibit. He made me go to that same exhibit when we traveled to St. Louis when we were on vacation. He regularly stumped National Park Rangers with Franklin trivia at Independence Hall.

That’s why it’s a dream come true for him to portray Benjamin Franklin at our FREE Independence Day Celebration presented by Embassy Bank on July 2-4. Plus, it puts the former Bethlehem Steel employee back to work on campus for the first time in over 30 years.

In the following interview, I finally got to the bottom of my father’s Founding Father obsession while previewing this weekend’s incredible event at SteelStacks.

I have one important question before we get started: do I make you proud?

(Laughs) Um. (Worryingly Long Pause) Yes, you make me very proud.

You’re clearly a huge Ben Franklin fanboy. You named me after him for crying out loud. What’s your fascination with that Founding Father more than the others?

My fascination is that based on my readings and studies I think he is the coolest cat of the era of the formation of the country. I don’t think there is anyone more responsible for the founding of our country and the success of the “great experiment” more than Franklin. I am utterly fascinated with how well-rounded he was and all the different avenues in which he succeeded.

Did you know that of all of the inventions he made, he never took out a patent because he wanted them to be available for all of mankind to use? And, most importantly, there is absolutely no way America could have beaten the British if he didn’t get the agreement with France to send us Naval assistance. His negotiating skills helped us win the Revolutionary War.

What kind of persona do you plan on taking for the role during the Independence Day Celebration presented by Embassy Bank?

I plan on taking a jovial and likeable educator role. I look forward to teaching the folks and kids at ArtsQuest about Franklin’s fascinating accomplishments.

What is your background in studying Franklin?

I am self-read and self-tought. I say I have a fascination for American history, and particularly I have read more than the average person about the history of Colonial American and the individual Founding Fathers. The advent of DVDs has helped that because you can watch them over and over again.

You’ve had a longtime dream to become a Ben Franklin impersonator? What’s it like to have that dream come true?

I am happy. I am excited. I am especially thrilled that I can share this with my son at his place of employment and support ArtsQuest’s mission….and it’s a perfect excuse to put on tights.

Mitch Youngerman with Franklin impersonator Ralph Archbold in 2005

You used to actually work for Bethlehem Steel. What was your job? What’s it like to be back on the campus in a completely different way 30 years later?

I worked for Bethlehem Steel for 3 years from 1981-1984. I was an accounting department looper at Martin Tower. So that was the training program. Then I was appointed as a staff accountant at the Sparrow’s Point Plant. I was the first person in the accounting department to unwrap and learn how to use an IBM P.C.

(My wife) Jamie worked there, too, but not at the same time. She programmed the saws in the Rolling Mill for 3 years from 1990-1993. Her building is still standing. She had an office on the 6th floor. She also had an office in the Rolling Mill.

I’m thrilled that the infrastructure that used to support so many families in the Lehigh Valley has now found a rebirth and now serving families as an arts and entertainment.

Your wedding a few years ago took place at the Constitution Center in Philly. What made you pick that location over a traditional venue or somewhere cool like a laser tag arena?

(Laughs) Laser tag was booked so as a 2nd alternative, my lovey wife was aware of my passion for Franklin. Once we knew about the photo opportunity in the great hall including Franklin, she suggested a classy wedding at a museum at the home of one of the great founding documents. It turned out to be a wonderful wedding at a wonderful museum dedicated to a wonderful document. I was also scared she would beat me at laser tag.

As part of your wedding reception, I had my best friend dress up as Ben Franklin to give you a restraining order. How’d that make you feel?

I was horrified. My passion and obsession for Franklin was intended to flatter him and recognize his contributions to America and the World. But it is obvious that stalking him and emulating his every action was not appreciated.

What’s your favorite Ben Franklin quote and why?

“There was never a good war, or a bad peace.” I think it’s very appropriate for today’s circumstances in the world. I wish people would listen and embrace that quote.

You used to stump National Park rangers at Independence Hall with Revolutionary trivia. Did you enjoy embarrassing me?

It was my goal in life to learn as much about Ben Franklin and embarrass you as much as possible. I loved listening to their stories. It was usually generic information for the public’s consumption. But I love talking to people with a similar passion for history. They certainly knew a lot more about Independence Hall than I did. I would stump them with trivia about Franklin, with stuff about the writing of the Declaration or the writing of the Consitution. They knew more about the final document. They were into the physical location. I was more into the people.

Final question. I’m a little behind on my car payments. Can I borrow a few Benjamins?

(Laughs) Yeah, and you can have a 1953 Ben Franklin half dollar coin in there as well.

Independence Day Celebration presented by Embassy Bank
JULY 2-4
FREE at SteelStacks
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