NEPA Scene Staff

Pop superstar Kesha returns to Musikfest at SteelStacks in Bethlehem on Aug. 7

Pop superstar Kesha returns to Musikfest at SteelStacks in Bethlehem on Aug. 7
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From a press release:

It was announced today that pop singer/songwriter Kesha will make her triumphant return to the Sands Steel Stage at Musikfest in Bethlehem on Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m.

Tickets for this concert at PNC Plaza (645 E. 1st St., Bethlehem) at the SteelStacks, which are $49-$79, go on sale starting Tuesday, May 1 at 10 a.m. to ArtsQuest Members and on Friday, May 4 at 10 a.m. to the public at musikfest.org and 610-332-3378.

Kesha’s new album, “Rainbow,” called “an artistic feat” by Entertainment Weekly and “the best music of her career” by Rolling Stone, marks a new beginning for the artist, recently named among Time’s “100 Most Influential People of 2018.”

Based around inner strength and musical exploration, her latest No. 1 album finds Kesha at “her defiant, unbridled best” (USA Today), boasting collaborators ranging from Ben Folds and Drew Pearson to Eagles of Death Metal and Dolly Parton. The album has garnered praise from the New York Times, Billboard, NPR Music, and more, and it earned Kesha her first-ever Grammy nominations at the 60th annual Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Praying.”

When Kesha released her debut album, “Animal,” in 2010, Billboard declared her a Hot 100 Artist and her debut single, “TiK ToK,” the No. 1 Hot 100 Song. “TiK ToK” was also the most played song and the world’s top-selling track that year. “Animal” has since sold more than eight million album equivalents worldwide, and Kesha has sold more than 13 million total albums worldwide.

She has had nine Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four No. 1 singles at Top 40 Radio – “TiK ToK,” “Your Love Is My Drug,” “Die Young,” and “Timber.” She took home the MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act in November 2010 and has been nominated for two American Music Awards, three MTV VMA Awards, and six Billboard Awards.

Kesha’s 2018 concert marks her second appearance at Musikfest, having previously performed at the festival Aug. 10, 2013. Her performance is supported by media partner B104. Other 2018 Sands Steel Stage headliners announced so far include Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown Tour on Musikfest Preview Night on Aug. 2, Styx and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts on Aug. 3, comedian Jim Gaffigan on Aug. 5, Brantley Gilbert on Aug. 10, and Jason Mraz on Aug. 12.

One of the largest music festivals in the nation, Musikfest features more than 500 performances on 16 stages throughout Bethlehem over 10 days. Proceeds from Musikfest 2018 support ArtsQuest’s free programming for the community year-round at the Banana Factory arts center and the SteelStacks arts and cultural campus. Dates for the 35th edition of the festival are Friday, Aug. 3 through Sunday, Aug. 12.

See NEPA Scene’s photos of Godsmack and Like a Storm at Musikfest 2017 here and the original lineup of Live playing at last year’s festival here.