NEPA Scene Staff

Country star Dierks Bentley headlines Musikfest at SteelStacks in Bethlehem on Aug. 6

Country star Dierks Bentley headlines Musikfest at SteelStacks in Bethlehem on Aug. 6
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From a press release:

Chart-topping country superstar Dierks Bentley will return to Musikfest when he performs on the Sands Steel Stage in Bethlehem on Monday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m., along with special guests LANCO.

Tickets for this concert at PNC Plaza (645 E. 1st St., Bethlehem) at the SteelStacks, which are $69-$89, go on sale to the general public this Friday, May 25 at 10 a.m. at musikfest.org and 610-332-3378. Tickets go on sale for ArtsQuest Members starting Tuesday, May 22 at 10 a.m. The configuration for this show includes a standing room only pit at the base of the Sands Steel Stage, offering a variety of options for fans.

Performing for more than 15 years, Arizona native Dierks Bentley has scored 17 No. 1 singles like “What Was I Thinkin’,” “I Hold On,” and “Black,” as well as 13 Grammy Award nominations. In June, he’ll receive the Academy of Country Music’s Merle Haggard Spirit Award, joining the ranks of Eric Church and Miranda Lambert as recipients of this prestigious honor.

Best known for catchy hits like “Drunk on a Plane,” “Different for Girls,” and “Somewhere on a Beach,” Bentley has built a reputation as both a dedicated family man and a forever-young drifter, putting in millions of miles on headlining tours and taking the fearless stylistic detours of a truly authentic artist. With “The Mountain,” his ninth studio album, he continues that journey, taking more chances and pulling inspiration from the twisted peaks surrounding a tiny town in Colorado, as well as the uphill battles his fans face every day. Unified by themes of positivity and presence, these 13 new tracks range in style from textured rock to acoustic folk, feeling both rooted and expansive at the same time.

Joining Bentley on stage is country rock band LANCO. Hailing from Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, the quintet’s members include drummer Tripp Howell, guitarist Eric Steedly, keyboardist Jared Hampton, and bassist Chandler Baldwin, led by frontman Brandon Lancaster. Crafting feel-good country anthems tinged with classic rock and blues edges, LANCO signed with Sony Music Nashville imprint Arista Nashville in late 2015 and released their first full-length album, “Hallelujah Nights,” this year. The band is best known for singles like “High” and “Long Live Tonight,” as well as “Greatest Love Story,” which was featured as the theme for Netflix’s “The Ranch.”

The Dierks Bentley performance is presented by Highmark Blue Shield, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Ironton Telephone, and supported by media partners Cat Country 96 and The Morning Call. 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, Kesha on Aug. 7, Brantley Gilbert on Aug. 10, All Time Low and Dashboard Confessional on Aug. 11, 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.