ArtsQuest Announces Opening Acts for Musikfest 2025 at Wind Creek Steel Stage
Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA June 30, 2025 – Grab a drink and take your seat —you won’t want to miss these incredible opening performers at the Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza for Musikfest 2025. ArtsQuest is thrilled to share the dynamic lineup of artists who will kick off each night of headlining performances. From rising stars to regional favorites, these openers promise to set the tone for the biggest festival of the summer!
Schedule:
July 31: Megan Moroney — TBD
August 1: Riley Green — John Morgan
August 2: The Avett Brothers — SCYTHIAN
August 3: Darius Rucker — Austin Williams, Kendal Conrad
August 4: The Black Crowes — THE BAND FEEL
August 5: Chicago — TBD
August 6: NELLY — Don Louis, MANIFEST! HB
August 7: Gilberto Santa Rosa — TBD
August 8: Third Eye Blind — Boys Like Girls
August 9: Jordan Davis — Lily Rose
August 10: The Black Keys — The Velveteers
Get your Musikfest tickets now at musikfest.org – and be part of the excitement, celebrating a wide array of live music during the nation’s largest free music festivals in the nation!
Enjoy the ULTIMATE Musikfest experience when you upgrade to Steel Terrace tickets! Included in Steel Terrace tickets is reserved seating in one of the Steel Terrace tents, a delicious Mediterranean menu and an open bar, access via a separate entrance into the Wind Creek Steel Stage and private, air-conditioned bathrooms!
John Morgan
Ascending from the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, John Morgan, a proclaimed “in-demand song crafter” (Billboard), is ready to hit the stage and make the crowd go wild with his #1 top hits including “Trouble With a Heartbreak” and GRAMMY-nominated, ACM Single of the Year “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood. The Tennessean praised his song “Friends Like That (feat. Jason Aldean)” from his most recent album Carolina Blue as a “live concert favorite whose banjo and steel underpinnings still allow room for a hard-rocking core.”
SCYTHIAN
You can feel the energy from miles away when Scythian is on stage. Their roots lie within Celtic, Eastern European and Appalachian traditions, making their music a unique and powerful experience to listen to. By bringing hints of Ukrainian folk and bluegrass, they will surely start a full blow celebration in the crowd that’s never going to stop.
Austin Williams
When tragedy sparks creativity, Austin Williams has a life-changing story that led him to where he is today. At the young age of fifteen, Austin had to undergo spinal fusion surgery that left him with a long recovery period. During that time, Austin taught himself how to play the Guitar and found a new passion for music. He grew to 600,000 followers on TikTok and his “90s Rap Mashup” debuted at #1 on the iTunes country charts and #3 on the iTunes all genre charts, later landing on Pandora’s Top Hits Station. He now has a total of 800,000 followers throughout all platforms and is actively releasing music and performing live.
Kendal Conrad
A Pennsylvania native with a competitive country attitude and a voice that wants to be heard—making a return to Musikfest for her second time opening is Kendal Conrad. She was awarded the local winner for the 2015 Country Showdown, one of the largest country music talent competitions in the United States and was a finalist in the NBC 10 Talent Search in 2010. She has opened for incredible artists including Phil Vassar, Craig Morgan and Easton Corbin and is ready to bring her A game to the stage.
THE BAND FEEL
From classic rock to mid-century jazz, this band has a vast range of genres, perfect for all audiences. Their second EP, Into The Sun, was produced by 5-time GRAMMY-nominated and ASCAP Award-winning producer Paul Moak, adding even more depth to their skillful yet soulful style. In the past year, THE BAND FEEL racked up over 45 million views, highlighting their explosive growth and viral momentum. By showcasing their electrifying live shows online, they’ve captured the attention of a rapidly growing fanbase—including actor and musician John Stamos. THE BAND FEEL is establishing their place as one of the most exciting and unpredictable acts on the rise.
Don Louis
Once a football superstar with NFL dreams, he’s now a rising force in music—bringing grit, charisma and genre-blending talent to every stage. After a career-hitting injury in 2020, he traded the field for the spotlight and turned his lifelong dream of singing into reality. With a voice Billboard praises as “naturally twangy” he quickly made his mark. Don has racked up over 50 million streams and 3.5 million likes on TikTok and his EMPIRE debut Liquor Talkin’ features standout tracks like “Long Time Comin’”. He was featured on TODAY.com, BET and The Tennessean as a game-changer and artist to watch. Don Louis is redefining what country music can be.
MANIFEST! HB
This duo met as college roommates, and now they’re a hip hop sensation— redefining the sound of their generation. Established in 2015 by rapper Jake Supreme and vocalist Exodus, MANIFEST! HB is here to change the game. They dropped their first project, a four tack EP, including hit songs like “Sun Rise” and “Everything to Prove” in 2016. Their most recent project, “Speaking into Existence II” is a continuation of their EP and is reaching television networks like VH1 and MTV. “Most importantly, we think our music helps bring people together,” states MANIFEST! HB.
Boys Like Girls
What started as four young teens jamming in a grungy basement, to earning half a billion Spotify streams, you know that this dynamic group was meant to be. Bursting onto the scene with their 2006 debut and follow-up Love Drunk, the band delivered chart-topping, Platinum-certified hits like “The Great Escape” and “Two Is Better Than One” (with Taylor Swift), quickly earning global recognition. After a successful run of international tours and hit singles, frontman Martin Johnson stepped back in 2012 to explore songwriting and producing. But a brief 2016 reunion tour reignited the fire, making the band stronger than ever. With new music, international touring and a renewed sense of purpose in 2025, they’re onto fulfilling their next chapter.
Lily Rose
It took one viral hit, “Villain,” and Lily Rose was off, launching her successful career that led her to tour with top country artists and perform on major stages including The Voice and Good Morning America. Her most recent and most personal release is the 2024 EP Runnin’ Outta Time, which captures the intense push and pull in Lily’s life and a powerful reminder of how important it is to take a breath and focus on the things that matter most. She accomplished collaborations with Diplo and Sam Hunt, and awards including a GLAAD Award and ACM nomination. Lily is stepping confidently into a new chapter that is bound to bring her more success.
The Velveteers
This iconic trio emerged fearlessly from a garage full of punk and metal while they spent countless hours perfecting their craft to become The Velveteers. Their most recent and second album, A Million Knives, is emotional and bold— reflecting on the pain of being an artist in the music industry while still holding on to childish joys and pleasures. “As you grow older, the world makes you jaded. This album is about the hard truth that no matter how hard you protect your heart, it’s just going to be broken” says Demi Demitro, singer/guitarist. With raw emotion and true vulnerability, The Velveteers continue to carve out a path to their own legacy.
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.
