COUNTRY ARTIST WALKER HAYES TO HEADLINE MUSIKFEST 2023 

Platinum performer will take the Wind Creek Steel Stage Monday, Aug. 7 

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – ArtsQuest and media partner Cat Country 96 are about to get “fancy like” this summer with Walker Hayes on the Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza Monday, Aug. 7, 2023. Member ticket access for the Musikfest headliner begins Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 8 a.m., with remaining tickets on sale to the public at musikfest.org beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20. For more exclusive ticket access and advance purchase opportunities, become an ArtsQuest Circle donor today.  

The August performance will mark Hayes’ second visit to Bethlehem since bursting onto the country scene and earning national prestige. He previously offered up selections from his songbook during a free concert at SteelStacks as part of the Levitt Pavilion Summer Concert Series Aug. 17, 2017.

Chart-toping country singer/song writer Walker Hayes is a true family man, from Mobile, Alabama. Hayes’ humble southern roots and family values are put on full display in all his work. After many, many years in Nashville chasing his dream, Hayes got his breakthrough singing about what he knows best – family, faith and real life. Since the beginning of his musical career, he continues to share stories that reflect his personal life and experiences that millions of listeners relate to.

Hayes’ album “Country Stuff the Album” has become one of the top country albums in sales and streams in the genre and is currently the only RIAA certified album in country music released last year. Featuring platinum single “AA” and the Billboard chart topping “Fancy Like.” The single spent more than 6 months at the No.1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart, hit the top 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Songs, hit number one at country radio, was featured in a nationwide Applebee’s commercial and gave Hayes his first GRAMMY Award nomination as an artist for Best Country Song. The 43-year-old father has become a country music TikTok star, making a “Fancy Like” video with his teenage daughter, leading to over 35 million views and connecting with audiences across genres.

Continuing his genre spanning success, Hayes has released a new version of “Y’all Life” featuring R&B/pop superstar Ciara, “High Heels” featuring rap/hip-hop star Flo Rida and “Jesus’ Fault” featuring Christian rock artist Zach Williams.

A record-breaking 1,240,000 people attended Musikfest in 2022. The 10-day festival featured over 500 free performances, across 16 stages located throughout the City of Bethlehem. The 40th Musikfest is scheduled for Aug. 4–13, 2023. This year’s Musikfest 2023 poster artist is Allentown-based family Maltas Con Leche. Previously announced –headline shows include indie-pop trio AJR Friday, Aug. 4, country duo Dan + Shay

Sunday, Aug. 6, Goo Goo Dolls Wednesday, Aug. 9, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Aug. 10, and Maren Morris Saturday, Aug. 12. Visit musikfest.org for more information,