Artsquest has announced five new acts for the Musikfest Café including Zen for Primates, Ivan Neville’s Dumstaphunk/Dirty Dozen Brass Band, John Mayall, Little River Band, and Justin Townes Earle.
Zen for Primates, a band that has for many years played in the Lehigh Valley and at Musikfest, will take the stage in the café on May 19th. Zen for Primates member Pete Fluck also joined the Craig Thatcher Band at the Musikfest Café last May. Tickets are $15 for cabaret seats and $20 for balcony seats. This act is part of the RiverJazz festival.
Next up is a co-headliner with Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Dumpstaphunk, as you might imagine by the name, is a funk band. They formed in 2003 and have since played various notable festivals ranging from Bonnaroo to VoodooFest. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a troupe of funk/jazz brass performers who will bring the best sounding horns since Trombone Shorty and Here Come the Mummies. The show is June 3rd and tickets are $25 for standing room only or $32 for the balcony.
John Mayall will be playing in the Musikfest Café on July 26th. Mayall has put out an unbelievable 57 albums, His band the Bluesbreakers has spanned many years and included Eric Clapton and Mick Fleetwood. The 78 year old’s last release was in 2009 with the record Tough. Tickets are $35 for cabaret seats and $45 for balcony seats.
The Little River Band, originally formed in Australia in 1975, has sold more than 30 million albums and produced thirteen top 40 hits. The band takes the stage July 12th. Tickets are $37 for theatre seating and $50 for balcony seats.
Our favorite act out of these announcements is Justin Townes Earle. The singer/songwriter’s Harlem River Blues album, released in 2010, was well-reviewed and won multiple awards. His unique bluesy/country music is thoughtful and provoking, and certainly a show we’ll be checking out. Tickets are $24 for cabaret seats and $29 for balcony seats.
All shows go on sale April 20th at 10am.