Mar 20 Wednesday
Pianist Tord Gustavsen’s music is the offspring of American jazz and European influences, a uniquely Norwegian sound that unites beauty with emotional intensity. With a few carefully chosen notes, he draws listeners into a world where melody is cherished as much as the freedom to explore textures and soundscapes. His band’s interplay creates a genuine ensemble rapport, leaving space for the audience to savor each note. “Gustavsen is a Svengali of the piano. He draws you into his encompassing atmosphere of rapt contemplation” (Jazz Times).
Emerging from humble beginnings in York County, PA more than eighty years ago, influenced by the banjo playing of Earl Scruggs, joining Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in early 1963, and now helming the Del McCoury Band, with sons Ronnie and Rob, Del is the living link. No surprise that contemporary, bluegrass -bred stars like Vince Gill and Alison Krauss, country-rock icon Steve Earle and jam band royalty Phish sing his praises. The Del McCoury Band continues to be a peerless torchbearer for the entire sweep and scope of bluegrass history.
May 18 Saturday
WDIY will be celebrating 29 years on the air at the station's second Family Fun Day — Groovin' in the Grove on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Allentown's South Mountain Grove.
Join WDIY staff, volunteers, members, and listeners for an afternoon of great food, drinks, raffles, and music from the Lehigh Valley's own James Supra/Sarah Ayers Band!
• The festivities will be outdoors under a covered pavilion, so this will be a rain or shine event.• Attendees age 21 and over will receive drink tickets. No outside alcohol is permitted.• No pets please.• Activities for all ages, so bring the whole family!
Early Bird discount pricing is in effect, so WDIY encourages you to grab your discounted tickets while you can!
Mar 21 Thursday
The Lehigh Valley Auto Show is built for the consumer, to inspect all angles of thevehicle’s interior and exterior in a pressure-free environment. Experience an amazing show for all, whether you are a car enthusiast, just browsing, or ready to make a buying decision.
Peter Case is an American singer-songwriter who has released 14 solo albums and is a founding member of the bands Nerves and Plimsouls. He was born in San Francisco, California in 1954 and began his music career in the early 1970s. His solo debut album, Peter Case, was released in 1980 and was followed by a string of critically acclaimed albums, including The Plimsouls (1981), Easy Rider (1983), and ¡Viva Zapata! (1985).
Mar 22 Friday
Including a new work by Steven Sametz for choir, dancers, and puppets.
Steven Sametz, director.Hana Cai, associate director.
Mar 24 Sunday
David Tennant (Doctor Who) makes a much-anticipated return to the West End in a blistering reimagining of one of Britain’s most powerful, political plays.
As the world faces its Second World War, John Halder, a good, intelligent German professor, finds himself pulled into a movement with unthinkable consequences.
Olivier Award-winner Dominic Cooke (Follies) directs C.P. Taylor’s timely tale, with a cast that also features Elliot Levey (Coriolanus) and Sharon Small (The Bay). Filmed live from the Harold Pinter Theatre in London.
The Saint-Georges Project is a hybrid chamber music recital, one-man play, and TED Talk about the life of Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges written and performed by violinist and Lehigh University Professor Michael Jorgensen. Saint-Georges was a biracial violinist-composer-fencer-abolitionist-soldier-spy from the 18th century, but his life and music were almost forgotten. The performance will share the unique experiences of Saint-Georges and Jorgensen through stories, history, and sounds. Saint-Georges's Violin Sonatas are featured along with pieces by Florence Price, Grammy-Award winning composer Jessie Montgomery, and two world premieres written by composers Shawn Okpebholo and Evan Williams.
The Saint-Georges Project contains frank discussions of slavery, systemic racism, and, most importantly gorgeous music written by Black composers from 1770 to 2024! Suggested age: 13+
Mar 29 Friday
It’s hard to imagine a band just coming into their own after 20 years of success, but that’s exactly what makes a true anomaly. This multi-national, Celtic juggernaut grows stronger with each live performance, and as you can imagine, after two decades and over 2000 shows, it is a true force to be reckoned with. With their latest release, Go Climb a Tree, their music has never sounded more representative of themselves as musicians and as live performers.'
The band attributes their continued success to their fanatic audience, and it’s a well-diversified crowd for sure. The country-music folks adore the storytelling, the bluegrass-heads love the instrumentals, Celtic fans love their devotion to tradition, and the rockers simply relish the passion they play their instruments with. Each band member, in their own way, expresses a deep gratitude for their fans, but it’s best summed up in the words of Patrick Murphy: “The fans are the ones that have given us this life. We’re here for them.”
Apr 04 Thursday
Baltimore native Warren Wolf, Jr. began learning vibraphone, marimba, drums and piano at age 3 from his father, Warren Wolf Sr.
After studying at the Peabody Institute’s prep program and the Baltimore School for the Arts, Wolf studied jazz vibraphone with Dave Samuels and Ed Saindon at the Berklee College of Music, graduating in 2001.
During his time at Berklee and after, he was active in the Boston jazz scene, working as a drummer at Wally’s Café and leading a band with trumpeter Jason Palmer. In 2003, he became an instructor in Berklee’s percussion department.
Since returning to Baltimore in 2005, Wolf has built a reputation as a “lion” on the international jazz circuit, including touring with Christian McBride’s Inside Straight and his own group, Wolfpack. His sixth album, “Chano Pozo: Origins,” was released in 2023.
Apr 06 Saturday
Simon Shaheen, virtuosic Palestinian-American oudist and violinist brings his fusion quartet to the WCR Center for the Arts for a night of jazz that should not be missed!
The legendary guitarist will be making his first appearance at the Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. Metheny was born into a musical family in Kansas City, Mo. in 1954. He started on trumpet at age 8, but switched to guitar at 12, influenced by the Beatles, then later by jazz greats Miles Davis and Wes Montgomery.
Recent recordings include “Road to the Sun” (2021), “Side-Eye NYC” (2021) and “Dreambox” (2023), which is nominated for a Grammy Award. Metheny has won 20 Grammy Awards in 12 different categories, including Best Rock Instrumental, Best Contemporary Jazz Recording, Best Jazz Instrumental Solo, and Best Instrumental Composition.
Apr 07 Sunday
Pianist Keiko Matsui has been a favorite performer at Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest for many years.
The Tokyo native blends classical and Eastern sounds with jazz in her heartfelt performances. She returns to collaborate once again with the Reading Pops Orchestra.
Matsui studied classical piano starting at age 5 but developed an interest in jazz by junior high school, when she began composing her own music. She also studied at the Yamaha Music Foundation. She started the band Cosmos, recording four albums with them, and then recorded her first solo album, “A Drop of Water” in 1987.
Grammy award winning guitarist, David Cullen, and nationally acclaimed pianist, Cliff Starkey, will perform a duo concert of Jazz tunes and traditional gospel songs in an uplifting concert.
Apr 13 Saturday
Guitarist Craig Thatcher, in addition to leading his Craig Thatcher Band, is an International Clinician/Ambassador for C.F. Martin & Co. of Nazareth, Pa., as well as an instructor and recording artist.
Thatcher began playing guitar in 1964, inspired by the Beatles, and two years later was in his first band, which in two more years was being paid to perform.
In those formative years, Thatcher was influenced by the music of guitarist Eric Clapton (whom he will honor in the BJF concert), and then Jimi Hendrix. Over the years he has added many genres, including folk, funk/jazz, blues and rock. He has performed in every state and in more than 35 countries.
Blues bassist/singer/songwriter Danielle Nicole Schnebelen grew up in a musical family and began singing publicly with her parents’ bands.
By her early 20s, she was a full-time musician. Schnebelen, in her first role as a bass player, founded the band Trampled Under Foot with her brothers. They took top honors at the International Blues Challenge in the United States and performed on several Legendary R&B Cruises.
In 2015, she released her first solo album with guitarist Anders Osborne, “Wolf Den.” Her distinctive bass playing has been recognized with two BMAs in the bass category.
Schnebelen’s 2017 release of "Cry No More" debuted at #1 on the Billboard Music Chart and was nominated for a 2019 Grammy for Contemporary Blues Album. It also won her a BMA for Contemporary Female Artist, in addition to her second for bass. She has continued to tour the world with her band, and recently received her seventh Blues Music Award.
Join us at the WCR Center for the Arts for a night of sizzling hot jazz performed by local musical treasure The Hot Club of Reading!
Apr 14 Sunday
Allentown native Jerome Collins has built his career as a tenor vocalist and founding member of the popular male a cappella group Straight No Chaser.
A graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, he has acted in musical theater, and is pursuing a parallel career as an R&B singer.
SNC was founded as a student group at Indiana University in the mid-90s, and the nine members reunited in 2006, after their rendition of “The 12 Days of Christmas” went viral on YouTube. They tour every year, have built a loyal fan base, and have released 10 albums.
Collins, now living in West Palm Beach, FL, lists Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Al Green and Michael Jackson as his influences. His solo show pays homage to the legendary sounds of Motown and R&B, including classics by Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and Stevie Wonder.