The Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society (PAMPS) is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to support traditional and emerging Pennsylvania musicians, promote and preserve Pennsylvania’s musical heritage and ongoing musical contributions, and support youth music activity and education.
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News
Remembering Joe Clark
We were saddened to hear of Joe Clark’s passing on May 7. Throughout his controversial career, Joe was a local music supporter and bold entrepreneur who opened and operated numerous bars, restaurants, and music venues, including Joe’s Cheesesteaks, The Dog House, The Windsor House, DJ Bananas, The Broccoli Garden, The Celery Garden, Café Le Rock, and most notably, Crocodile Rock, whose opening concert featured Julian Lennon, and which attracted many major performers including Blue Oyster Cult, Fall Out Boy, Blake Shelton, Wu-Tang Clan, Leon Russell, The Roots, Twenty One Pilots, Snoop Dogg, and many others.
At Allentown’s Archer Music Hall opening ceremony in March 2025, City Center developer J.B. Reilly wanted to recognize Crocodile Rock and its owner, whose daughter Melissa was at the ceremony. He said Clark told him, “You have to have a music hall and you have to work with Live Nation.” Reilly said he hopes Archer is “one notch up from Crocodile Rock.”
While Joe certainly wasn’t loved by everyone, I can speak from my own experience. In the 1980s I performed in a band many times at the Windsor House and DJ Bananas (which were at the same location), and I don’t remember ever being treated badly or unfairly. Joe even sat in with us on a few songs, and it was fun.
— Dave Follweiler
Upcoming & Ongoing Events
Nov 16-23, 2025: Cruise with Mike Mittman and Real Oldies 1470
Don’t go cruisin’ for a bruisin’ … cruise in style this November with our friend (and PAMPS board member) Mike Mittman and Real Oldies 1470! Seven days of pure bliss (November 16-23, 2025) aboard the Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas, with stops at Port Canaveral and the Bahamas. Best of all, the ship departs from Cape Liberty, NJ, making travel easier than ever. Click here for more information!
Ritz Barbecue, Found in the 60’s, Allentown Fair, & PAMPS present
We’re happy to announce another year of free Sunday car show concerts outside Ritz Barbecue at the Allentown Fairgrounds for 2025. Shows until Sept 14 are from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, while the concerts after that date are from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. We’re offering special concert seating free of charge for PAMPS members at each show. Please join us! These concerts benefit Canine Partners for Life and MountainView Horse Rescue.
| 2025 schedule | All dates are subject to weather conditions |
| April 27th 4-7: Flirtin with the Mob | August 10th 4-7: Flirtin with the Mob (merging with Classic & Cruisers on Hamilton) |
| May 18th 4-7: Flirtin with the Mob | Sept 14th 4-7: The Castaway Band |
| June 8th 4-7: The Large Flowerheads | Sept 28th 3-6: The Main Street Cruisers |
| June 22nd 4-7: Still Kick’n | Oct 12th 3-6: Lucky 7 |
| July 13th 4-7: The Castaway Band | Oct 26th 3-6: Flirtin with the Mob |
| July 27th 4-7: The Main Street Cruisers |
Recent events
May 01, 2025: WMUH Presents The Alex Meixner Band
Thursday, May 01, 2025 @ 7:00 PM
The Coplay Saengerbund, 205 S 5th St, Coplay PA 18037
Doors: 5:30 PM
Music: 7:00 PM
Alex Meixner is a internationally acclaimed musician, performer, bandleader, educator and a leading advocate of polka music. Formally trained in classical, jazz and ethnic music, Alex has cross-pollinated his versatile playing styles through pop music, funk, jazz and polka. He is an active ambassador for polka music, revitalizing interest coast to coast resulting in sold out shows, renewed cultural interest, and growing mainstream acceptance. For Alex, it’s more than playing energetic shows; it is a mission to provide a much needed positive experience that pulls communities together to celebrate history, culture and genuinely good times.
Alex leads the Alex Meixner Band which performs approximately 180 times a year across the country for venues ranging from intimate events and clubs to massive festivals. The Alex Meixner Band is a regular headliner at Wurstfest (New Braunfels, TX), German Fest (Milwaukee, WI), Musikfest (Bethlehem, PA), Plattduetsche Park (Franklin Square, NY), and Creative Alliance (Baltimore, MD).
Mar 2025: St Patrick’s Day events
Two of the Lehigh Valley’s up-and-coming musical talents agreed to perform as an Irish cultural band, the Shillelaghs, for the 2025 St Patrick’s Day parades in both Bethlehem, which they did on Saturday, March 15, and in Allentown, which will take place from 1:30 to 4:30 on Sunday, March 23. Devin Wachter is a graduate student at Moravian College who is a Lehigh Valley musician and audio engineer. Primarily a bass player, Devin is a multi-instrumentalist who performs, writes, and produces music. Liam Brogan is a guitarist and singer from Quakertown. Specializing in folk and punk, he’s had recent success with his band Fireswamp, performing his original music throughout the Lehigh Valley. Both musicians have performed in several area bands, and the two will be joining forces to perform as the Shillelaghs. We at the Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society are proud to sponsor them.
For more information about the Allentown St Patrick’s Day parade, see https://www.allentownstpatricksparade.com.