Plush at the Maingate Nightclub
Along with Tom Taylor, we co-sponsored a night of rock at the Maingate featuring Plush, along with PVB, Turning the Tide, and Crooked Ways on Thursday, June 6, 2024.
St. Patrick’s Day Fundraiser for PA Music Preservation Society & the MacKay Pipe Band
Sunday, March 17th, 2024 1 to 6 PM
Theatre 514, 514 N 19th St, Allentown, PA 18104
$30 per person
Refreshments
Corned Beef Dinner
Music by Dave Marchetti
Great Beers for Great Causes
In November 2023, Two Rivers Brewing Company in Easton released Streets of Easton IPA, dedicated to and named in honor of Jeremy Joseph, founder and leader of the Big Easy Easton Brass band, Easton’s community-based New Orleans style brass band. The BEEB spreads joy and mirth throughout the city with their performances. The name of the beer is the title of one of their signature songs, written by Joseph.
Jeremy and the band held a fundraiser at Two Rivers on Wednesday, November 29, in which the brewery donated $1 for every beer sold on that day to the Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society, whose board Jeremy will soon be joining. Over $1000 was raised that evening!
Music Alive at the Ritz 2023
From April to October 2023, PAMPS provided exclusive VIP seating with tables and chairs under our tent for the “Music Alive” concert series and car shows at Ritz Barbecue. This seating was free for PAMPS members and $5 for non-members. Great food, great music, and great fun, which benefited Canine Partners for Life and MountainView Horse Rescue.
| April 23rd | Flirtin with the Mob | July 23rd | The SwingTime Dolls | |
| May 7th | Castaway Band | August 13th | Flirtin with the Mob | |
| May 21st | Large Flowerheads | Sept 10th | Girl Crüe (rained out) | |
| June 11th | Relics Vintage Rock | Sept 24th | Castaway Band (rained out) | |
| June 25th | Johnny’s Jukebox | Oct 8th | Johnny’s Jukebox | |
| July 9th | Castaway Band | Oct 22nd | Desire |
Buy a year-long membership in the Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society and get discount prices for all our events, including free VIP seating for all the Ritz Barbecue Car Show Concerts for the next year! New memberships are available by clicking here.
2023 Fall at the Fairgrounds Series
In 2023 we enjoyed live music and food trucks from 5:00 to 7:00 every Wednesday night from September 13 until October 18 at the Farmerama Stage at the Allentown Fairgrounds! This weekly series was free and open to the public. https://web.lehighvalleychamber.org/events.
PAMPS sponsored four bands at the 2023 Allentown Fair
The Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society was proud to sponsor, as a gift to the 2023 Great Allentown Fair, four local marching bands over four consecutive days, as part of our Music Alive series.
We are grateful to our other sponsors:
Banko Beverage · B. F. Brown & Company Asphalt Paving · Susan & Joe Clark · Meis Road Solutions & Towing · Service Electric · Signal · WilliamSigns · Yuengling
The MacKay Pipe Band of South Bethlehem, PA was originally founded in the early 1980s in Lansdowne, PA by piper Lee Lightle. The first Pipe Major, Ritch Lipsky, and first Drum Major, Tommy Moore, championed a unique military-style pipe band for civilians. Over 40 years later, MacKay continues to proudly serve as one of the oldest continuously operating military-style bands in eastern Pennsylvania. Under the direction of current Pipe Major Kent Wires and Drum Major Lee Evett, MacKay has performed up and down the East Coast including Washington, DC and Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Kingdom Warrior Band was founded on April 2022. The directors are Joselly Vidal-Toro and his wife Yasmin Cruz, who received support and guidance to establish the band from Norman Torres and Brenda Ithier, members of the Apostolic House of Worship and Restoration. Kingdom Warrior Band has taken two workshops given by Pastor Eddie Rojas and his wife Pastor Giselle, and from Pastor Jose Miguel Perez of “Guerreros de Fe” from Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Jansel Espinal is the captain of the Kingdom Warrior Band, which now has a total of 17 members. Its mission is to bring joy to its listeners, and to help the youth who are in need or facing personal challenges to find their purpose.
The Hobo Band, a popular fixture at Halloween parades in the Lehigh Valley region, has been making merry and mayhem for nearly a quarter century. Little is taken seriously by the 30 members, who range in age from 11 to senior citizens. The members come from all walks of life, and anyone who plays or wants to play an instrument is welcome to join, according to leader and ”grand poobah” Allan Trump. The band began as an offshoot of the Original Hobo Philharmonic Precision Marching Band formed by students at Dieruff High School in 1974 to raise money to buy drums. ”We have a great time,” says flutist Wendy Siegfried, who has played in the band since the seventh grade.
The Big Easy Easton Brass is a community band, open to all ages and skill levels, who bring a New Orleans tradition to the streets of the Lehigh Valley. Anyone can walk along, dance along, sing along, shake a tambourine, blow bubbles, or learn to play an instrument and jump in! Free to join, the band rehearses at the Easton Area Community Center.
Saying goodbye
Our former board president, Jeffrey J. “Uncle Jeffrey” Tapler, passed away on October 3, 2022 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Allentown. He was the husband of Sharon A. Fair-Tapler, with whom he shared nearly 35 years of marriage. Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late William F. and Marie S. (Diehl) Tapler. He was a member of Upper Milford Mennonite Church, Zionsville. Formerly, he was Chief of Police for L. Milford Twp. as well as working prior as a law enforcement officer for years with various local departments including Macungie, Emmaus, Salisbury Township, and Coopersburg. Also in Salisbury Township, he worked as an EMA Director. Jeffrey worked as a county radio dispatcher and owned Dispatch Answering Service. “Uncle Jeffrey” will always be remembered for his weekend polka music and Pennsylvania Dutch shows on the local cable TV station, cwtap.tv.
We were likewise deeply saddened when our executive director Carole Gorney Bryant passed away in June 2021 from MDS, a bone cancer pre-leukemia condition, at the Anderson Campus of St. Luke’s Hospital near Easton, PA. She is survived by her husband Michael Bryant, a step-daughter Deborah, and her brother Ken Gorney of Tempe, Arizona. Carole, a retired professor, created the public relations course and taught for 25 years at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. As a crisis communication expert, Carole wrote crisis manuals for Lockheed Martin and the EPA. Receiving two Fulbright Scholar awards, Carole taught journalism and public relations at a Shanghai, China university in 1991-92 and 1997-98. After retiring, Carole wrote a weekly column in addition to local theater reviews for the Bethlehem Press. Carole attended Trinity Church of Bethlehem and sang in the choir. As PAMPS executive director since 2019, Carole’s biggest goal and dream was for PAMPS events to be successful. Donations in memoriam may be given to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.
To view earlier events, click here.
Give Yourself & Someone You Know the Gift of Music: A Year-Long PAMPS MEMBERSHIP
A membership in Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society (PAMPS), is the gift that lasts all year. Learn More
Our Major Sponsors (2020-21)
Saturday, June 26, 2021:
“Music for Heroes” concert
Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society (PAMPS), in collaboration with the management of the recently reopened Ritz Barbecue in Allentown, presented a concert featuring polka king Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, popular songstress Kendal Conrad, and local favorites Steve Brosky and Steve Jones at the Maingate, 448 N 17thSt, Allentown PA on Saturday, June 26, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
For this show, PAMPS provided “Music for Heroes” table seating for military veterans’ groups and for members of volunteer medical organizations of Lehigh County that work in the Lehigh Valley protecting our people from COVID-19. Tickets for these heroes were distributed by our honorary co-chairs, Allentown Mayor Ray O’Connell and Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong. Please consider supporting this cause by donating at www.gofundme.com/f/music-for-heroes.
Jimmy Sturr (5:00-7:00) is an American polka musician, trumpeter, clarinetist, saxophonist and leader of Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra, the country’s most popular polka band. In addition to earning five gold records, Sturr and his orchestra have won 18 out of the 24 Grammy Awards given for Best Polka Album, are on the Top Ten List of the All-Time Grammy Awards, and have received more consecutive† Grammy nominations than any other artist. Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra are a favorite of the Pennsylvania polka community along with polka fans from all over the world. www.jimmysturr.com, www.cbsnews.com/news/king-of-polka
Thanks for your support of Music ALIVE in 2020!
Thanks to everyone who made “Music ALIVE” at the Allentown Fairgrounds a joyous and successful event on September 5! With performances by local favorites The BC Combo, James Supra Band with Sarah Ayers, and the Large Flowerheads, and Phil Forchelli’s City Entertainment Systems crew running sound, a great time was guaranteed! PAMPS board member Jim Spang was largely responsible for organizing the many aspects of the concert, and we were rewarded with great attendance. We’d also like to thank our host Mike Mittman and everyone at Service Electric Cable TV, Inc. for televising our event. Free masks and hand sanitizer were available. We hope to continue presenting concerts that the whole family can enjoy. (Most photos: Jane Geist Photography)
Saturday, Sept 5, 2020:
Music ALIVE at the Allentown Fairgrounds!
William Shakespeare said it best: “If music be the food of love, play on!” On the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society (PAMPS) will present “Music ALIVE at the Allentown Fairgrounds” featuring a day full of live musical entertainment.
The BC Combo is among the Lehigh Valley’s top performing groups, with a wealth of experience and passion for many genres of music. Bev Conklin has won numerous Lehigh Valley Music Awards for Best Female Vocalist, Best Blues Vocalist, and Best All-Around Performer, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Blues Musician’s Guild of the Lehigh Valley.
The Jimmy Supra / Sarah Ayers Band has repeatedly been voted Best Blues Rock Band by the LVMA, and features high-energy harmonica and guitar-driven blues rock. Jimmy has won Best Harmonica Player honors in a 19-year LVMA streak, and Sarah has won for Best All-Around Performer, Best Female Vocalist, Best Singer-Songwriter, and Best Album.
The Large Flowerheads bring to life the groovy musical sights and sounds of the ‘60s. Named the Best Entertaining Band at the Lehigh Valley Music Awards for an entire decade, the Flowerheads perform the music of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Sonny & Cher, the Mamas & the Papas, Jefferson Airplane, and a lot more.
Click on Buy tickets to reserve one or more tables for 4 or 6 at the shows via Eventbrite. Prices are $15 per seat for either the afternoon show or the twilight concert, or $25 per seat for an “all day pass” for both shows.
All pandemic guidelines will be followed. Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 6.
“Feast the Fair” over Labor Day Weekend 2020
The Great Allentown Fair is giving the community the opportunity to get your fair food fix over Labor Day Weekend!
The FEAST THE FAIR event will take place, Friday, September 4 through Labor Day Monday, September 7, 2020 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Favorite Fair food vendors will be on the Fairgrounds property outside the Agri~Plex facility serving up all the Fair food classics – to go!
To continue the Fair Preview Night tradition, each attendee is asked to bring a dry or canned good donation to place in the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley collection bin.
Admission is free. All attendees are asked to follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask.
For more information regarding FEAST THE FAIR including a food vendor list, visit the Fair’s website at www.allentownfair.com.
Monday, May 25, 2020:
Memorial Day streaming event on WFMZ.com
Click here to read the WFMZ.com online article.
To access the streaming Memorial Day observance, go to WFMZ.com on Monday, May 25, 2020, then click on the link for the event. See below for information about this event. Thank you for being part of this important community remembrance.
Dave Fry Chairs PAMPS Education Committee
Award-winning musician Dave Fry plans to work with PAMPS to create children’s programming as part of the Great Pennsylvania Music & Arts Celebration, and to establish a visiting music program for area schools.
Fry, who performs in schools and festivals as an adult and children’s musician, has been a Lehigh Valley Music Awards recipient for many years. At this year’s awards ceremony, he was named Outstanding Child Audience Music Performer of 2019, and also received the award for Folk Band/Soloist and College/Community Radio Personality. Fry plays traditional and contemporary folk music on acoustic guitar, mandolin and banjo. He entertains all ages, building community along the way.
Children’s music and performances will likely be part of the next Celebration on Family Music Sunday. The day will be dedicated to encouraging emerging young musicians and singers to find their place on the Main Stage, where they will showcase their talent before a live audience. As part of the day’s programming, professional children’s music performers also will be on stage to engage kids and adults alike in an entertaining and informative way.
“Bob Hope” USO Tribute Show at the 2019 Music & Arts Celebration
Bob Hope became famous for entertaining America’s troops during four wars from 1941 to 1991. Las Vegas- based Bob Hope impersonator Bill Johnson brings the comedian’s trademark rapid-fire wisecracking to life.
Friday, November 15, 2019:
Fundraiser with Alex Meixner
We’re proud to announce our Celebration event featuring Linny Award winning performer Alex Meixner
Put on your partying shoes and come with your friends to the Maingate Nightclub at the Allentown Fairgrounds on Friday, Nov. 15, for an evening of rousing music, good food, and conversations with Alex Meixner, winner of the ArtsQuest Foundation’s 2019 Linny Award for Performing Artist of the Year. The evening kicks off at 6:00 with The Main Street Cruisers, northeast Pennsylvania’s Oldies Rock & Roll Show Band, prior to Alex taking the stage.
Meixner, Allentown’s native son and Musikfest headliner, is famous for his versatile genre mashups of polka, pop music, funk, jazz, and who knows what else! He recently worked with Jack Black on the Netflix movie The Polka King, and his album Polka Freak Out was nominated for Best Polka Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards. Alex will, of course, play his signature instrument, the accordion. In between numbers, you’ll hear about some of the exciting new programming planned for the 2020 Great Pennsylvania Music and Arts Celebration on Memorial Day Weekend in May. The free-admission Celebration is presented every year by Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society (PAMPS), which was co-founded by Alex.
This event at the Maingate is a membership fundraiser for PAMPS. If you attend the event to congratulate Alex on his ArtsQuest Linny Award, your $25 price of admission will cover the entire cost of your inaugural membership in PAMPS that will remain active until December 31, 2020. Please see the Membership page in this website for more details.
Saturday May 25 to Monday, May 27, 2019:
The Great Pennsylvania Music & Arts Celebration
We were pleased to feature FREE admission, FREE parking, and family friendly fun at the historic Allentown Fairgrounds on Memorial Day Weekend 2019!
Washington, D.C., has its National Memorial Day Parade, Philadelphia marks the occasion with Penn’s Landing Waterfront Day, and in 2018, for the first time, northeast Pennsylvania observed the entire Memorial Day holiday weekend with The Great Pennsylvania Music & Arts Celebration, or PennMArt for short. Sponsored by Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society (PAMPS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the second-annual 2019 event was again held at the historic Allentown Fairgrounds on May 25, 26 and 27, to celebrate Pennsylvania’s music, culture and arts.
The Great Pennsylvania Music & Arts Celebration is unique in its support of veterans and veterans’ groups, and its programming each year to put “Memorial” back in Memorial Day by fostering remembrance of the men and women who have served and died in the U.S. military. We are also proud of the quality and variety of the festival’s free musical programming. The headliners and all other bands and performing groups selected each year have their roots in Pennsylvania, and reflect the state’s rich and diverse musical genres that cut across generations and nationalities.
The 2019 programming included rock & roll, polka, folk, bluegrass, Celtic and Latino music, as well as a very professional version of a Bob Hope USO tribute show as attribute to veterans from WWII to Vietnam. We also showcased young musicians at a Sunday afternoon Rock Youth program. The annual Artists Market featured works by some of the Pennsylvania’s finest artisans, including noted quilter Carole Dorr. Fifty different items of food were provided in a Food Court with six different tents serving Cajun, South Philly, Barbecue, seafood and fun foods like funnel cakes. Outdoor seating with umbrella tables, as well as indoor eating spaces, were provided.
There were lots of opportunities for the audience to get up and get in the swing. You could join the polka dancing under the outdoor tent, be part of the Sock Hop dance competition promoting “Socks for Veterans,” or just find your favorite band and get moving.
And we had a play area for the little ones!
Most of the festivities were inside the spacious Agri-Plex building at the Allentown Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds is the perfect venue, making the celebration wonderfully handicapped accessible, providing free admission and loads of close-by free parking, and non-stop indoor and outdoor tent programming on three stages where the public could be sheltered from whatever inclement weather nature had to offer (although we were blessed with fine weather this year!).
The Society enjoyed ushering in the summer of 2019 with its Celebration and would like to remind you about The Great Allentown Fair which closes the Lehigh Valley festival season at the Allentown Fairgrounds!