Musikfest Lehigh Valley Source

Bethlehem Man Embraces Heritage at Musikfest

Lehigh Valley, News, Musikfest, Native Americans

Rob Davis, now known as Te-Han, performs one
of his fist ever dances at Musikfest, 2009.
Photo by Shawn Hessinger

By H. L. STONE
Of Lehigh Valley Source

Bethlehem, Pa.--When he walked down to Muskifest that day, Rob Davis never imagined he’d embarked upon his dream to learn about his Native American heritage…that he’d be performing his first traditional dances in full regalia and going on a national tour with Runa Pacha Wind Rhythms and Terrell Anquoe, six time world champion Native American dancer.

No, he just moseyed on down to check out the festival, one local among many.

“I expected to come to Musikfest like a regular person, but I never expected this”, said Te-Han, as he’s now known. Te-Han means ‘Texas’ in the Kiowa language.

Originally from Texas, now a resident of Bethlehem, Te-Han, a Kiowa/Apache, had found it difficult on the East coast to learn much about his culture.

“It made me feel very proud”, Te-Han said, when asked how he felt about dancing for the first time.

Terrell Anquoe, champion dancer and a Commanche/Kiowa, now Te-Han’s mentor, guides him through interpreting music in dance and shares knowledge about their common Native American background. Man Embraces Heritage at Musikfest (continued)

Job Skills Program Puts Students on Assignment at Muskifest

Photo taken at Musikfest by Traver Tilley, a student
in the Photo Documentary Project

Bethlehem, Pa.--A dozen area residents are working toward a brighter future as they learn the art of photography at Musikfest 2009 as part of a new, high-tech job skills program. The Musikfest Photo Documentary Project is made possible through a partnership between ArtsQuest, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board Inc. and PA CareerLink, and Olympus America Inc.

The Photo Documentary Project is a five-week job skills program that is teaching unemployed and economically disadvantaged adults ages 18-24 digital imaging, desktop publishing and photojournalism. The participants spent last week in ArtsQuest’s Olympus Digital Imaging Center at the Banana Factory learning how to operate Olympus E410 Digital SLR cameras and high-quality lenses donated by Olympus Imaging America Inc. This week, through Aug. 9, they are attending Musikfest, where they will discover how to cover the festival as if they were photojournalists on assignment.

"This project offers instruction to young adults in the high-tech skills that they may not have received in school," Job Skills Program Puts Students on Assignment at Muskifest (continued)

Cunningham And His Cabinet Rock The House at Musikfest

Lehigh County Commissioner Don Cunningham is one cool politician -- from the Stones to the Boss, Cunningham and his Cabinet rock the house. Here, the band plays Wednesday, Aug. 5 at Americaplatz, located at City Hall/Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem as part of Musikfest 2009. The 5:30 p.m. set was followed by an invite-only party at Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan's office.
Video by Diana Morse
Of Lehigh Valley Source

Musikfest Anyone?...Cool Beans!

Steve Pullara and His Cool Beans Band performs Saturday,
Aug. 1 at Banana Island stage, Musikfest, Bethlehem, Pa.
Photo by Shawn Hessinger

By H.L. Stone
Of Lehigh Valley Source

Bethlehem, Pa.--Steve Pullara and His Cool Beans Band, 14 year veterans of Musikfest, Bethlehem, Pa., wowed the kiddies at the Banana Island stage Saturday.

Accompanied by Stinky the Clown, Pullara and Cool Beans opened with a stirring rendition of ‘Howdy Do’ by Woody Guthrie and serenaded the audience with themed songs about summer, zoo animals, and more, influenced by styles of music from bluegrass and big band to boogie-woogie and rock-a-billy.

The Bucks County band has been together 13 ½ years in its current form, with Don McCormick on drums, Gary Baumeister on bass, and Don Fink as ‘Stinky’. “We outlasted the Beatles”, Pullara, quips laughingly.

As a young person Pullara was influenced by performers of the post Big Band era as well as the folk music era like Pete Seeger. Pullara remembers when he was growing up his aunt and uncle were always playing Louis Prima. “My taste is definitely 50’s influenced”, he said.

He began singing and writing songs for personal entertainment, but a friend told him they seemed like great kid’s songs. Pullara had often tried writing songs with more adult centered themes, Musikfest Anyone?...Cool Beans! (continued)

Something for Everyone...Yes, Honey, Even the Kids, at Musikfest

Thaddeus Rex and his friend, a dinosaur named Rock,
performed for young fans at the Banana Island Stage
August 1 as part of Bethelehem, PA's Musikfest.
Photo by Shawn A. Hessinger

By H.L. STONE
Of Lehigh Valley Source

Bethlehem, Pa.--The dinosaur took the stage at Banana Island.

Sporting a blue and black Mohawk and wearing a bright orange work shirt, Dickies style, Rock, an “evolved form of  T-Rex dinosaur”, played drums and danced to tunes from nationally known family music performer Thaddeus Rex, on first Saturday at Musikfest, Bethlehem, Pa.

Stepping down into the audience, Thaddeus, guitar in hand, plays, sings, talks to the kids, and engages even reserved parents who are hard-pressed not to respond to his compelling music, message of literacy, and the infectious fun of the moment.

Tomorrow’s leaders danced and twirled in front of the stage, mesmerized by their “Idol of the Imagination”, their “Emperor of Education”, Thaddeus Rex. And, for a moment I thought about getting out my lighter to flick “RESPECT”.

“I started doing concerts to get the kids excited about reading” said Thaddeus, Something for Everyone...Yes, Honey, Even the Kids, at Musikfest (continued)