BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Musikfest’s main stage will present a second night of hip-hop music — this one decidedly more pop — when the massive downtown and South Side Bethlehem festival has its 41st year this August, it was announced Monday.
Black Eyed Peas, best known for their hits "Let's Get It Started," "Where is the Love" and "I Got a Feeling," will headline the festival’s main Steel Stage on Aug. 8, the festival announced.
Tickets, at $39 to $109 will go on sale to ArtsQuest members at 10 a.m. Tuesday and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, March 8. 23 at the ArtsQuest Center box office at 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, at www.musikfest.org and 610-332-3378.
Musikfest previously announced a headline hip-hop act for this year with rapper Ludacris, best known for the hits "Stand Up" (featuring Shawnna)," and "Money Maker (featuring Pharrell)," and "Act a Fool." He will perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 10.
Musikfest this year will run Aug. 2-11 with an Aug. 1 preview night.
Over the past 25 years, Black Eyed Peas, now a trio with will.i.am, Apl.de.Ap and Taboo — have been awarded six Grammy Awards.
Former female singer Fergie is no longer with the group.
Its most recent album is 2020’s "Translation," featuring collaborations with J Balvin, Ozuna, Maluma, Shakira, Nicky Jam and Tyga. The album scored eight nominations at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, including “Crossover Artist of the Year” and “Hot Latin Song of the Year” for “RITMO.”
Hip hop emerging Musikfest genre
This will be the third year in a row that Musikfest has offered at least two hip-hop or R&B acts.
Last summer, it offered rapper G-Eazy and R&B favorites Keith Sweat and Monica, continuing a trend that in 2022 brought rapper Ja Rule and Ashanti and R&B group Boyz II Men to the festival.
But hip-hop and R&B are still a relatively new focus for Musikfest.
Before 2022, it had offered a total of just two rap acts in the previous 15 years.
In the past 23 Musikfests since 2000 (the 2020 festival was largely virtual, with no national headliners), there have been more than 230 headline acts, and only 19 those could be considered R&B.
