Pair of SteelStacks Concerts Showcase Female Talent

There are back-to-back musical opportunities in Bethlehem this weekend. Each performance is musically different from the other, so if you’re in the mood to sample some diverse musical stylings, you might want to check out one or both of these.

Lisa Loeb, who’s performing in Bethlehem on Friday, July 29, is an American singer/songwriter who was the first artist to have a number one single (“Stay”) in the United States without being signed to a contract. She began her musical career in 1994 and has since released five albums, including the Grammy-nominated “Firecracker” and a trip-down-memory-lane album titled “Camp Lisa.”  With her girl-next-door look and crisp, strong vocals, Loeb and her guitar make for a refreshing female performance.

You’ll like Lisa Loeb if you like:

• Alanis Morissette
• Sara Bareilles
• Goo Goo Dolls
• Sarah McLachlan
• Adele

If you’d rather be in Bethlehem on Saturday, July 30, and listening to some blast-from-the-past songs, head back to the Steel Stacks, where Wanda Jackson will be performing. A singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist, Jackson was successful in the 1950s and 1960s as a rockabilly artist, releasing her first album “Day Dreamin” in 1958. In 2009, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an Early Influence, and is often referred to as the “Queen of Rockabilly.”

You’ll like Wanda Jackson if you like:

• Elvis
• The Black Keys
• Patsy Kline
• Little Richard
• Buddy Holly

When: Friday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6) -- Lisa Loeb; Saturday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6) -- Wanda Jackson
Where:  The Musikfest Café at the ArtsQuest Center of Bethlehem SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA
Tickets:  $42 for Balcony, $32 for Cabaret, head to http://tix.artsquest.org/tickets/
Parking:  Your best bet is to park at the PNC Plaza (645 East First Street) and walk E. First Street to Founders Way.