I feel like my husband and I never go anywhere without the kids. Not saying this as a complaint. Honestly, we just love to experience everything with them. Also, babysitters cost a fortune. ((true story!!)) We love events like Musikfest because they are so kid-friendly plus they let us do what we like to do: listen to great bands while eating delicious food.
However, this year we did something totally different -- We went to Musikfest ourselves -- no kids! It was amazing!
We headed over to the southside after work because we had tickets to Weezer! Seriously, Weezer tickets!!! (Cue the girly fan girl scream!!) I have always been a HUGE Weezer fan. The fact that they were coming to Bethlehem was a dream come true. I had to go! Hubs got out of work a little early and I dropped the kids off at my moms. I bought myself a cute romper, did my hair, and prepared for the best date night ever! (When I told my friends I didn't wear yoga pants I am pretty sure they almost fainted. I had to show photo proof. So this was a big deal. I took off my mom uniform for a night!!)
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Musikfest is divided into two different areas. The Northside is more of the free shows, tons of food and vendors, and most of the crowds. This time we were heading to the Southside to check out the Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza where the headliners play. Parking Lots were available, some amazing food trucks and tents, and two smaller stages. We also hung out with some radio stations and the ABC News' air conditioned tent too.
The show didn't start until 7 but we got there around 4. We used that time to get some delicious food and check out bands at the Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage and the Air Products Americaplatz at Levitt Pavillion SteelStacks. I am a huge fan of just sitting around and listening to bands play so I was in date night heaven. There's something about live music that gets my heart beating and my body moving.
Then at 6:00 we headed to the PNC Plaza to get a delicious drink and hang out until the gates opened at the Steel Stage. Once the gates opened we headed to our seats. We were pretty close to the stage but honestly, there isn't a bad seat in the house. We took our fried veggies and frozen amazingness in our Musikfest cups (MK TIP: Buy the cup! You pay the same price for drinks BUT you get a lot more than you would in a regular cup making the price worth it if you drink a lot. It was a hot August day so I was definitely thirsty! You can use it for soda, water, beer, or other alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages like slushies) then hung out until the openers.
The opening bands did not disappoint. In fact, immediately after their set I added Ceramic Animal to my playlist on my music app. Their three piece suits and 70s meets now rock was my kind of vibe. They played a great set then hung out with the crowd for the rest of the show. White Reaper followed the Ceramic Animal set and they definitely had a more 90s sound and look to them. I am still all about the 90s (which probably explains why Weezer was my concert of choice) so these openers were definitely in my top ten of amazing opening bands.
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The sun was going down the music was loud and I was having the time of my life. Weezer was performing! They started with the classics: Buddy Holly followed by My Name is Jonas then moved into their new cover songs of Africa and Happy Together which they meshed with some Green Day. If you follow my instagram you know that Africa is the song my daughter hates the most. We play it to annoy her and even my four-year-old gets in on it. I might have missed not having the kids there for a moment when that song came on but I quickly got over it. DATE NIGHT! Happy Together was played at my wedding so I belted that out pretty loud for my husband who looked at me like I had three-heads because he doesn't remember the tiny details of songs I had on the playlist at our wedding 12 years ago but I was sure to remind him (and give him a friendly arm punch for forgetting).
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Weezer rocked the entire night mixing their old with their new. They even did a Barbershop quartet when they came back out with us all screaming with excitement before they played the encore. It really was an epic show full of audience engagement, excitement, and nostalgia. This was a date night for the books even if we had to go home and go to bed right after the show because we both worked the next morning. (Adulthood ruins thing sometimes!) I am already excited for Musikfest next year. I can't wait to see who the headliners are and maybe experience another kid-free night of singing at the top of my lungs with my favorite guy next to me!
Until next year, Musikfest, thanks for the memories.
*I received complimentary tickets for an honest review of my experience. All opinions are my own.
