By Dominic Trabosci

The Bethlehem Area Public Library’s annual fundraising concert 11Fest is just around the corner! To prepare music fans for this exciting event, we’ve interviewed another one of the 11 performers, Arati Shah-Yukich, ahead of her performance!

Arati describes her performance as one consisting of various genres including jazz, blues, folk, ancient hymns, and classical Indian. Her music will incorporate her own vocals as well as a smattering of traditional Indian instrumentation. She’ll even be joined on stage by both a fellow singer and a dancer!

The goal of Arati’s performance is to remind audiences of what it means to be human in hopes that we can all one day live as one unified species. The dominant quality of her music is mindfulness and relaxation. What results is a highly unique and meditative listening experience regardless of if you’ve practiced any form of spirituality. At the end of her set, Arati will invite audience members to join her in guided relaxation and mindful breathing. 

Arati describes Classic Indian music as a branch of yoga, intending for it to be an enlightening form of sonic meditation. She’s given workshops in the past guiding audiences in meditation set to her own singing. She’s even invited audience members to create their own sounds.

Arati is an outspoken activist in the fight against climate change and social inequality. She’ll even incorporate these messages in her own music. Her extensive educational background and work regarding water pollution has given her the tools to discuss these persistent issues. For an even deeper dive into Arati’s background and education, she invites readers to visit her website.

Arati’s first music performance was when she was twenty years old at a music festival in India. At the festival, she was honored as a young, up and coming performer. Her activism, however, has always been deeply ingrained in her musical pursuits.

In addition to her climate activism, Arati is a big proponent of the arts and the library as a place of community and interconnectedness. She explained that the Bethlehem Area Public Library was a great place to take her kids to read and play. She’s also attended many lectures and events staged by the library. “The library has always been a constant part of my life,” says Arati. 

To witness Arati’s performance, be sure to attend 11Fest on November 11th at 5pm at our Main Library location (11 W. Church St.). She will be the very first performer, kicking things off at 5pm. The concert is “pay-what-you-can.”

By Dominic Trabosci

We are just about a week away from 11/11, which means we’re a week away from BAPL’s annual fundraising concert, 11Fest! To prepare music fans for this exciting event, we’ve decided to get to know one of the 11 performers, Jillian Dolan, in a little more detail!

What kind of music will you be performing at 11Fest?

I will be performing some original songs and some covers from different ranges of music. You will be hearing some 70s/80s covers and some modern-day songs! I like to explore all areas of music because they are all so special and fun to perform.

What are your musical influences/favorite artists?

My musical influences are mainly older artists. My favorite band is Fleetwood Mac but I also love The Rolling Stones, U2, Led Zeppelin, The Smiths, Eagles, R.E.M and many others. Some more modern artists that I appreciate would be Hozier, Taylor Swift and Harry Styles. 

What is it like going to an arts high school?

Going to an arts school is definitely a very different experience from going to a regular public school. I get to start a couple hours of my day only focusing on music. I have our music theory classes, music history, choirs and vocal tech classes for half the day and then all of my core classes for the rest of the day. It is added-on work, going to this school, but it is very worth it. There are different majors within my school so depending on a person’s major (which can vary from literary or visual art, dance, production, theatre and vocal) they will have different classes.

How does it feel to be participating in 11Fest this year?

I feel very excited to be participating in this performance. It will be a fun way to meet new people and see other people’s sets. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years, I like to think that my name will be out there as a musician. I would love for people to hear my original work since I write and produce my own music. If I could perform on a big stage with a magnificent show that makes people feel happy, my life would be made. I have always wanted people to connect with my music and find emotions that they possibly didn’t know they felt because music has always been able to do that for me. If I could do that for just one person, then I think my job as a musician will be complete. 

If you were a ghost who would be the first person you haunt?

If I was a ghost I would probably haunt someone that I was never able to meet in real life. Possibly a celebrity like Bono or Harry Styles. I would just want to see how they live their life and interact with people off camera. 

To witness Jillian’s performance, be sure to attend 11Fest on November 11th at 5pm at our Main Library location (11 W. Church St.). The concert is “pay-what-you-can.”

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The concert is arranged so that the volume increases from each performer to the next. It starts with a mellow set of poetry/classical guitar and gradually cranks it up to the ear-splitting noise punk of TILE as the eleventh act. So what’s with all the elevens?

“When we were trying to think up a name for our in-library recording studio earlier this year, our address of 11 West Church came to mind,” said BAPL Executive Director Josh Berk. “I’m a big fan of the movie This is Spinal Tap and the famous amp that ‘goes to eleven.'” The 1984 comedy about a hard-luck heavy metal band has become a cult classic and guitarist Nigel Tufnel’s line about his extra-loud amp has become synonymous with rock excess, or really any time you want to turn anything up past normal boundaries.

And at first glance it might not seem “normal” for a library to have a recording studio that anyone in the community can use–to record a podcast, a demo, or an entire album–for free. But BAPL has always been about creatively serving its patrons, growing and changing with the times–and Bethlehem’s community is nothing if not musical! Studio 11 opened in February of this year, and was generously funded by Lehigh’s Lehigh University’s South Side Initiative and the Mellon Digital Humanities Initiative.

“So once we had Studio 11 and we wanted to have a fundraising concert to get some new equipment and soundproofing, I thought, why not have it on November 11?” Berk said. From there the idea kept growing. Berk decided to have eleven bands, and why not have each one get a little louder? He plans to hang a big volume knob (made out of cardboard) that can be cranked up after each set, all the way up to eleven. The early ones are scheduled for when the library is still open, with the ear-splitting saved for after hours. 

Berk reached out to Lehigh Valley Girls Rock to help book the bands and was happy to note that a young newly formed band of LVGR teens was available to make their debut at the festival (No Nukes). Other performers include: Cleveland and Michael Wall, C’est La Vie, Crepehanger, Becca Maye, William H. Travis, Fictional Name, VoirVoir, and Catatonic Suns.

“It actually wasn’t hard to find eleven bands to donate their time and talent to help the library,” Berk said. “The hard part was capping it at eleven! There are so many fantastic bands in Bethlehem and so many generous people who want to see the studio thrive.”

Tickets to the show are, of course, $11 (suggested donation).

WHAT: 11FEST, 11 performers to benefit Studio 11 at BAPL

WHEN: November 11, 5:30-

WHERE: Bethlehem Area Public Library, 11 W. Church St.

TICKETS: $11 suggested donation  

Local rockstars Project 3² brought their rockin’ show to BAPL on July 17. They played pop songs and rock songs and there were bagpipes and harmonies and did we mention that they’re kids?! They are such an awesome group of young people. They truly rock! All the kids in attendance absolutely loved seeing them perform. See for yourself!

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Attendees will get to explore music from around the world while also participating in a very interactive presentation. The presentation will include singing and dancing to inspiring music, which is sure to be fun for all.

“I am very excited that Daria will be performing at the library. She’s a one-of-a-kind performer who will be bringing the joy of music from all over the world to Bethlehem,” said Josh Berk, Executive Director of BAPL.

This special world music performance by Daria will run from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM on June 16 at the Main Branch of the Bethlehem Area Public Library. The event is free and registration is not required. There will be limited parking available in the garage located beneath the library/City Hall complex. This event is for the entire family, so be sure to bring them and your friends!

#librariesrock

The entire ensemble played together, trading art and inspiring the next artist to push on and further the improvisation.  What we ended up with was a unique artistic experience that can not be duplicated.  Listen, download here, and keep your eye out for further Experimentos!!

In the early 1980’s, Calvin Johnson formed influential indie pop band Beat Happening and started legendary Olympia, WA-based K Records whose roster would go on to include artists like Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, and The Microphones. Later he founded Dub Narcotic Studio, where artists like Beck, Modest Mouse, Mirah, Phil Elverum, and others recorded albums. The name of Johnson’s latest band, Selector Dub Narcotic, is a take on his studio’s name and finds Johnson producing energetic, dance-friendly songs with his trademark baritone voice and tongue-in-cheek songwriting. Johnson released Selector Dub Narcotic’s debut album last year entitled “This Party Is Just Getting Started.”

Lehigh Valley band VoirVoir will be supporting with their first full-band performance in over a year. The indie rock band self-released their debut album, “There Are No Good Goodbyes” in 2014 with the album being picked up by Fleeting Youth Records for a national release in 2015. VoirVoir opened for The Flaming Lips at Musikfest 2016 and performed a stripped-down set as a duo at this year’s Musikfest. Joining VoirVoir as support will be psych pop band Secret Cities who are performing in the Lehigh Valley for the first time.

“Library After Hours II” will be an all-ages show with complimentary beer and wine for 21+.  Tickets are $10; $8 with a valid student ID. Tickets will be available at the door the night of the show or through an online pre-sale through Tape Swap Radio. Proceeds from “Library After Hours II” will support the bands and the Bethlehem Area Public Library. This will be the second K Records artist that Tape Swap Radio has brought to the Bethlehem Area Public Library, after welcoming popular indie folk artist Mirah for the debut “Library After Hours” concert in February.

Tape Swap Radio is an original live music series which, in addition to hosting its concert series, produces a syndicated radio program that airs on Lehigh Valley NPR station WDIY 88.1 FM and internet station WLVU. Since 2015, Tape Swap Radio’s concert series has raised $7,673 for Lehigh Valley organizations and community programs like The Center for Animal Health & Wellness in Easton, The Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, and the Homebase Skateshop After-School Skate Program in Bethlehem.

– Quick Info –

Tape Swap Radio Presents: Library After Hours II

Music: Selector Dub Narcotic (Calvin Johnson), Secret Cities, VoirVoir
Where: Bethlehem Area Public Library – 11 W Church St, Bethlehem, PA 18018
When: Tuesday, October 3, 2017 | 8 – 11 PM
Admission: $10 tickets, $8 with current student ID. All ages.
Proceeds Given To: Bands performing and the Bethlehem Area Public Library
Tickets:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tape-swap-radio-presents-library-after-hours-ii-tickets-37663607865
More Info: https://shop.krecs.com/pages/selector-dub-narcotic