Recorded at City Hall’s Payrow Plaza, it’s the Mayor’s Musikfest Podcast 2025, hosted by Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds and Lehigh Valley with Love Media’s George Wacker.
This year’s episode highlights the people powering Musikfest behind the scenes and on stage:
Kassie Hilgert, President and CEO of ArtsQuest, shares what’s new and what keeps the festival going after 42 years
Patrick Brogan, Chief Programming Officer of ArtsQuest, talks booking hundreds of bands and building a “city within a city”
Dave Fry, local music icon who’s performed at every single Musikfest since 1984, joins the conversation and performs live
Laura Waits and Cathy Campanaro of Sync Recovery, along with Northampton County Council member Lori Vargo-Heffner, talk about the launch of SoberPlatz, a new alcohol-free space at the festival
Meet the Mayor, a long-time local band, reflects on playing Musikfest for the past 8 years
Bren closes out the episode with thoughts on artistry, identity, and what it means to perform at Musikfest
Listen for honest conversations, local stories, and a look at how community and music come together every summer in Bethlehem.
Musikfest starts Friday, August 1. Thank you to everyone who helps make Bethlehem such a special place to live, visit, and celebrate. Have a great Fest.
The SouthSide Film Festival is turning 21 — and it’s still one of the Lehigh Valley’s most vibrant, volunteer-driven cultural events.
In this episode, George Wacker sits down with Festival Director Jen Cotto and longtime jury member Ben Bertalan to talk about the grassroots origins of the fest, how they choose which films to feature (“Would you pay $10 to see it?”), and what makes this year’s event more international and community-driven than ever.
We get into past favorites like Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, this year’s picks like 25 Cats from Qatar and 40 Watts from Nowhere, and how the SouthSide Film Festival remains a celebration of weird, wonderful cinema — built by and for the Lehigh Valley.
🎥 Festival Dates: June 10–14, 2025 (with a showing of Rooted on the 15th!) 📍 Locations: Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Touchstone Theatre, PBS39, and more 🎟️ Info & Tickets: ssff.org
🎧 SouthSide Film Festival Turns 21 and Stays Purely Indie
The SouthSide Film Festival returns June 10 through 14 in South Bethlehem. In this episode of Lehigh Valley with Love, host George Wacker talks with Festival Director Jen Cotto and longtime jury member Ben Bertalan about what makes this grassroots, international film event so unique.
It began as a casual idea between friends at a coffee shop. Two decades later, it has become a fully independent, volunteer-powered celebration of independent film with global reach and deep local roots.
“We are an international film festival. We have films from Qatar and Cyprus this year. Ireland. Almost every state in the United States.” — Jen Cotto
What Makes a SouthSide Film?
Each year, the jury screens hundreds of submissions. Films come through FilmFreeway, and the process begins in the fall.
“We start meeting in September through April. We sit and we watch these films and we say, would we suggest people spend $10 to see this?” — Jen Cotto
That simple question shapes every selection. Jury members consider story, plot, acting, technical quality, and whether the film offers something worth an audience’s time and money.
A Festival Built on Volunteer Power
SouthSide Film Festival has no corporate sponsors or large institutional backers. It operates on community energy and independence.
“We are not affiliated with any other nonprofit in the area. Everybody thinks we’re part of ArtsQuest. We are not. We don’t get any money from them.” — Jen Cotto
“We are such a best-kept secret in the Valley. If we were to get a bigger audience, I’m not expecting us to get Musikfest numbers. But we would be comfortable with two or three times the audience we have.” — Jen Cotto
This Festival Is About Connection
More than just screenings, SouthSide offers Q&A sessions with filmmakers and real audience interaction. There are no competitive prizes or red carpet ceremonies. Instead, there is conversation.
“We don’t really give prizes. We give an audience award, where people write in their favorite feature and short film. That’s it. We don’t offer a monetary prize.” — Jen Cotto
What to Watch in 2025
🎥 25 Cats from Qatar A documentary about an organization that rescues stray cats and brings them to the U.S.
“That one’s showing Wednesday night. The filmmaker is going to be there. It’s a great film.” — Jen Cotto
🎥 40 Watts from Nowhere The story of a pirate radio station in 1990s San Francisco
“I had read her book in the early 2000s. I was amazed. There’s a documentary on it. Now I want to see it.” — Ben Bertalan
Frank Banko Alehouse Cinema (Friday late-night screening)
Festival HQ: Deja Brew Coffeehouse (tickets, info, programs)
Want to Get Involved?
SouthSide is always looking for new volunteers and future jury members. The best way to join is to stop by Deja Brew, message on Instagram or Facebook, or visit the website.
“We are always on the lookout for people who want to help. Board members, volunteers. Some nights on the jury can get unruly, but we’re always open to more people.” — Jen Cotto
🎤 In this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, host George Wacker sits down with comedian, writer, and performer Kathleen Aldrich, whose brand-new one-woman show Tumor Baby premieres April 12 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.
We talk about how Kathleen got her start in the Lehigh Valley comedy scene over a decade ago, what it was like turning a real-life medical emergency into a heartfelt (and hilarious) show, and how Tumor Baby blends storytelling, vulnerability, and humor into something totally unique. From sketch comedy with Pigeon City to personal pieces in Dear Diary, Kathleen’s journey is as inspiring as it is funny.
You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at how the show came together—from handwritten journal entries to Google Docs and years of performance experience—and why this isn’t stand-up, but something more intimate and impactful.
Kathleen Aldrich and the Comedy of Crisis in TUMOR BABY
“I’ve been talking about doing a one-woman show since 2014.”
For comedian and writer Kathleen Aldrich, Tumor Baby isn’t just a show—it’s a culmination of more than a decade of finding her voice in the Lehigh Valley comedy scene. What started as strange abdominal pressure and a reluctant trip to the ER turned into a 10-pound tumor and, eventually, the foundation for a deeply personal, unexpectedly hilarious one-woman show.
From Improvised Bits to Intimate Storytelling
Kathleen’s journey began in 2012 with improv classes at ArtsQuest, where she found her creative tribe and a passion for performance. Over the years, she honed her craft with local favorites like Dear Diary, Pigeon City Sketch, and Improvised Stand Up. Her work is rooted in real life—often uncomfortable, always honest—and Tumor Baby is no exception.
“It’s not stand-up,” she explains. “I’m a storyteller.”
Kathleen weaves her cancer diagnosis into a broader narrative—childhood memories, messy relationships, weird blog awards, and moments that are just too good not to share. It’s comedy that doesn’t flinch. And it’s all been years in the making.
The Writing Process (and a Lot of Google Docs)
So how do you write something like Tumor Baby? According to Kathleen, it all starts with pen and paper. She breaks down memories into moments, finds the funny in the pain, and then builds the show line by line.
“I write down the significant moment first,” she says. “Then I ask—how do I make this funny?”
With guidance and mentorship from fellow comic Alia Brown, Kathleen transformed those raw stories into a full-length show. It’s not just about a tumor—it’s about life, survival, and making people laugh in the face of the absurd.
A Decade of Comedy and One Big Stage
One of Kathleen’s proudest moments? A sketch she wrote for Pigeon City called Sex in Senior Living—a drag parody imagining the Sex and the City crew as Golden Girls. “The crowd just loved it,” she says. “That moment… it was electric.”
Now, with Tumor Baby, Kathleen steps into the spotlight solo. It’s vulnerable, funny, and full of heart—and it all happens live this weekend.
🎟️ Don’t Miss It Catch Tumor Baby on Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 PM 📍 Bethlehem Visitor Center at SteelStacks 🎟️ Tickets & info: steelstacks.org
We talk with Irish banjo legend and member of We Banjo 3, Enda Scahill. Scahill is a four-time All-Ireland Champion! We talk about his previous experiences in Bethlehem, all about the banjo, and getting back out on the road.
Scahill is the founder of the band We Banjo 3 whose members include Martin Howley, David Howley and his brother Fergal Scahill. Earle Hitchner, music writer for The Wall Street Journal, describes We Banjo 3’s playing as a “freshness and finesse bordering on the magical” and LiveIreland proclaiming them “the hottest group in Irish music.”
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Awareness Organizations
backline – Mental Health and Wellness Resources for the Music Industry https://backline.care/Mental Health America https://mhanational.org/pieta – Ending Suicide and Beginning Hope in Ireland https://www.pieta.ie/
Watch the video version
Special thank you to Carver Commodore, argonaut&wasp and Blair Crimmins for allowing us to use selections of their songs for our opening, transitions and closing music. Please check out their music and give them a follow on Spotify and social media.
“As a nonprofit dedicated to providing access to the arts, we are always looking for ways to remove barriers to experiencing our programming,” Jon Lunger, ArtsQuest Senior Director of Marketing said. “The new year is a perfect time to start this new partnership with a well-known name in the Lehigh Valley.”
The Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas is a two-screen independent, foreign and arthouse cinema located in the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. The two cinemas (red and blue) accommodate 100 and 200 guests, respectively. These $6 Wednesdays, presented by Lehigh Valley with Love Media, will begin on Jan. 5, 2022, and continue through at least the end of the month. The content driven media company, known for its popular Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast and blog, will help cover costs at the box office.
“We are huge fans of what ArtsQuest provides to the Lehigh Valley,” George Wacker, Owner/Founder of Lehigh Valley with Love Media said. “We attend and cover everything from Musikfest, to music and comedy shows. The Lehigh Valley is our home, and this is a great opportunity to play a role in the region’s thriving arts scene. We hope everyone takes time to return to the theaters and see everything there is to offer at the SteelStacks.”
Throughout the year, the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas plays a variety of new and classic films. ArtsQuest also presents a variety a special screenings and events including the LGBTQ+ Film Series and Cinema Significa… The series Black Film: Then and Now will premiere in February. Visit steelstacks.org/film for more information.
ArtsQuest will continue to follow the latest CDC, state and local health and safety guidelines. Visit artsquest.org/safety for the latest updates.
In this week’s episode, we are talking with Nick Kasander of Bethlehem Township. We talk all about the fun things at Musikfest, what it’s like to work at Artsquest, and talk about how the Freddy Awards have impacted Nick’s life.
A student at Temple University, Nick Kasander majors in Psychology and Film and has recently created a short film called “In His Skin”, which is available on his YouTube channel (and below).
Nick talks about his volunteer work with ArtsQuest and what he loves about living in the Lehigh Valley.
Take it from a Local, a Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, is hosted by Allison Pittenger, a 20-year-old college junior.
“A Bethlehem native, I grew up going to Musikfest every summer, seeing shows at the State Theatre, and experiencing all that the Lehigh Valley has to offer. I’m a current student at East Stroudsburg University studying Video & Television production. I love theme parks, musical theatre, traveling, and of course creating content for people to enjoy. I began as an intern with Lehigh Valley with Love in early 2020 and have continued to work with them on various projects, and now this podcast! The goal of Take It From a Local is to hear from Lehigh Valley residents of past and present and to get their views and opinions on the many things to experience in the area. You can find me and follow my journey through life over on my Instagram @alli.pitt. I hope you enjoy the podcast!”
We’re back! Over the course of the past two weeks, we’ve put out more than forty video podcast episodes on our Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter feeds.
We’ve been fortunate to talk to local business leaders, non-profit contributors, and awesome community members.
We took three of those and put them into this first of what may be a few COVID19 discussion podcasts.
We talk to Billy’s Diner owners Billy and Yanna about the tough business decisions they are facing and what other small businesses can do to protect themselves.
We talk to Tim and Betsy, two local teachers who are home with their kids, including their college-aged daughter.
Lehigh Valley with Love Media took to the skies to help out with an interesting social media campaign held throughout Bethlehem in November called #MysteryLights.
Just in time for Musikfest 2019, we welcome ArtsQuest Programming Director, Ryan Hill, to the Podcast.
Ryan tells us a little bit about his history in comedy, advice for those starting out, and gets us ready for a ton of comedy at the ‘Fest!
Be sure to check out Lehigh Valley with Love ComedyPlatz AND all of ArtsQuest comedy programming before, during, and after Musikfest!
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This Podcast is brought to you by Walter Investment Partners, 81 Highland Avenue. Suite 100. Bethlehem, PA 18017. Call them at 610.865.9550 or Toll Free 800.685.2160.
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ArtsQuest Marketing Director, improver, and podcaster (among other things), Jon Lunger, joins us for a spirited episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast where we mostly talk about pizza.
Have you ever wondered how ArtsQuest books all of their free stage acts for Musikfest? Wonder no more! On this episode, we have ArtsQuest Talent Buyer, Helen Smith. She gives us the ins and outs of Musikfest booking and even gives a few tips for your band.
