There is a new arts venue in town called SteelStacks. It is located on the old Bethlehem Steel site just down the road from the Sands Casino. This is revitalization at its best. About a week before this concert, I had the opportunity to tour this brand new facility. Our tour guide was none other than the man who was able to realize a dream. He told a story about a trip he took to Europe and how Europeans embrace their industrial history. Here, we have a tendancy of abandoning it, moving far away from it or tearing it down. But on the old Bethlehem Steel site, they have decided to embrace it.
The main concert area is situated on the 3rd and 4th floor of the building. Behind the non-descript flat black stage is a glass curtain wall. Not far behind the glass wall sits four gigantic old steel blast furnaces. At night they are lit up with alternating colors ... you have a grey / brown steel with hues of blues and purples subtly lighting these furnaces. It is quite a site to see.
I could go on and on about the venue. It just opened a couple of weeks ago and some construction is still underway. In addition to the music venue inside, they have stand up comedy, two movie theaters for foreign, art and documentary films. There is an outside plaza with antique / flea markets every weekend, outdoor music performances, etc.
About the show ... the concert was amazing. I think this is the third time I saw Shawn Colvin perform. The two other times were with you sister. The concert set-up was quite different than what I am used to. Instead of sitting in rows, you are seated at tables complete with waitress service, food and drink! It was quite intimate and Shawn took song requests throughout the show. She rocks in a folk singing sort of way.
I would recommend checking it all out, I don't think you'll be dissapointed. A quick blurb from their website:
SteelStacks campus
On the site of the former Bethlehem Steel plant in Bethlehem, PA,
SteelStacks is a re-imagination of an industrial brownfield that uses
the arts to rebuild and revitalize a post- industrial, urban community.
Click here for more info including other ArtsQuest events and venues:
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