On this episode, Ben interviews all five members of Dear Misty.

After decades of genre-spanning songcraft, Eric Kuntz takes up a palette of atmospheric dream pop and shoegaze, bringing to it his characteristic focus on structure, melody, and lyricism. To expand the ideas and bring them to life, he assembled a band of brothers with childhood friend Chris Dean on lead guitar, longtime bandmate Wes Checkeye on drums, and friends Nate Shorb on bass and Doug Liedig on synthesizers. Their debut collection of songs wrestles with the tension between nostalgia and childhood trauma, and owning one’s place in the present moments of adulthood.

You can keep up with the band on Instagram, Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube.

Dear Misty's self-titled debut album will be released everywhere on May 1, 2026.

The album release show will be at 7PM on Saturday, May 2, at National Sokols (located at 613 Hillside Ave, Bethlehem, PA 18015). They will be joined that night by Joy Overdrive and Felt Rite. Admission to the show is $10, and it is open to all ages. Copies of the album on CD and Vinyl will be available for purchase at the show, along with bags of a specialty coffee blend, and tee shirts! For more information about the show, check out this post!

Welcome to Lehigh Valley Arts Podcast SEASON 5!

Kicking off this season, Ben, Elisabeth, and Elise briefly catch up about what they have been up to, some of their favorite most recent arts events, and chat a little about what to expect for this season. Then we transition into our first interview with the incredible Dylan Collazo, which was recorded live at Inkwell in Allentown.

Dylan Collazo, born in Allentown, is a self-taught contemporary artist painting visual narratives that delve into the human psyche using relevant cultural and historical references, and symbolism in his style of portraiture. He uses his art to tie the human experience to the individual experience and vice versa, using his own complex journey as the anchor and foundation for the images, scenery, and symbolism found in the work.

You can keep with with Dylan by following him on Instagram at @the.collazo or by checking out his website.

Currently, Dylan's solo exhibition "When Eye Faced Myself, I Drew Blood" is on display at Inkwell, located at 125 Hamilton St Storefront, Allentown, PA 18101. He also has work on display at SNKR BOX in Easton, Jones on 9th in Allentown, and Lehigh University Art Galleries in Bethlehem.

Interested in learning what arts events are going on in the valley? Keep an eye on the Lehigh Valley Arts Podcast Instagram, where we  frequently share details of local events on our story! Additionally, you can follow LV Artist Meetup and Connected by Craft to keep up with ongoing artist meetups. Interested in the LV music scene? Pick up a copy of The Bethl'mite zine at the Compact Disc Center, Lit Coffee Roastery & Bakes, or The Ice House!

In this unique episode, Ben explores the world of The Fellowship of Love with William H. Travis. The main interview portion of this episode was recorded at Elmwood Park in Bethlehem, and the live-music recording as well as supplemental interviews with friends and collaborators were recorded on July 27, 2025, live at the Compact Disc Center for the very first "Ruby" vinyl release show.

William H. Travis (AKA Travis Hobbie) is a singer/songwriter from the Lehigh Valley. Travis is a local singer/songwriter who has performed  in and around the Lehigh Valley, in both solo shows and in groups. Most recently, he has been performing alongside Alex Luquet, Rebecca Nunes, John Morgan Kimock, and Justin Mazer. Currently, he is in the process of rolling out his newest album, "Ruby" on vinyl.

You can find William H. Travis on Instagram, Facebook, Bandcamp, his website, YouTube, and (begrudgingly) on Spotify & Apple Music.

To purchase the Ruby Vinyl online, visit Square of Opposition Records' website! And keep up with Chris Reject/Square of Opposition Records/LVAC on Instagram!

The next "Ruby" vinyl release show will be at Apport Used Books in Emmaus on Saturday, September 13, at 7pm. William H. Travis will be joined by Chelsea Smarr and Super Infinity! There is a suggested donation of $10 for those attending the concert. Additionally, there will be a limited edition version of "Ruby" along with posters and art by Miki Tamura.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to help make this episode a reality! There are so many people who lended their thoughts, wonderful voices, and ideas on how to make this episode what it is. Some of those individuals include: @_wyattpaul_, @mozzle_liam, @_kellyeah, @leahmccann45, @veggie_benji, @mamphibian, @johngalm, @jberkjj, @dearmisty, @lavalampbebop, @pantaloop and so many more!

And thank you to Colin Hart for helping to capture, edit, and mix the live-music recording at the Compact Disc Center! This episode truly came to life through the weaving of the live show with the interviews, and it couldn't have been done without him!

Lastly, shoutout to Nathan Allebach, host of the show "What's Really Good," who interviewed William H. Travis and provided boundless information to build this interview and episode off of! You can listed to that episode here if you would like to learn more!

SAVE THE DATE: Celebrate with us at Light Up LUAG on Friday, September 19!"

100 Years of Lehigh University Art Galleries
From the art and engineering of the first Lenape inhabitants, through the upheavals of the steel and railroad industries, to the hi-tech manufacturing of today, makers and innovators of all kinds have found a home in the Lehigh Valley.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this maker mindset found its way into the DNA of Lehigh University, shaping both artists and engineers. Lehigh University’s founder, Asa Packer, was a creative entrepreneur: a carpenter and boat-builder who believed in a well-rounded education. Built on this creative spirit, LUAG has championed the power of art since 1926 – the year of the first known art exhibition on campus.

A century later, the museum provides art experiences for all, offering dynamic programming and meaningful art education to learners of all ages. Exhibitions in our galleries represent artworks from both globally-recognized institutions and from LUAG’s own collection of more than 20,000 works of art.

Here and Now: 100 Years of LUAG, 100 Local Artists
In honor of this milestone, LUAG is thrilled to present Here and Now: 100 Years of LUAG, 100 Local Artists – a juried exhibition of 100 artists reflecting the wide range of artistic practices thriving in our local community today.

From September 2, 2025 through May 22, 2026, the 100 selected works will transform our galleries, providing a dynamic catalyst for a series of receptions, lectures, community workshops, and special events – a true celebration of LUAG's past, present, and future. Follow along here for a growing list of centennial events.

The yearlong exhibition draws from a vibrant wellspring of creativity: nearly 300 area artists submitted approximately 800 artworks, serving as a testament to the region’s breadth of talent and the power of art to inspire. The exhibition will coincide with an initiative to make significant purchases of works by local artists for the university’s collection.

We were pleased to have Curlee Raven Holton, Founding Director and Master Printer at Raven Fine Art Editions, Easton, as the exhibition’s guest community juror. Previously, Curlee served as the founding director of The Experimental Printmaking Institute (EPI) at Lafayette College, where he was the David M. and Linda Roth Professor of Art. He recently retired as the director of the David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland.

For more information and a full list of the featured artists check out LUAG’s landing page for the exhibition: https://luag.lehigh.edu/exhibitions/here-and-now-100-years-luag-100-local-artists

On this episode, Elise sits down with Mark Jones and Nikki Weaver of The Wonton Soups!

The Wonton Soups are a quirky and lovable horn band from Bethlehem, PA. Blending experience from jazz, musical theater, marching band and self taught musicians, The Wonton Soups have a truly unique sound influenced by funk, ska, swing, and big band.

You can follow The Wonton Soups on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Youtube. To keep up with everything they're up to, including all their upcoming shows, check out their website! You can listen to their original music on Spotify and Apple Music.

The Wonton Soups have 2 upcoming shows during the weeks of Musikfest. The first is on Saturday, August 2nd at MusikFest's Festplatz Stage from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm. The second is on Saturday, August 9th at The Wooden Match's MatchPlatz stage from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm. The Wooden Match is located at 61 W Lehigh St, Bethlehem, PA 18018.

The song played at the opening of the episode is “Pink Pony Club (Live)” by The Wonton Soups. The song played at the end of the episode is "Escape Velocity", also by The Wonton Soups. "Escape Velocity" is from their album “Contact,” which is discussed in the episode.

The Lehigh Valley Arts Podcast team had the pleasure of hosting an in-person episode at the Icehouse Punk & DIY: Open House + Artist Meetup on Sunday, February 23, 2025, from 1-4 pm at the Ice House (56 River St. Bethlehem, PA). While there, we got to sit down with a few of the vendors, attendees, and artists!

This event was in partnership with Elise Schaffer and Brandon Dominguez, who have been hosting artists meetups all around the Lehigh Valley. All types of artists are encouraged to attend these events and enjoy hands-on art making and networking with other artists!

The list of guests on today's episode and where to find them will be updated throughout the day on the Lehigh Valley Arts Podcast post about this episode!

On this episode, Elise and podcast alum Robin Gow (@robin_gow_poet) sat down with Chloe Cole-Wilson from Basement Poetry (@basementpoetry) and special guest Khalid Taylor (@khalidantonio).

Basement Poetry is an organization dedicated to empowering diverse communities through the performing arts and poetry. They create opportunities for cultural participation and education in theatre, focusing on works that address contemporary issues while amplifying the voices and talents of women, LGBTQ, and BIPOC individuals/communities.

Chloe Cole-Wilson is a multi-disciplinary artist as well as Artistic Director of Basement Poetry. Khalid Taylor is a teacher, podcaster, musician, and Music Director for Basement Poetry's program "Joyful Voices."

You can follow Basement Poetry on Instagram (@basementpoetry) or Facebook. If you would like to get in contact with them, you can email them at [email protected].

This episode's opportunities are:

Joyful Voices is back! Join Basement Poetry for their second choir experience on February 22nd from 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM—come sing, connect, and enjoy some snacks on us at the Boys and Girls Club in Bethlehem.

Keep an eye out for our brand-new Inspire Cr8tivity Micro-Grants, designed to support artists and small businesses that uplift the arts community.

And coming April 2025… Basement Poetry presents DreamLAB: An Artist Escape—an overnight retreat designed to fuel your creativity. Scholarships will be available for artist to attend! More details coming soon! 

Follow Basement Poetry on social media for information about all of these upcoming opportunities.

This week, we interview Damian Appiotti.

Damian Appiotti is a multi faceted musician and educator who has been playing the guitar for about as long as he can remember. He grew up with parents who both have musical backgrounds, and has had a life surrounded by music, film, and art at large. The style that Damian often works in is referred to as Prog, which some have gone on to describe by saying it’s not so much a genre as is just people making music on the guitar and making unique and interesting compositions. His experiences to date have culminated in his first EP, Automoton. And since its release, he has been hard at work on his next project which is expected to release in the coming months. 

Over the next 2 months (as of the release of this episode), Damian be will giving free live online soloing masterclasses via zoom. They’ll be free to attend but the dates are tbd. Follow him on social media to stay up to date about this opportunity and when it is officially starting up. 

In addition, he recently started a Facebook group for people stuck in the intermediate stages of guitar playing. This group is free to join for anyone and he is posting multiple times a week with advice and exercises that should help push past plateaus in the learning process.

To stay up to date with all of these opportunities and more, make sure to give Damian a follow on Instagram @Damian_appoitti, as well as Facebook, and your favorite streaming platform.

Streaming Links:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/damianappiotti/automaton-ep/

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/damianappiotti/flannel-single/

Social Media Links:

https://www.instagram.com/damian_appiotti?igsh=MTNmeGt1ejh2ajF2eg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BK8QF9agZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://bsky.app/profile/damian-appiotti.bsky.social

Intermediate Guitarist Group:

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DEmUMUYMr/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In this episode, Ben sits down with Doug Boehm and Josh Berk of PLANET INFAMY.

PLANET INFAMY is an art rock collective of Lehigh Valley musicians playing innovative original compositions and irreverent improvised jams. The group features Josh Berk and Bryan Lazewski on guitar, Doug Boehm on bass, "Big Dom" Haberstumpf on drums,  Shaun Adickes on keyboards, and Al Johnson on percussion--with many talented instrumentalists joining in the jam from time to time. Berk says of their lyrics: "I like to write songs with equal parts heartbreak and humor." They draw inspiration from experimental rock forefathers like Frank Zappa, Grateful Dead, Ween, and Flaming Lips--each PI show is a one-of-a-kind experience!

Their debut EP, Forever, was just released (August 2024) and can be found on all the streaming services. 

• Planet Infamy on Apple Music
• Planet Infamy on Spotify
• Planet Infamy on Amazon Music
• Planet Infamy on YouTube

Instagram: @planetinfamy

Planet Infamy has 3 upcoming shows:

March 8, 2025 - Soft Machine Gallery with Bombs Eat Sharks

Allentown, PA 

March 14, 2025 - Godfrey Daniel’s 

Bethlehem, PA

May 3, 2025 - Eleven20 Art Studios

Easton, PA 

For more information about their upcoming shows, follow them on social media!

This episode, Ben and Elise talk with Derick Fiedler.

Growing up, Derick never saw his father without a camera in his hand. His Father’s passion for photography inspired him to become a photographer himself. After graduating from College, Derick made backpacking throughout the world a priority. He took with him his Fathers Olympus mirrorless camera with a 20mm lens that easily fit into his pack.

Derick traveled throughout the US and places such as Spain, the Sahara Desert, Thailand, Galapagos Islands and Peru, where he captured moments of beautiful places, people, and cultures. Behind each photograph is a story that means everything to Derick. 

After the pandemic, Derick switched gears and was able to combine his love of music and photography. He now photographs DIY live music shows and band portraits in the greater Philadelphia area.

You can follow Derick on instagram at @tumbleweed_photographer.

This episode's opportunity is for Derick's solo show opening at The Gallery at Steel Pixel Studios titled "What A Long Strange Trip It's Been." It features both the band and travel photography of Derick. The opening reception will be on December 14, from 6-9pm, and will feature acoustic performances by Kaile of Mars Counsel, Wyatt Davidick of Felt Rite, and Miles H of Food Truck. The Gallery at Steel Pixel Studios is located at 701 N New St, Bethlehem, PA 18018. For more information, check out the gallery's website or instagram.