Case Study: Musikfest 2024 | Synergetic Sound & Lighting

Synergetic Event Case Study

P R E F A C E

Musikfest is the nations largest free music festival which takes place at the historic steel stacks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Throughout the 10 days of the festival, guests can experience hundreds of live performances on multiple stages, award winning food vendors, local craft vendors, street performances, and live artist demonstrations. Founded by ArtsQuest, a community-based nonprofit organization, in 1984, all proceeds from the festival support ArtsQuest’s mission and programs. Celebrating it’s 41st year, Musikfest welcomed 1,020,000 guests from over 48 states.

Wind Creek Steel Stage

T H E C H A L L E N G E S

This year’s festival brought a host of new challenges, beginning with a revamped lighting rig that had to stay within budget while elevating the visual experience. For two weeks, crews managed some of the largest tours the festival has ever hosted, tackling grueling conditions that included extreme heat, extended workdays, and the need for quick adaptability. Nearly every day, hazardous weather posed additional risks, with high winds, torrential rain, and even tornado warnings demanding swift action to ensure safety and keep performances on track.

Sugar Ray

T H E S O L U T I O N

To keep the main stage fresh and visually appealing, we designed an entirely new lighting rig this year, working within the client’s budget constraints. The rig was crafted to deliver a unique look for each act, with extensive programming tailored to create distinct effects for each artist. Over two weeks, Musikfest hosted a steady stream of different tours, each requiring a full stage transformation and layout adjustment. Our crew meticulously reviewed and re-reviewed tour riders to ensure every detail was accurate. Additionally, they worked efficiently to set up and strike equipment between performances, ensuring each tour was ready to go without delay.

Old Dominion

Black Eyed Peas Perform in the Rain

Our biggest challenge by far was the weather, with nearly every day of the festival bringing hazardous conditions. Crews contended with extreme heat and long days, creating tough working conditions that required constant vigilance. To help techs stay hydrated and energized, our Project Manager, Mike, prepared festival care packages for everyone on the team.

But the heat was only part of the challenge. The remnants of Hurricane Debbie passed through the area, introducing high winds and heavy rain that posed further complications. Our team implemented a detailed weather action plan to prioritize the safety of crew members and artists alike. We also stocked ample tarps to protect essential equipment from water damage due to crosswinds. These proactive measures allowed us to safely resume shows with minimal delay whenever conditions stabilized.

Tarps Protect from Heavy Rain

T H E R E S U L T

Musikfest 2024 was a great success. Synergetic delivered high quality audio and lighting for 11 artists with no complaints. Even with the unpredictable weather, our gear stood the test and continued to perform to expectations. Musikfest set a new record, selling 54,786 tickets to its 11 headliner shows that performed on the Wind Creek Steel Stage, an almost 8% increase from the previous 2011 record. In addition, a second record was set with four shows being sold out: Greta Van Fleet, Shinedown, Old Dominion and Ludacris. The prior record-holding year for number of sold-out shows was in 2017 with Santana, Chicago, and Toby Keith.

Main Stage Performance