Tomorrow is the first day of August which means that Musikfest is upon us. I know I've talked about this before, but the other day when I was trying to grab a shortcut into SouthSide Bethlehem I found myself in the middle of the setup. The white tents are sitting down there silent and empty but the shell is all I needed to picture what's going to go down this weekend.

I'm also starting to see the yellow street signs directing "Musikfest Parking" all over. It's a sure indication that Bethlehem is ready for the annual takeover (not to mention a warning for those of us that live in the city to get ready for more traffic, less parking and all the other side-effects of the Fest.

This week's heat wave should get you in the mood for a cold mug of beer and some tent shade. If not, take a quick drive down to the site (before they block the streets off) and take a look at those tents. That might get you in the mood.

- Judianne

Some may already be tired of hearing about it but you can't ignore the fact that Musikfest is only one week away.

Let's hope these thunderstorms let up before then so we don't have a repeat of the Steve Miller Band walk-off  - or worse, soggy funnel cake.

As I investigate the list of music scheduled for this year, I am finding more and more really cool bands  and getting more and more excited for things to get started. The winner of the best band name this year has got to be Gandalf Murphy and The Slambovian Circus of Dreams. And they sound good, too.

Other bands I'm just discovering and getting pumped to see include: Dakini, Philadelphia Funk Authority, Particle Zoo, The Holy Underground, Mystic Rebel, Christine Havrilla, Jalapeno Brothers, Brother, PBM and Pipeline. Look them up... or wait for them to show up in our daily Fest maps. Either way, don't do the same old music this year - try something new. I am.

- Judianne

The prospect of Musikfest starting next weekend is stressing me out. All I can think about it all the hours in the hot sun that I will be spending, all the money I will be spending on beers and all the fat cells I will be gathering from that fair food.

Sure, it'll be fun - it always is - but I just wish it would come and go already. The build-up in killing me. It's all I can think about, mostly because it dominates my work for the next few weeks. This year I have a little more help and a better idea of what's coming so I guess it should be easier, but it's almost worse because I've lost that explorative excitment that I had last year (my first year).

To top it all off, now we are having technical glitches and I'm having blood loss. What a mess. When can I start drinking my beer in the street? That will cure everything.

- Judianne

But I'm not really looking forward to the Fest this year. There aren't any main stage acts I'm really itching to see (ok, so I DO want to see Styx, but I could care less about anyone else and a Layne Staley-less Alice In Chains isn't appealing to me).  I'm sure it's going to be death-inducing hot, and if it's not it'll be pouring the whole time.  Yeah, it's an opportunity to wander around in public with a beer in my hand, but I just don't feel like that's a big draw for me this year.

Is it because I'm Fested out? Maybe.  I did spend an inordinate amount of time there last year for coverage.  I've also been around the fest yearly since I first got in the area as a freshman at Lehigh.  So I guess with no real big acts to draw my attention or anything terribly different about this year, I'm feeling a sense of "been there, done that, could care less."

I know I'll enjoy it when it's all going around, and you can count on us to provide the absolute best coverage of the Festival in the Valley, of course, but my pre-Fest excitement is just nonexistent.  The A-Town fair, on the other hand, has me pretty pumped (as you might be able to tell in the myriad of posts I've made about it).

Is anyone else feeling this sense of "meh" over Musikfest?  I really hope I'm not alone...

    -Tucker

Musikfest last year was a blur. I did so much over those 10 days that I barely remember having time to breathe. I do remember that breathing was difficult because it was so damn hot but that was expected, I suppose. The thing is, last year was my first Musikfest experience. I moved here in 2004 just after the Fest-ivities ended.

At any rate, it was a lot of fun and now having the experience of it all, I have some serious expectations for this year - and a few memories from last year.

LAST YEAR'S HIGHLIGHTS
* I totally blocked out the whole Clay Aiken appearance and even had a drawn-out argument at work about how he wasn't there last year. A quick look through our photos proved me totally wrong - he was here. I guess I just blocked that out with all the other unpleasant things that I've experienced and heard about.Thank goodness I didn't have to see him perform.

* George Clinton & The P-Funk concert was awesome. There were people in their pimped-out best dancing all over the place. The band went on and on and on until Musikfest actually turned off the lights and cut their mics.

* Steve Miller Band gave half a show when the rain started to pour. Once the lightening started the show was called off and we were left soaking wet with mud up to our ankles wondering if there would be refunds - there weren't.

* Cast In Bronze: I know that creepy guy in black with the bells is there every year but he had me mystified. I think I watched his show like six times over the 10 days.

* Huge margaritas... Tortilla Flat was filling up the Fest mugs with margs on the rocks. I don't recall how much it was exactly but it was totally worth it.

* Stars Of Bethlehem band competition was long but very cool. The only sad part was when they announced the winner while The Insidious Rays was still breaking down their stuff on the stage. The fans booed and it was totally anticlimactic. They changed the contest this year to solve that problem.

* Funnel Cake.... mmmmmmmmm.

THIS YEAR'S HIT LIST
* Regional Band Showcase... the updated 'Stars' contest is split into two day this year, the first and second Saturday. There are eight finalists and they're all pretty worthy. Check them out.

* Soul Food Sunday - don't know what that's all about but it sounds deliciously fattening.

* Hip Hop Day at Plaza Tropical. That's not the official name, I'm sure, but there is a lineup of DJs and hip-hop artists leading up to the Ne-Yo/LL Cool J concert.

* The Machine, because I really love Pink Floyd and these guys are acclaimed as being one of the best tribute bands.

* Melissa Etheridge, only because I get to do the VIP tent that night courtesy of a friend's cousin (oh, and I'm sure her music will be great too).

* Not having to see Carrie Underwood (I got someone else to do it). HOORAY!

* Funnel Cake.... MMMMMMMMM.

- Judianne

The Musikfest Staff posted their picks for this year's Fest entertainment. So I thought I'd post mine (at a glance, this is what I would recommend):

A.J. Swearingen
BC & The Blues Crew
Cast in Bronze (the freaky guy in black with the bells)
Christy Jefferson
Craig Thatcher Band
DJ Cap Cee
George Hrab and the Geologic Orchestra
Indsidious Rays
July For Kings
Konstant
LL Cool J
Sarah Ayers
Spitshine
Zydeco-A-Go-Go
Regional Band Showcase Finalists
Stars Of Bethlehem Finalists

So, who's on your must-see list?

- Judianne