Founder and editor-in-chief of Lehigh Valley Underground, Gerard Longo followed his love of music and knack for promoting it into a full-time passion project this year, committed to building a community around local music with more clarity and accessibility than ever before.
A blog, a radio station and an organizer of music events, LVU has grown into a hub for local artists to be heard and for local listeners to stay abreast of the scene. “There's so much great stuff out there,” Longo says. “All genres of music are still being made. If you look, you're guaranteed to find something you like.”
Since it began in 2016, Longo has populated the blog with coverage of local concerts, controversial op-eds, album reviews and one artist's music video premiere. With local music as well as jams from around the world, WLVU is where you'll find Longo's radio show The Quinn Spinn, revived from college days at Moravian, as well as Tape Swap Radio and other local shows. Contributors to the blog help fill in the gaps while Longo throws himself into the background duties required of a growing organization.
LVU celebrated its second Birthday Spectacular in January at SteelStacks, where Longo moonlights as part of the event staff, celebrating the exciting ambitions already taking shape this year. One resolution was to generate more live music events, like the LVU First Friday Concert Series, pairing local artists with venues on Bethlehem's Southside to add even more draw to businesses.
Teaming up with SteelStacks' Southside Arts and Music Festival, LVU is coordinating five free performances around town—an awesome opportunity to bring bands and listeners together. Like an amp, LVU takes what the Valley has to offer and helps it reach all of us. Find out more online!
