Six Lehigh Valley bands to keep an eye on in 2017

A new year, a new round of Lehigh Valley bands primed and ready for your musical consumption. 

Following a breakout 2016 for up-and-coming area artists such as Pentley Holmes, Summer Scouts, VoirVoir, and Shawn Cav Ensemble (to name a few), the stage is set for even more Lehigh Valley bands to create significant buzz in 2017. 

Here are six local acts to keep an eye on:

HOLY TOAST

Holy Toast's blend of thrashy garage punk is divinely refreshing. An EP is planned for the early half of the year; trust me, this is one you will want to get your hands on. In the meantime, you can experience your own rock 'n' roll spiritual awakening through Holy Toast's Bandcamp page.

COPPER FIELDS

This trio from Emmaus bring to the table rustic, soulful folk forged in the fires of Crosby, Stills and Nash. If tunes such as "Crossing No Lines" and "Taken for a Ride" are any indication, Copper Fields is one band you will be hearing more of in the coming months.

ACOUSTIC KITTY PROJECT

Singer-songwriter Carter Lansing and his band of musical merrymakers are hard at work on their follow-up to 2013's 'Shine. The new album -- targeted for a mid-year release -- is likely expand upon on the catchy, Americana-country-folk-rock foundation laid by its predecessor. 

ROI AND THE SECRET PEOPLE

Easton's Roi and the Secret People continued to deliver the goods in 2016 with one knockout performance after another. And that rumble your hear coming up on the horizon? That is the sound of the band's hotly anticipated EP Truck Stop Sushi. Expect the band to keep their motor running loudly through the rest of 2017 and beyond. 

SOUL FOLKS

Trios seem to be coming back in a big way in the Lehigh Valley and one such talented threesome is Soul Folks. Their mix of bluegrass and Americana is pleasantly soothing, with an emphasis on lilting harmonies akin to Of Monsters and Men ("Come Alive") and The Lumineers ("What is and What Was"). 

MOSEY BEAT

Take two parts Santana, pour in a cup of Sublime and top with a dash of Phish, hit blend and the resulting musical concoction is the smooth sound of Phillipsburg's The Mosey Beat. 

Honorable mentions: The Roux, FM Waves

What bands are on your list? Leave a comment below.