The Sands Bethlehem Event Center's fall lineup has grown more robust with the additions of heavy-metal giants Megadeth and the '90s-themed Band of Merrymakers holiday tour.
Fronted by singer-guitarist Dave Mustaine, Megadeth on Oct. 11 will mark their third appearance at Sands. The band will be joined by supporting acts Amon Amarth, Suicidal Tendencies, Metal Church and Havok. Tickets cost $45 and $33.75.
The Band of Merrymakers -- which features Sugar Ray singer Mark McGrath, singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb, Better Than Ezra front-man Kevin Griffin, Neon Trees singer Tyler Glenn and songwriter/producer Sam Hollander -- will stop Nov. 25. Show time is 7 p.m. Tickets cost $45, $35 and $20.
Tickets for both shows go on sale 10 a.m. Friday, July 22. Tickets can be purchased online at sandseventcenter.com and ticketmaster.com; by calling 800-745-3000 and at the box office, 77 Sands Blvd.
Since releasing their debut album Killing is My Business...and Business is Good! in 1985, Megadeth has racked up 11 Grammy Award nominations, five consecutive platinum-selling albums and sold more than 38 million albums worldwide, according to the release. The group previously headlined Sands in March and November 2013.
The Band of Merrymakers' Griffin performed in 2011 at neighboring Musikfest Cafe. Better Than Ezra -- whose back catalog include the singles "Good," "Desperately Wanting," "Juicy" and "Extra Ordinary" -- headlined Sands in August 2015 as part of the Under the Sun Tour. Loeb, best known for her hit "Stay," in 2011 stopped at Musikfest Cafe. Glenn and Neon Trees -- whose popular songs include "Everybody Talks," "Animal" and "Sleeping with a Friend" -- performed in 2012 at Allentown's Crocodile Rock Cafe; later that year, the band opened for the Offspring at Sands.
McGrath and Sugar Ray on Wednesday will bring the annual Summerland Tour to the Levitt Pavilion at SteelStacks. The inaugural outing -- which featured Sugar Ray, Everclear, Lit, Gin Blossoms and Marcy Playground -- visited Sands in 2012. (Sugar Ray was not part of the 2015 Summerland Tour lineup.) Sugar Ray is best known for such hits as "Fly," "Every Morning," "Falls Apart" and "Someday."