fbq('track', 'ViewContent');

Viewing: Allentown Bethlehem Easton - View all posts

Don't Stop Believin'! 

We were so honored to provide entertainment for local radio station 100.7 WLEV's Little Pink Dress Party. The annual event brings together breast cancer survivors, friends and family, local organizations and businesses and this year benefited "Breast Friends of PA" and "Womens 5K Classic", two local support organizations.  

I've been performing for many years, and in all my years, I've never seen something as cool as this: a Flash Mob dance reminiscent of a music video, breaking out on the dance floor just in front of the stage.  Watch video evidence here!




Thanks to all the sponsors: Toyota, Morris Black Designs DeSales University Nursing, Sorelli Jewelry, State Theatre, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Ideal Image, A&A Limo, Metro Design Center, Cooper Electric, Richard Kroll, Meera Salon & Day Spa, Massage Envy, Eight Oaks Distillery, Rockin' Remaley Photo Booth
Find out more about: Breast Friends of PA, Womens 5K Classic

Special Musikfest Double-Header 

We are thrilled to announce that we will be performing at Musikfest's Preview Night, Thursday, August 6th at Levitt Pavilion at Steel Stacks!

Musikfest has added 80s-rockers Duran Duran (one of Christine's FAVORITE bands as a youngster) on Sands Steel Stage, so we are thrilled to get you Duranies warmed up just "next door" at Levitt Pavilion.

Here's the schedule of events for Preview Night August 6th:

5 p.m. - Sunshine Symphony on stage -
7 p.m. - M80 on stage - TD Bank AmericaPlatz - Levitt Pavilion at SteelStacks
8:30 p.m. - Duran Duran at Sands Steel Stage

Don't forget - we'll also be at TD Bank AmericaPlatz/Levitt Pavilion at Steel Stacks on Musikfest's Opening Night - Friday, August 7th starting at 7:30 p.m. for a free show.

What IS Musikfest, you ask? Well, it's just one of our humble little city's shining moments - a 10-day arts and culture festival featuring free outdoor concerts (and only a few that are NOT free), food and crafts. It's one reason I moved to Bethlehem! It's a lot of fun and a little crazy and despite the occasional parking woes, it brings a great deal of income and recognition to Bethlehem. We're so thrilled to be a part of the festival, which is celebrating it's 30th anniversary this year.

Here are some informational links about Musikfest:
Directions and Parking
Festival Map - our performances are on the "South Side"
Musikfest FAQs

Hope to see you there!
Peace, Love & Rock n Roll,
Christine

Endless Summer Nights! 

We've had an exciting month here in the 'Symphony, with news about two summertime shows that made us practically radiate happiness. 

Tunes at Twilight, in our humble opinion, is one of the best events that the Downtown Bethlehem Association hosts every year.  Set up in the beautiful and shaded Sun Inn Courtyard in Downtown Bethlehem, this easily accessible small park seats hundreds, and makes for a lively place for a free concert. Surrounded by Bethlehem's downtown restaurants, breweries, wineries and more, there are great places to dine before-hand or afterwards, or, enjoy food and drink from the Tunes Bar, which serves wine and beer, often regional offerings.  They've extended the concert series this year through July, which gives you more chances to enjoy a warm summer evening.  Sunshine Symphony will be there on July 2nd. We're looking forward to our 2nd year at this event.


Musikfest is Bethlehem's signature musical event, and it's been going on for 30 years now! Imagine an entire town turned into outdoor music venues for free concerts of all genres!  Plus, the event features every portable culinary delight you can think of. Pickle on a stick? Yep. Barbecued meat skewer? Yes. Vegan taco? Sure. Totally my idea of heaven. The event brings thousands of visitors to town (and the boost to the local economy is noticeable), but it also makes me personally happy that I live in a place that so celebrates music.  Come see us at Levitt Pavilion on the South Side of Bethlehem (right in front of Steelstacks), the opening night of Muskiest, Friday, August 7th at 7:30.

Check our schedule for ALL of our upcoming shows.

See you out and about this summer!
Peace, Love & Rock n' Roll,

Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

Don't Stop Believing! 

Christine faces her radiation treatment.It was December 5, 2014, when I got the call that changed my life. I had gone for a routine mammogram, which led to an ultrasound and then a biopsy, after which the doctor said, "it's better that you know than don't know." With no family history of breast cancer, and leading a relatively active and healthy lifestyle, here I was, suddenly a cancer patient.

The first thing I thought was, "How am I going to fit this into my schedule?"  I work full-time, I help my boyfriend and band-mate Ricky Bell raise his two little girls, and we have the band, of course, which has become a very busy enterprise. Not to mention, we have two households and the stuff that comes with them.  All are important to me for different reasons.

The whirlwind began, and suddenly I held a dozen appointment cards in my hand for surgical consults, pre-op appointments, blood tests, radiation and medical oncologists. Ricky coined "Team CB" - the name of my support group of family and friends to get me through this ordeal. Surgery was first, which was a fairly straightforward recovery, and then came seven weeks of radiation.  Fast forward five months later, and here I am - treatment complete.

I'm thankful to my partner Ricky, who helped me make arrangements, came to appointments, and gave me a whole bunch of pep talks. We managed to play gigs (and most of the time I felt pretty decent), rehearse, find new guitarists, update the website, book more gigs, book weddings, and all the things that come with running a successful band. We rented my house and then packed it up and moved. We continued, business as usual, with his kids, explaining that CB had something called cancer that she had to go for treatments for, but that she was going to be ok.

I am happy to say that I feel pretty decent overall, am healing just fine and am thankful that I am able to continue to perform like nothing has happened - which is completely untrue, as I am a changed human being. Oh yes, I more fully understand the need to have a good time, to unwind, to hear and sing along with great music - to celebrate life's happy occasions because life is challenging and throws some difficult things our way.

Thanks to our friends, family and fans for celebrating these happy milestones with Sunshine Symphony! We love you!

Peace, Love & Rock n' Roll,
Christine

Make Your Special Event Shine with Sunshine Symphony 

Thank you to Tall Ships America, who found Sunshine Symphony after a band search and asked us to play their Annual Awards Banquet and Gala, which was held in Philadelphia. We said, "Sure!" and then made plans to travel the hour or so into the city to the Sheraton Society Hill.

Tall Ships America is a diverse organization of sailors and educators who host programs to teach young people how to sail and other valuable life lessons, like confidence, leadership,  The organization also has a scholarship program which allows many young people the chance to join the program, even if they never thought it possible.  Tall Ships wanted Sunshine Symphony to entertain the staff after dinner and after their awards ceremony.  We perform at a lot of private parties - and this audience included many age groups and musical tastes. The group was ready to have a good time, and we got everyone dancing and singing along by the end of the night, which you can see in this video clip.

 
 
Organizer Darlene Godin had this to say about working with the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia's best cover band:
"I just wanted to let you know that we received rave reviews about Sunshine Symphony’s performance at our annual awards banquet on Friday the 6th.  When the dancers finally got on the dance floor, there was no stopping them. Your professional attitude and amazing performance was over the top fantastic. We wish we could bring you with us to all our conferences. From the whole staff here at Tall Ships America,
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!"

Sunshine Symphony has quite a bit of experience working with event planners and corporations to provide entertainment and sound support for special events. Christine, in her former life, worked as a Marketing and Corporate Event planner, so she is very familiar with what corporate party-goers expect and enjoy at special events. She's also aware of the questions that event planners ask, has great attention to detail and knows just what information needs to be exchanged in order to make all aspects of the party a success.

We have a substantial sound system as well, that can handle large rooms like the very large ballroom at the Sheraton Society Hill without overpowering it. With our sound set up, Tall Ships America was able to use our wireless microphone and PA system to announce their award recipients, and we were happy to run sound during the awards banquet and make sure everything sounded great.

If you need Sunshine Symphony to illuminate your special event, please use our form to Contact Us, or give us a call a 888-937-3568

Peace, Love & Rock n Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

 

Happy 2015! 

Sunshine Symphony, 1/9/15 - Thanks to Andy Sawran for the photo.



Happy 2015 to our new fans and our fans from the very beginning! We are overjoyed that 2014 was so successful.

We booked lots of new venues! We met so many great people and got to celebrate with our wonderful new friends and fans at their happy occasions.  We'll be making our debut at Club Gravity at Chicago's Restaurant (previously Mezza Luna in Allentown). We're excited to be playing for the members of the Fullerton Fire Company in May, and playing more shows at the Coplay Saengerbund this year.  Also, we hope to soon add a few dates at the Parx Casino in Philadelphia. Several weddings are already booked here and in Philadelphia and there are a few more in the works.

We're working on new music! At rehearsal on Monday, we worked on 5 new songs that we'll be adding to upcoming sets and probably a few more in the next few weeks before we start getting ready for "wedding season". The result of our 2014 Music Poll showed the MOST votes for the Luke Bryan song "Play it Again" - so we may be adding that to our set soon.  Other high-ranked songs from our poll: "Happy" from Pharrell Williams, "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea (I am not fantastic at rapping, but I'd try it),  "Rude" by Magic (already in our set list!) and "All of Me" by John Legend.

I'm currently obsessed with Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" song and can't seem to get that out of my head...we may have to add that one as well.

What would you like to see from us in 2015? More videos? Where would you like to see us play? Let us know in the comments, and we'll do our best to make it happen. Happy New Year - hope it's a great one for you, too!

Peace, Love & Rock n' Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony
 

Welcome Kyle Campbell 

Sunshine Symphony is excited to announce the addition of guitarist/vocalist Kyle Campbell to the band. Kyle is a native of Nazareth, PA, where he played with local band original/cover band Project 67 and won two WZZO Backyard Bands competitions. 

Interestingly enough, Ricky and Kyle have many mutual musical friends and have almost crossed paths in the past.  They realized this after Kyle agreed to join the band and they started determining whether they had jammed together previously.

Kyle's been involved in many different projects over the year, including writing and recording original music as a solo artist. He is releasing his solo album "Sunday's Best" in mid-January.

We think Kyle is a nice guy, with a great sense of humor, serious guitar skills, and may now be the most stylish member of the band. Kyle and his wife Teara live in Manayunk, but have family up here that you'll probably see at some of our local gigs. You may even see a bit of Sunshine down in the Philly soon, too.

 

Vote for Sunshine Symphony as "Discover New Artist" 

We are so thrilled, as we approach our first birthday, to have been nominated for a Lehigh Valley Music Award for "Discover New Artist!" Sponsored by Discover Lehigh Valley, the award goes to the best new artist in the Lehigh Valley.

It's easy to vote! Go here: ​http://blog.discoverlehighvalley.com/2014/11/30/discover/vote-for-the-2015-lehigh-valley-music-awards-discover-new-artist/

1. Select "Sunshine Symphony"
2. Enter your email address.
3. Click Submit!

Done! Thank you so much for your support this year. We are so excited about 2015!

Peace, Love & Rock n' Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

(And Ricky Bell, Tim Kerrigan, Ian Frey and Steve Nesbit)

OMG, I need a FIRST DANCE/FATHER/DAUGHTER/MOTHER/SON song for my wedding! 

Some of the hardest decisions to make for couples are songs for the special moments of their receptions. What songs work well for bridal party introductions? What about a first dance? You'd be surprised how many times we hear "I'm not sure what song to dance with my Mom to..." or "I need a good father daughter dance song!" Of course this changes as new songs come out, but classics remain popular over the years and are still chosen today.

We also hear: "We don't want to be the center of attention for the entire 5 minutes of my (first dance/father/daughter/mother/son) song, because that makes us uncomfortable." - a lot. The beauty of a live band is that we can edit the song for you. Many times, we play the first verse and a chorus or two, and try to keep the song at about 2 minutes or 2:30, which is the sweet spot, in our opinion.  Note that there are certain "story" songs that aren't well-suited to an edit. We can certainly advise you of what songs are best if you want to edit them during our pre-wedding consultations!


Bridal Party Introductions
Think: Upbeat, Happy, Fun

American Authors - Best Day of My Life
Pink - Raise Your Glass (recently eclipsed in popularity by "Best Day of My Life")
Robert Palmer - Bad Case of Loving You
Bruno Mars - Marry You
Kool and the Gang - Celebrate
Katrina and the Waves- Walkin' on Sunshine
Hall and Oates - You Make My Dreams Come True
Pink - True Love

First Dance Songs
Think: Meaningful, romantic

John Legend - All of Me
Blake Shelton - God Gave Me You
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up
Christina Perri - A Thousand Years
Keith Urban - Only You Can Love Me This Way
Jack Johnson - Better Together
Colbie Caillat and Jason Mraz - Lucky
Sara Bareilles - I Choose You
Hunter Hayes - Wanted
Frankie Valli - Can't Take My Eyes Off of You
Train - Marry Me
Brad Paisley - Then
Rolling Stones - Wild Horses
Queen - You're My Best Friend - SOMEONE, please request this song! We would LOVE to sing this!


Bride/Father Dance (or Bride/Mother/Family Member)
Think: Sentimental
(Many of these songs are suitable for either a bride or groom to dance with a parent/family member)

Rascal Flatts - My Wish
Bob Carlisle - Butterfly Kisses
Heartland - I Loved Her First
Billy Joel - Lullaby
Tom Petty - Wildflowers
Carrie Underwood - Mama's Song
Judy Garland or Israel ‘Iz’ Kamakawiwo’ole- Somewhere Over the Rainbow
The Beatles - In My Life
Stevie Wonder - You Are the Sunshine of My Life

Groom/Mother Dance (or Groom/Family Member)
Think: Sentimental

Five for Fighting - 100 Years
Rod Stewart or Glee (Acoustic Version) - Forever Young
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance
Phil Collins - You'll Be in My Heart
Kenny Chesney - Don't Blink
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man
Ben E. King - Stand By Me
Lady Antebellum - Never Alone
Jason Mraz - 93 Million Miles

It varies from person to person as to what makes a song special enough for a first dance or father/daughter dance, but here are some ideas for your reception. We'd love to hear YOUR suggestions in the comments, too.

Peace, Love & Rock n Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony
PIN THIS BLOG POST:   

Thanks to Ciara and Evan for the use of their photo. Photographer: Sturazzi

You CAN afford a wedding band! 


We had a great time on Sunday meeting tons of brides and couples at Green Pond Country Club's Summer Bridal Bash. One thing we heard a LOT when we told people we were a wedding band, was "I've thought about having a band but didn't think I could afford it." We are here to tell you, "YES! YOU CAN!" Sunshine Symphony's rates are designed to be competitive with the price of a DJ, and fair.

We charge what we feel is fair, based on the amount of time it will take to prepare (in advance, via planning sessions, conference calls, song lists, etc), and then perform, including set up and tear down of our equipment. Performing at a wedding, 99% of the time, requires that we bring all of our equipment, and in some cases, multiple set ups for a ceremony or cocktail hour that is in a different location than the reception. Sunshine Symphony is not a bargain basement band, but we're a fairly priced entertainment option, and we strive to be comparable and competitive with DJ rates, while providing so much more excitement and energy.  Part of our services also includes party hosting, which means we'll make all the introductions and announcements to keep everything flowing and to let you know what's happening next.

A nice bonus for you? We care about our wedding couples. Yes, you're our clients, but we'll make time for you. We're spending one of your most important days with you, and we know that getting married is incredibly stressful for most people.  We do everything we can to make it less stressful, and even fun for you! We want to accommodate you and your ideas and make your reception memorable and uniquely "you."

One thing has consistently happened at the end of each and every wedding we've played: the guests crowd onto the dance floor, and when we say our final thank yous, they unanimously chant "ONE MORE SONG!" We're not kidding when we say this happens every time. We've all been to our share of weddings with DJs, and while great, we've never seen this same phenomenon happen. Ever.

If you even had a passing thought about having live entertainment at your wedding, please give us a call. We're flexible, experienced, professional, talented and honest, and we're happy to answer your questions.

Peace, Love & Rock n Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

Summer Weddings! 


Congratulations to Lauren and Adam, whose wedding we played last weekend at Riverview Country Club.  What a beautiful location! Riverview is definitely a scenic location for a wedding ceremony and reception.  As we performed at the ceremony, and reception, we got an up-close glimpse at all the details that make Riverview a great location for both ceremonies and receptions.

Riverview's reception location is called "Villa on the Green" - it's a round room with windows all around overlooking the golf course, which is beautiful landscaped. As soon as you walk in, you see a huge, dramatic stone fireplace goes perfectly with the natural wood beams inside and view of the rolling hills of the course.  Lauren's theme of navy blue and sunflower gold perfectly accented the space and lent a summery look to the room.

The ceremony location is behind Villa on the Green. As you can see in the picture above, a long wooden boardwalk with past the pond leads to a rustic wooden gazebo. A natural hill overlooks the gazebo, so all of your wedding guests will have a great view of the proceedings. We set up at the end of the boardwalk, where Ricky and I performed acoustic songs while the guests were being seated, and then, once the bridal party was ready, started playing Sara Bareilles's song "I Choose You."

One advantage to having professional musicians perform at your wedding is our ability to customize your entrance song "on the fly." Since Riverview's boardwalk aisle is quite long, if we had played a recorded version of "I Choose You," we would have been three whole minutes short by the time Lauren got to the end of the aisle. So, we added an instrumental break, and two extra choruses to make sure that as soon as Lauren set foot at the altar, the song concluded - but she still got to hear a good bit of her selected song.  We received one of the nicest compliments ever, when Lauren and Adam told us afterwards that they felt like they were in a movie, with the way the music was perfectly timed.

We then took care of introducing Lauren and Adam's bridal party and getting the reception going inside the beautiful Villa on the Green.  The benefit of having a live band is we were able to introduce the bridal party and then Lauren and Adam in between choruses of "Best Day of My Life," by American Authors.  We then performed the couple's first dance to Blake Shelton's song "God Gave Me You," a Father/Daughter dance to "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts, and Adam and his Mom danced to "100 Years" by Five for Fighting, all performed live by Sunshine Symphony.

At the end of the night, after getting the whole room onto the dance floor with "Shout", and hearing everyone singing along to "Don't Stop Believing", we received the ultimate compliment from our couple: "That was EXACTLY what we wanted!" Thanks again to Lauren and Adam for choosing Sunshine Symphony for your wedding. We always aim to deliver total satisfaction!

We'll be appearing at the Summer Engagement Bash Bridal Show on July 13th from 12-3. If you're thinking about a band at your wedding, stop by and see us - we'll be there to answer questions and show you some footage from shows and weddings we've performed at. Get free tickets (free for brides, $5 for guests) here:
http://bridalexpopa.ticketleap.com/pennsylvania-bridal-expo-presents-a-summer-engagement-bash-at-g/
 

How We Made a Pop-Punk Song into a First Dance  


We had a great time at Evan and Ciara's wedding last night at The Eastonian (Kunkle Drive in Easton/Palmer Township, PA).  It's really enjoyable meeting couples getting married and hearing their thoughts on their music for their big day - it's such a huge part of people's memories that we realize the importance of our job when we're hired for a wedding.

Typically, we'll learn songs for the couple if we don't already know their "first dance" songs, or learn other songs that the couple really wants to hear during their reception.

Ricky's going to kill me for mentioning it, but he's a huge fan of Wilson Phillips. As am I - I totally wore out my cassette.  Their song "Hold On" recently came back into the public's collective consciousness after the song was featured in the hit movie, "Bridesmaids." When Ciara mentioned she's a huge fan of the movie and wanted us to learn "Hold On" for their reception,  we were openly excited. Harmonies! That's one of our specialties.

In addition to that, Evan and Ciara were fans of the Ataris, a pop-punk band known for their cover of the Don Henley song "Boys of Summer" a few years back. They asked for us to put together an acoustic version of the song "I.O.U. One Galaxy." Normally, it's a faster-paced rock tune. Ricky and I worked out an arrangement where we alternated lines and added harmonies to make a slow-danceable song for Evan and Ciara's first dance.  We knew we hit the mark when we saw the two dancing, totally absorbed and enjoying the moment.  That's probably our favorite part of being a wedding band - helping to create the special moments that people remember forever.

At the bride and groom's request, we'll record a version in the studio that they can keep forever to remember the moment (and our arrangement). That's a unique service that we can offer to our wedding clients that doesn't cost a dime  - we enjoy the creative process and the challenge of arranging a song to capture our brides' and grooms' visions. 

Have a wedding coming up? Have some creative requests or dreams for your special event? Contact us. We can help make those dreams a musical reality.

Peace, Love & Rock 'n Roll,
Christine

You've Got Class! 

Thanks to Pius X Class of 1974 and Dunmore HS Class of 1989 who just booked Sunshine Symphony for their class reunions!  We hope this is a trend that's continuing.  

We love the idea of bringing a live band to a reunion - there's no better icebreaker than getting everyone on the dance floor with a nostalgic song from your high school years. We always like to go the extra mile when it comes to keeping our clients happy, and we enjoy learning new songs to enhance the event. One of the most fun parts of our job is looking at the Billboard charts for the top hits of that year, and deciding which ones we think will go over well with our audience.

Cara booked us for her class's 25th high school reunion after seeing us perform at Bar Louie in Wilkes Barre. She really enjoyed our variety of music.  1989 was the year of power ballads, including songs from hair bands like Skid Row, and pop/rock bands like Bon Jovi and Poison. Since we grew up loving late 80s music, we're not too proud to admit we already know some of the big hits of 1989, like "When I See You Smile" (Bad English) and "Lost in Your Eyes" (Debbie Gibson). We may have to break a few of those out for slow dances at the reunion.

The Sunshine Symphony duo of Ricky Bell and Ian Frey will be playing the Pius X Class of 1974 reunion at Northampton Country Club. Great songs abounded in 1974 as well - an era that included disco, soft rock and plain old rock n roll! Top hits in 1974 included "Jungle Boogie" by Kool and the Gang, "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band and "Sunshine on my Shoulders" by John Denver.  

Interestingly enough, there was one song that was a Top 100 hit in BOTH 1974 and 1989, can you guess what it was?
"Rock On' - recorded by David Essex in 1974 and Michael Damien in 1989. So if we learn that one song, we're covered at both reunions!

If you're planning a party, wedding, or class reunion, consider live entertainment to make it a party that no one will ever forget!  Ask Sunshine Symphony about performance options - we can perform as a full band, as a duo or a trio to deliver live music at an affordable price.

 

New videos! 

Hey, everyone! It's finally spring - we think, anyway.  We are getting ready to play some epic outdoor shows all over the Lehigh Valley - from Allentown, Bethlehem to Easton, we'll be entertaining the outdoor masses.

More and more people are hearing about Sunshine Symphony, and our Facebook page likes are growing every day.  We make videos each time we hit a milestone, so, here are two we made for the milestone of hitting 600 likes (at the time I'm writing this, we are edging ever closer to 700...better get ready with our next one).

You can help us grow our fan base two ways:

1) Go to Sunshine Symphony's Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/sunshinesymphony and on the right hand side under our cover photo and top banner, you'll see a box that says "Invite Friends" - if you think your friends would like us, please invite them.

2) Also, you can like, comment on and share our videos. The more likes and shares we get, the more we appear in our fans' NewsFeeds.

Enjoy our videos and thanks for getting us to 600 Likes!

Sunshine Symphony Avicii Cover - Wake Me Up



Sunshine Symphony - Paramore Cover - Ain't It Fun


Peace, Love & Rock n Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

Top Philadelphia Cover Band! 


We are thrilled to be/have been a part of two groups named "Top Philadelphia Cover Bands" on CBS Philly. As you may know, Christine spent seven years performing with She Said Sunday, and Ricky, three.  Although we were saddened by our unexpected December 2013 departure from SSS, we feel a renewed energy and are very fortunate to be working with the talented musicians in Sunshine Symphony. We're very excited about our future with our new band. Thanks to CBS Philly for helping us make this list TWICE!

Read the article by Susan DeFeo here:

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/top-lists/top-cover-bands-in-philadelphia/

By Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

Sunshine Symphony Booking Tons of New Shows! 

We've been busy for the past couple of weeks and we've added a ton of new shows to our books, and quite a variety, too!

As always, you can check our Shows page for all of our shows, but here are some new ones to note:

April 18 - Sunshine Symphony's debut at Rival's in Easton - 10 p.m.
May 2 - Cinco de Mayo - Chili's in Whitehall, 5 p.m.
May 22 - Tunes at Twilight - Sun Inn, Bethlehem -  6 p.m.
June 21 - Relay for Life in Whitehall - 10 am - 12 noon
June 21 - Summer Concert Series at Lehigh Valley Mall - 6:30 p.m.
July 4 - City of Allentown Independence Day - J.Birney Crum Stadium - Time TBD
July 9 - Forks Township Concert Series

We are looking forward to warmer and sunnier weather, as every single one of these (except Rivals) is an outdoor show! If you're thinking about a band for your wedding or private party, come see us locally this summer - we'd love to meet you! 

By Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

Local Radio and Sunshine Symphony 

Although we didn't all study music in college, it's clearly our individual and collective passion. Several of us dabbled in college radio, and a couple of us have worked in radio outside of school (except Ricky - I really think he needs his own radio show).

I have spent time on the airwaves of many of the Lehigh Valley's local stations, 100.7 WLEV, Cat Country, WZZO, B-104, and WAEB-AM. For a while, I also volunteered at WDIY, a local public radio station that hosts NPR news but also other local programming, including classical, jazz and adult alternative music. WDIY is extremely supportive of local music and musicians.

It was a pleasant surprise to learn that our bassist, Tim, in addition to being a home-brewer and stand-up bass player, also hosts The Blend from 1-4 p.m. on Thursdays. One thing that we've discovered about Tim is that he likes and listens to a huge variety of music. He can bang out some complicated Metallica bass riffs one minute and throw in some jazz or 70s soft rock the next. If you really want some insight into what makes Tim tick, check out his shift on The Blend on Thursdays.

http://wdiy.org/people/tim-kerrigan - Tim's page on WDIY.
http://wdiy.org - Listen live (top left of the page)

The Blend on WDIY features local music, some excellent new music, Americana, folk, and even classic rock/classic country or even classic alternative artists. It's really a cool way to spend your afternoon. Enjoy!

Peace, Love & Rock n Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

Networking, socially and otherwise! 

We'd like to everyone for coming out to our debut show at The Barrister's Club. We were so thrilled with the experience and very happy with the performance and our reception from the crowd! We love doing encores, so thank you for being an enthusiastic audience.

We're continuing to build on the momentum we've started!  We decided last week at rehearsal to record a video for our Facebook fans, because they have been tremendously supportive, sharing our page and our content and helping us grow our likes.  Ricky decided we should record the quirky tune "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors, which features a banjo and a semi-sparse arrangement but a catchy chorus...so Pete said, "I'll bring my mandolin!" and Ricky said, "I have a banjo in my studio," Ian announced, "I'll use my cajon," and Tim said "I'll bring the standing bass"! So, we set up our alternative instruments - just wait, I'll be breaking out my flute eventually - and went to town!

We had a blast, and then Pete suggested, "Why don't we do Walking on Sunshine acoustically as well?" So we did.  And we laughed, and had a great time.


There was a reason that "Sunshine" stuck as part of our name. Ricky and I, as founders of the band, are passionate and creative people, and I think we were drawn to the idea of music's transformative ability. You could be having the worst day ever, and a song can turn that around! We aim to be your musical sunshine, your passport to a happier place...thanks for coming on the ride with us!

By the way, you'll find us on a bunch of new places now:
We're on Google+
We're also on Instagram!
We have a YouTube channel

And if you didn't already know it, 
We're on Twitter,
On Facebook
and on ReverbNation.

Come see us live, or online!

Peace, Love & Rock n Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony
 

Sunshine Symphony Prepares Blazing Debut Performance 

Sunshine Symphony Prepares Blazing Debut Performance
New cover band features award-winning Lehigh Valley performers.


February 17, 2014Bethlehem, PA - Former lead singers of award-winning Lehigh Valley cover band She Said Sunday, Christine Bainbridge and Ricky Bell make their debut performance with new group “Sunshine Symphony” this Friday, February 21st at The Barrister’s Club in Allentown.

Bainbridge was the recipient of the Lehigh Valley Music Awards Tonya Brown Award for Best Female Vocalist in 2009 and 2010, and nine other awards with former band She Said Sunday.  Bell’s original song, Shallow, won him a WZZO Songwriting Contest in 2002, which Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull performed on stage with Bell at the State Theater in Easton. Bell then won the Lehigh Valley Acoustic Performers Contest in 2005, and went on to host the contest from 2007-2012.

“Together, we plan on bringing a vocally strong, harmonic yet musically diverse performance,“  Bainbridge explained. The two find common musical ground in their love of melody-driven pop, country and rock music like Bruno Mars, Bon Jovi, and Keith Urban – all featured on Sunshine Symphony’s set lists. “Anything goes musically with Sunshine Symphony. If it’s got good harmonies, it’s recognizable and danceable, it’s something we’ll play,” Bainbridge adds. “We’ve got an amazing rhythm section and our set lists include songs that really groove.”

Sunshine Symphony consists of Bainbridge and Bell, plus drummer Ian Frey, bassist Tim Kerrigan and guitarist Peter Johann.  Frey, a graduate of Lehigh University with a B.S. in Music Composition, has been performing with Bell for almost a decade as part of an acoustic duo. Kerrigan is an accomplished bassist who has played in funk, bluegrass, rock, jam and blues bands in California and in Pennsylvania. Johann fronts his own cover/originals band, The Peter Johann Band, and has a background in jazz theory and bluegrass as well, and has been nominated for several Lehigh Valley Music Awards as well.

“With such a diverse blend of musicians, we’re really excited to see what type of musical ground Sunshine Symphony will cover,” Bell says. “When we came up with the name, it means ‘happy music’ to us. That’s really what we want to play.”

Sunshine Symphony’s debut performance takes place Friday, February 21st, 2014 at The Barrister’s Club, 1114 West Walnut Street in Allentown. The show is from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available for advance purchase by phone at 610-433-6204 x19  or at the door.

###

Tickets Selling Quickly - Hurry and Get Yours! 

We got word today from The Barrister's Club that we've more or less sold out of VIP tickets to our debut show on 2/21/14. Wow! We're excited to perform and all those lucky VIP ticketholders get food, drink and an acoustic performance by Ricky and I.

There are still general admission tickets left. Those tickets get you in the door, but there will be food and drink available if you choose. If you're looking for an excuse to dress up and come out and dance, this is it! We'll be playing a lot of the songs you know and love with some new surprises.  The club recommends that you advance purchase your tickets because they DO have a capacity and tickets are first-come first served at the door (for the same price, $10/each).

We will have our esteemed photographer Kenn Miller (he took the shot to the left) there to take some shots, and we'll be doing a video shoot as well. Come be in our photos and videos that we'll be using on our website!

To Buy Tickets online, click here: http://sunshinesymphony.com/shows and then click BUY TICKETS. You may pay by PayPal or Credit Card.
Alternatively, call here for tickets: 610-433-6204 x 19

Peace, Love & Rock n Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

 

Band or DJ? The debate rages on... 

Ok, we admit we're biased here. One thing I hear a lot when randomly quizzing people about "band or DJ": "We're thinking about having a band at our reception, but we think a DJ may fit better into our budget.."  There are a lot of articles out there that talk about the benefits of having a DJ at your wedding, and the number one issue that comes up is cost. "DJs are cheaper."  We're here to tell you: "Not necessarily!" - with the caveat "You get what you pay for!"

You need to decide, "What Kind of Entertainment Do I Want, Really?"

Do you want to turn your reception into a dance club?
If you want the DJ with great beat-mixing skills, a top-notch sound system and lights, the personality and the ability to connect with your wedding guests, you are going to pay more - in the Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton area, probably $1500 - $2000.

Do you want an energetic live performance?
If you want a wedding band experienced enough to know how to act around your guests, to have the best equipment that is well-maintained, and to put together a diverse enough playlist to entertain all ages at your wedding, you're going to pay $1500 - $2500 and up here in the Lehigh Valley, and even more in the New York Metro or Philadelphia area.

What about the DJ/band offering to do my wedding for $800 or less?
Sure, that lower price is attractive, but keep these things in mind: a wedding is a special event, and you don't want just anybody performing at it. You want someone who is going to take your event and your instruction seriously. Any band can perform at a wedding for $800. You want someone who will update and maintain their equipment (blowing a speaker at a wedding will shut their performance down...you don't want that!). Make sure your provider has specific wedding experience and references to prove it. 

What else do I need to know?
Finally, go see your choices perform live. Sometimes, a band that sounds or looks only ok on video can be great live, and vice versa. If you can't go see them live, get references, and make sure their references are actual clients and not just their best friends they've put on their reference list. Ask them specifically about their wedding and how the DJ or band performed per their expectations.

There is something special about a live musical performance that engages your wedding guests.  A good band will think about the flow of the music at your reception, and think about the combination of songs to get people of all ages on the dance floor. A good wedding band probably costs about the same, or maybe a little more than a top-notch DJ. Budgeting a little extra moves your wedding entertainment from "background music", to something your guests will always remember.

Photography by Neusse Photography

Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony




 

Welcome Newest Band Members 


We are pleased to announce we've completed Sunshine Symphony's lineup with the addition of  bassist Tim Kerrigan and guitarist Pete Johann
 
Tim has been playing bass for 20+ years, with a variety of different bands. Recently, he moved back to PA after spending 15 of those years performing in California. With a background in jazz, funk and hard rock, he brings huge skills to Sunshine Symphony (because you're only as good as your bassist!). With Tim on the bottom end, we are sure to be amazing. 
Pete Johann is a longtime Lehigh Valley musician who performs his own original music as well as cover songs with his own band appropriately named The Peter Johann Band. Pete's background in jazz and funk should bring a cool, grooving sound to Sunshine Symphony. 










Since ALL of us also sing, could five-part harmonies be in store for you? You never know. We are so thrilled to have this caliber of musicians join our band. We CANNOT WAIT for you to hear us play.

Peace, Love & Rock n' Roll,
Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

Come See Sunshine Symphony's DEBUT! 

Sunshine Symphony, the Lehigh Valley's brightest new cover band, will make their concert debut at The Barrister's Club on Saturday, February 21st at 7 p.m.  

We invite you to join us for a fun night in this beautiful facility, complete with stage, dance floor and VIP balcony.  Tickets cost $10 and are available for purchase bu clicking here.
 
Or, copy and paste this link into your browser window:
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e8rs91hee56388da&llr=lsmiv6bab

Tickets will be available at the door, but we cannot guarantee their availability.  We suggest you buy them in advance, and get them before they sell out.

The Barrister's Club is an historic banquet and event facility  in Allentown, complete with free, secure off-street parking. Food and drink specials available. 

Christine Bainbridge, Sunshine Symphony

Important Questions to Ask Your Wedding Entertainment 

So you searched online and found a wedding band that sounds great. You've read their reviews and their bio. Now what? How do you know they're going to be the right band for your wedding? Here are some things to think about when selecting your band.

A lot of bands have videos posted on their website. A video is a great start, but, ideally, it should be current. Why? Bands can switch personnel frequently, or sometimes have special guests that are not a part of the normal line up. A good, working band will always keep their content up-to-date. If they're not working hard to impress you BEFORE your wedding, what makes you think they'd work hard after you book them? 

The best way to get a feel for the band you're interested in is to see the band performing live. Sure, you'll hear how well they play together, but you'll also be able to see their personalities in action. First of all, do they play frequently? A band that performs together regularly is going to naturally be more rehearsed than a band that only performs occasionally. Are they entertaining and poised on stage, or are they boring with no stage presence or, worse yet, sloppy or even intoxicated?  If they are professional on stage, it's pretty likely they'll be professional around your guests. These are all important considerations.

If you go to see them live or watch a video, confirm that the band you like will have the same personnel the day of your wedding.  Just ask about it. It's not something that's typical, but it can happen, so you may want to make sure that a clause about what you would consider an adequate substitution is in your contract.  One of our clients had this very problem - they went to book the band because they really liked the lead singers, and then they found out via social media that the lead singers had been fired (and were not informed by the band until they confronted them about it). To add insult to injury, the band refused to return their deposit when they wanted to cancel. Talk about a huge headache only a couple of months prior to their wedding. The key point here is to put everything in the contract, especially to specify that the lead singer that you liked will indeed be doing their killer version of your first dance song.

In our experience, there are a lot of great bands out there, but only a few great wedding bands. The main difference? The ability to lead an event. It's relatively easy to show up, set up, and play at a bar or festival, especially if sound is being provided. It's not nearly as easy to plan and set up for a wedding. It requires attention to detail, because a wedding has a lot of details to remember! It requires a knowledge of sound equipment and proper set up for the event, with potentially disastrous results if the band is inexperienced. It requires finesse and the ability to deal with a venue and other vendors. It also requires a knowledge of event planning, but lastly, the ability to put aside your own ego in order to make the client happy.

Finally, use your best personal judgment. Never be afraid to ask questions and be ready to move on if you don't get the answers you want.





 

Sending You Some Sunshine! 

Thanks for stopping by Sunshine Symphony's web page. We're happy to be here. Here's the who/what/when/where/why of our new band.

Sunshine Symphony grows from the roots of popular local cover band She Said Sunday.  Christine Bainbridge is founding member and the creative marketing force behind that band, having provided the public relations, publicity, web site and social media management for seven years, in addition to winning awards as their lead vocalist and keyboardist.  Ricky Bell was a more recent addition in the past two years, and provided musical inspiration and tremendous versatility to the band, not only providing vocals and guitars, but also drums and keyboards. When She Said Sunday decided to make some changes, Ricky and Christine saw it as an opportunity to move beyond their former band with their creative vision.

Pair intense musical precision with a passion for performing, and a chemistry which is unmatched, and you have Sunshine Symphony.  

We're working from the ground up, and we need your help! Please like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, and tell all your friends about us.