Ed Sheeran, Shania Twain, Phish among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in July
This month’s shows include another pop superstar packing Acrisure Stadium, as well as a country megastar and the biggest (active) jam band around. Here’s a look at the most notable shows coming to the area in July:
July’s top shows
July 8: Ed Sheeran, Khalid, Rosa Linn at Acrisure Stadium
Pop star Ed Sheeran is moving up in Pittsburgh stadium shows.
After headlining PNC Park in 2018, Sheeran will visit Acrisure Stadium as part of his Mathematics tour. (He has played at the former Heinz Field before, when he opened for Taylor Swift in 2013).
His latest album “- (Subtract)” came out in May, with Sheeran concerned that critics might actually like it.
“I’m worried about that,” he told Rolling Stone, “because all my biggest records, they hate.”
Read more: Ed Sheeran surprises fans with unusual move in wake of opener Khalid’s car accident
July 13: Shania Twain at the Pavilion at Star Lake
Shania Twain, “the Queen of Country Pop,” is on tour in support of her latest album, “Queen of Me,” which was released in February.
“Creating the album really made me reflect a lot. Self-reflection, self-empowerment and sharing it with other women is important, but it’s not about comparing,” Twain told Woman’s World. “It’s more about ‘I’m the boss of me. I’m the queen of me. You be the queen of you and be the boss of you.’ That means telling myself that it’s OK and positive to accept changes, good and bad, not fight the changes. Otherwise, I’m going to spend my life swimming upstream — it’s so exhausting not accepting yourself as you are.”
It’s her first show at Star Lake since 1999, with her last three stops in Pittsburgh at Mellon Arena and/or PPG Paints Arena.
Read more: Q&A: Shania Twain talks rebuilding confidence with new album
July 21-22: Phish at the Pavilion at Star Lake
The veteran jam band Phish will set up shop at Star Lake for a pair of shows. (Incidentally, as of June 27, only lawn tickets remained for both shows.)
Phish released their 16th studio album last year “Get More Down” … but under the alter ego of Sci-Fi Soldier. Reviews on Phish fan sites have been positive for the band’s recent shows.
“I want people to walk away and feel respected,” singer/guitarist Trey Anastasio said in a 2019 interview with the New York Times. “The more times people come to see me, the more I owe them. They’ve given me my whole life. Not just on a financial level, but on a soul level. I owe them. But I don’t know what they see in me.”
Read more: Trey Anastasio on the endurance of jam bands and the life of Phish
July 28: Pantera, Lamb of God at the Pavilion at Star Lake
Pantera’s 2023 reunion could be considered more of a tribute to the band’s founding brothers who have both died. Guitarist Dimebag Darrell was killed on stage in 2004 and drummer Vinnie Paul died in 2018.
Singer Philip Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown are joined by Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and longtime Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde in the celebration of the band’s history.
“You can see it in his face and the way (Wylde) does stuff,” said Grady Champion, the former (and current) Pantera guitar tech in an interview with Guitar World. “You can see his passion, his ‘want’ to be there, and his deep love and respect for Darrell — and that’s the reason I’m there too. It’s really refreshing to know why Zakk’s there.”
Read more: Pantera play first U.S. show in 22 years
Sold-out shows
July 18: Le Tigre, Man on Man at Mr. Smalls
Le Tigre, the electronic/punk rock band founded by Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna, are out on their first North American tour since 2005.
July 28: O-Town, BBMak, LFO, Ryan Cabrera at Jergel’s
It will be an invasion of boy bands from the 2000s when O-Town, BBMak, LFO and Ryan Cabrera visit Jergel’s in Warrendale.
Other notable shows
July 1: Tom Keifer Band, Winger, John Corabi at Mountain View Amphitheater
July 5: Falling in Reverse, Ice Nine Kills, Underoath, Crown the Empire at Petersen Events Center
July 8: Eric Church, Koe Wetzel, Shane Smith & the Saints at the Pavilion at Star Lake
July 10: The Smile, Robert Stillman at Stage AE
July 11: Weezer, Future Islands, Joyce Manor at Stage AE
July 12: Post Malone at the Pavilion at Star Lake
July 12: Yungblud, The Regrettes, Games We Play at Stage AE
July 12: The Struts, Mac Saturn at Roxian Theatre
July 12: Less Than Jake, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Pink Spiders at Mr. Smalls
July 14: Matchbox Twenty, Matt Nathanson at the Pavilion at Star Lake
July 15: Bret Michaels, Night Ranger, Jefferson Starship at the Pavilion at Star Lake
July 16: War at Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater
July 18: Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Too $hort, Warren G, Berner at the Pavilion at Star Lake
July 20: Joey McIntyre at the Oaks Theater
July 22: Clutch, Dinosaur Jr., Red Fang at Stage AE
July 23: Fitz & the Tantrums, Rett Madison at Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater
July 23: Dirty Heads, Lupe Fiasco, G. Love & Special Sauce at Stage AE
July 25: Gov’t Mule at Stage AE
July 27: Lyle Lovett at Stage AE
July 29: Foreigner, Loverboy at the Pavilion at Star Lake
Mike Palm is a TribLive digital producer who also writes music reviews and features. A Westmoreland County native, he joined the Trib in 2001, where he spent years on the sports copy desk, including serving as night sports editor. He has been with the multimedia staff since 2013. He can be reached at mpalm@triblive.com.
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