Yinz Citizen virtual concert to return in September with Pittsburgh musicians
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On the heels of a successful event that raised $54,000 last November for 412 Food Rescue, the “Yinz Citizen” virtual concert is returning this year.
The event will take place on Sept. 16.
The inaugural virtual show brought together 25 local bands and artists including Wiz Khalifa, Joe Grushecky, The Commonheart and Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for what 412 Food Rescue called “the ultimate Pittsburgh mixtape.”
This year the organization hopes to gather even more Pittsburgh talent to help raise money to feed Pittsburgh families. Acts already confirmed for the 2021 event include alternative/punk band Swiss Army, rock act the Derek Woods Band, Pittsburgh-based soul singer Inez and Musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra returning for year two. Click here for a talent entry form.
“We want to have a nice, broad cross-section of different types of performers so you have everything from Musicians of the PSO to (alternative/pop rock singer) Liz Berlin,” said Sara Swaney, senior director of advancement for 412 Food Rescue. “We really want to give a little bit of something for everyone regardless of what your musical preferences are or what you tend to listen to.”
Swaney said Yinz Citizen tickets are free and money is raised through donations made when people register for online tickets as well as corporate sponsorships. She said this year’s goal is to raise more than $100,000.
Organizers decided to keep the concert virtual because it had such high viewership.
“We think there is a lot of opportunity there, especially if we can can have some in-person events and concert appearances or events at local venues leading up to the virtual concert,” said Swaney. “We’ve shown that we’ve been able to do it. Our first Yinz Citizen concert was viewed 8,600 times within a week, and 4,300 people joined us live. So we know we have an opportunity to reach even more people this year.”
Since March of last year, 412 Food Rescue has focused on helping people have access to food during the pandemic. It has organized 39 mass food distributions with community partners and launched a program called Community Takeout to support restaurants and feed people in need, officials said.
In the past year, 412 Food Rescue said its volunteers have distributed more than 8 million pounds of food — from what restaurants normally throw away — to people experiencing food insecurity. That’s double the amount of food rescued in the past four years combined.