Family celebrates Henry Mancini’s legacy on what would have been his 100th birthday
Update: The video for “Pink Panther,” the second single from “The Henry Mancini 100th Sessions — Henry Has Company,” featuring Lizzo and Sir James Galway both on flute, dropped on May 31. When famed composer Henry Mancini discussed his childhood with his family, he made sure to stress exactly where...
TV Talk: CBS starts a fire of controversy cutting off Billy Joel, reschedules show
After promoting “Billy Joel: The 100th at Madison Square Garden – The Greatest Arena Run of All Time” for weeks, CBS blundered nationally by cutting off the program mid-“Piano Man” to go to late local newscasts. CBS released a statement saying, “A network programming timing error ended last night’s Billy...
‘Rock ‘N Remember Live!’ struck a sweet, nostalgic chord at the Benedum Center
Saturday was a perfect day to enjoy some golden oldies at the Benedum Center, and “Rock ‘N Remember Live!” delivered with a jukebox’s worth of classic artists. “Rock ‘N Remember Live!” presented by Spotlight Productions featured six bands and singers from the ’50s and ’60s in two and a half...
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra fascinates with celebration of George Gershwin
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, as part of their 2023-2024 PNC Pops season, brought a heavy dose of “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” to Heinz Hall on Friday night with their Gershwin celebration. This selection comes in what would be the 125th year of George Gershwin’s life. Gershwin, in some ways the quintessential 20th...
The Garment District’s Jennifer Baron on physical media, vintage instruments, new releasesVideo
For Jennifer Baron, the multi-instrumentalist behind Pittsburgh band The Garment District, physical media is important. The thousands of albums — from vinyl (45s, 12-inchers and 78s) and eight tracks to cassettes and CDs — spread throughout her home are proof enough, alongside turntables on two different floors. “I would say...
Westmoreland Cultural Trust taps Penn Township native as new CEO
Twenty-one years ago, Penn-
Trafford High School student Benjamin Luczak stood on the stage of The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, performing for an audience in the musical “Brigadoon.” In a few weeks, Luczak, 37, will have the responsibility of overseeing operations of The Palace, now that the Westmoreland Cultural Trust has...
Judge dismisses lawsuits filed against rapper Drake over deadly Astroworld concert
HOUSTON — Hip-hop artist Drake has been dismissed from a lawsuit over the deadly 2021 Astroworld festival in Houston in which 10 people were killed, a judge has ruled. Drake was a special guest of rap superstar Travis Scott, who had headlined the festival. He performed with Scott at the...
Western Pennsylvania businesses plan events around Taylor Swift album release
On April 19, superstar singer-songwriter Taylor Swift will add another “era” to her discography with her new album “The Tortured Poets Department.” Anticipation is building among her fans — who refer to themselves as “Swifties” — and several local businesses and groups have hopped on the Taylor Train, hosting events...
Aerosmith restarting farewell tour with 1st night in Pittsburgh
Aerosmith will be saying “Another Last Goodbye” to Pittsburgh. The legendary rock band announced Wednesday that they would be resuming their Peace Out tour, starting Sept. 20 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The band’s farewell tour had been postponed last year because of a vocal injury to lead singer...
Morning Roundup: Sudden Little Thrills music festival coming; Irish Festival lineup announced; Steel City Duck Derby details
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, April 10: Sudden Little Thrills music festival being held in Pittsburgh The Sudden Little Thrills music festival announced that they were coming to Pittsburgh this fall. The new festival, from producers of big-name music events like Lollapalooza and...
California bill takes aim at Ticketmaster, but musicians warn they could be collateral damage
CALIFORNIA — A California lawmaker has introduced a bill to take on ticketing giant Ticketmaster, but some recording artists are warning that the bill will empower ticket scalpers instead. If signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Bill 2808, by Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, would be the first law of its...
Honky-Tonk Jukebox host pays homage to ‘Bloomfield Sound’ on new record
Once a month, a historic German singing club in Bloomfield is transformed by cowboy hats, rhinestone jackets and plenty of boots, courtesy of the Honky Tonk Jukebox. The Jukebox is hosted by Pittsburgh singer-songwriter Jon Bindley and his band, Bindley Hardware Co. They play their own songs, cover classic honky-tonk...
Real Estate singer Martin Courtney on new album ‘Daniel,’ recording process, fun gimmicksVideo
The recording process for Real Estate’s latest album, “Daniel,” turned out to be a vastly, and purposefully, different experience than their last record, 2020’s “The Main Thing.” Real Estate, an indie rock band that formed in 2008 in New Jersey, is on the road in support of the new album,...
Morgan Wallen has been arrested after police say he threw a chair off of the roof of a 6-story barVideo
NASHVILLE — Country music singer Morgan Wallen has been arrested after police say he threw a chair off the rooftop of a newly opened six-story bar in downtown Nashville. Wallen, 30, was booked into jail early Monday on three felony counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of disorderly...
CMT Awards return Sunday night with host Kelsea Ballerini and a tribute to the late Toby Keith
The CMT Music Awards, celebrating the best in country music videos, are set to return on Sunday night live from Austin, Texas. Hosted by Kelsea Ballerini, the fan-voted show begins at 8 p.m. Eastern and will be broadcast from the Moody Center on CBS and Paramount+. This year, the awards...
Chappell Roan brings spunk, pink sparkles to Pittsburgh with ‘Midwest Princess’ tour
Amid a sea of pink cowboy hats, boots and sparkles at Stage AE Friday night was Chappell Roan. The 26-year-old singer from Missouri, brought her spunky “Midwest Princess” tour to Pittsburgh, starting strong with “Femininomenon” as the opener. She then played through “Naked In Manhattan,” “After Midnight” and “Picture You”...
British metal pioneers Girlschool deliver rocking chaos in Pittsburgh showVideo
In 46 years of playing music with Girlschool, singer/rhythm guitarist Kim McAuliffe has probably seen it all. So a guitar breaking mid-song Thursday night didn’t faze her, as she handed off the guitar, leaned on the shoulder of bassist Tracey Lamb and wondered what to do with her suddenly idle...
Grunge legend of Kurt Cobain lives on 30 years after his death
Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain, whose band ushered in the Seattle grunge phenomenon of the 1990s, died 30 years ago today. Cobain died on April 5, 1994. His body was found on April 8, 1994, at his home and it was determined that he died days earlier. Cobain died of...
Andrea Bocelli delivers a concert for the ages at PPG Paints Arena
On the first stop of his latest North American tour, and celebrating the 30th year of his recording career in 2024, internationally acclaimed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli took the stage at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night. It was clear from the start that the audience was listening to a...
Chance the Rapper and wife Kirsten Corley are divorcing after 5 years of marriage
LOS ANGELES — The music industry just lost another power couple. Chance the Rapper and his wife, Kirsten Corley, announced that they will officially “part ways” through a joint statement posted to their Instagram stories Wednesday. The announcement follows a year of speculation surrounding their potential marriage troubles after the...
Lisa Loeb coming to Pittsburgh in July
Many of us recognize Lisa Loeb from the platinum-selling, No. 1 hit song “Stay (I Missed You)” from the film “Reality Bites.” Since then, she had a career in music, film, television, voice-over work and children’s recordings. She will bring her most recent collection of songs, “A Simple Trick To...
Kiss sells catalog, brand name and IP. Gene Simmons assures fans it is a ‘collaboration’
It’s never really the end of the road for Kiss. The hard rock quartet have sold their catalog, brand name and IP to Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment Group in a deal estimated to be over $300 million, it was announced Thursday. This isn’t the first time Kiss has partnered with...
$uicideboy$ to play Pittsburgh in September on 2024 Grey Day tourVideo
$uicideboy$, an underground punk/rap group, have announced their annual Grey Day tour is coming back to Pittsburgh. The duo out of New Orleans will play on Sept. 29 at PPG Paints Arena, with Denzel Curry, Pouya, Haarper, Shakewell and Ekkstacy opening the show. Earlier this year, the group announced they’d...
The Brook & the Bluff discuss ‘Bluebeard’ album, road trips, live experienceVideo
The Brook & the Bluff, a Nashville-based, Alabama-raised indie folk band, just recently passed 200,000 miles in their touring van on their way to Colorado. “Thinking about how big that number is, it’s pretty crazy,” said frontman Joseph Settine. “I want to know how many hours we logged in that...
Former Disney actor’s The Driver Era dazzles Pittsburgh during opening night of tour
The Driver Era — featuring brothers Ross and Rocky Lynch — brought the house down Tuesday night in the Roxian Theatre during its first North American tour stop. The McKees Rocks venue was sold out, and despite the miserable weather, fans showed up in droves to watch the band. Western...