‘Band Blast’ returning to New Kensington’s Memorial Park
Many events were canceled last year because of the covid pandemic. The annual Band Blast at New Kensington’s Memorial Park had the distinction of being canceled not once, but twice. It’s scheduled to come roaring back this Sunday, with 11 bands scheduled to take the stage from noon to 8...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Aug. 20-22
Go bananas in Latrobe Latrobe is going bananas this weekend. The Downtown Latrobe Banana Split Celebration will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday in the downtown area, with live entertainment, food vendors, arts and crafts, children’s activities and, of course, helpings of the signature dessert said to have...
Unity’s Victory Brinker cruises to ‘America’s Got Talent’ semifinalsVideo
After Victory Brinker brought judges and audience to their feet with her Tuesday performance, she seemed a lock to make the “America’s Got Talent” semifinals. And so she was. On Wednesday’s results show, she was named one of seven quarterfinalists who would be moving on. Contestants were called to the...
Ed Sheeran says new ‘coming of age’ album arriving in October
LOS ANGELES — No more break for Ed Sheeran. The British pop star announced Thursday that his upcoming studio album “=,” which is pronounced “Equals,” will release on Oct. 29. He unveiled his 14-song track list, which includes his recently released single “Bad Habits.” Sheeran said his new album is...
Unity’s Victory Brinker earns lone standing ovation on ‘America’s Got Talent’
Several things portend well for Victory Brinker’s chances to win Season 16 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” The 9-year-old opera singer from Unity was the final competitor in Tuesday’s live quarterfinal round, perhaps illustrating the “save the best for last” principle. There was plenty of build-up to her appearance, too....
Greensburg’s singing florist Gary Pratt wins music industry award
Sometimes it takes a while to become an overnight success. Sounds like the opening line of a great country song — or the story behind one. Country singer/songwriter Gary Pratt of South Greensburg has been in the music business for decades, but, recently, he’s been gaining recognition far beyond Western...
Opening act: 2 decades ago ‘NSync was 1st headliner at Heinz Field
Bill Viola Jr. knows exactly where he was the night of Aug. 18, 2001. “I was at Heinz Field for the ’NSync concert,” said Viola of North Huntingdon, who attended with wife Jenn and some friends. “That was the place to be. Everyone wanted to be at that concert.” It...
Unity’s Victory Brinker, 9, ready to sing in ‘America’s Got Talent’ quarterfinal roundVideo
Victory Brinker could see the iconic “Hollywood” sign from her hotel window. The 9-year-old singing sensation from Westmoreland County was in California prepping for her appearance in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Victory was taking the sights and the situation in stride, said her mother, Christine, in...
Zac Brown Band bringing Comeback Tour to Pittsburgh
The Zac Brown Band is making good on its previous plans to play Pittsburgh. The popular country band will return Oct. 1 for a 7 p.m. concert at the Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown. The first set of dates for The Comeback Tour did not include Pittsburgh on the...
Greensburg Music Fest plans 20-plus acts on 4 downtown stages
Downtown Greensburg will resound with music of all kinds on Saturday, as more than 20 acts take to four stages during the daylong Greensburg Music Fest. Take it from musician Chris Fafalios, it will be “the best thing to do within hours of Greensburg.” Fafalios and his band, Another Cheetah,...
Maroon 5 requiring proof of vaccination or negative test for Star Lake show later this month
Maroon 5 has become the latest big name music act to require that fans be vaccinated to attend their concerts. The requirement will be in effect for the group’s appearance at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown on Aug. 25. The band announced that in order to enter the...
Stage AE to require proof of vaccination for shows
Stage AE will require proof of covid-19 vaccination for all concertgoers and event staff starting next week with the Modest Mouse show, according to the venue. “For the show to go on, we have updated our vaccination policy to ensure the safety of fans, artists and live event workers,” a...
Grammy-winning singer Jason Mraz inspired by Pittsburgh’s favorite neighbor
Grammy-winning musician Jason Mraz’s latest album design was inspired by one of Pittsburgh’s beloved neighbors. The cover has an image of a mirror surrounded by a rainbow. “Mister Rogers was definitely the inspiration,” Mraz, who will be performing here at the end of the month, told the Tribune-Review. “Mister Rogers...
Heinz Field Kickoff and Rib Festival returns for 5 days next month
Labor Day. Football. Ribs. The Heinz Field Kickoff and Rib Festival returns Sept. 2-6 at Heinz Field. Hours will be 4 to 9 p.m. Sept. 2, noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 3-5 and noon to 9 p.m. Sept. 6. The event was canceled last year because of the pandemic. Solomon...
Stevie Nicks cancels all 2021 performances because of coronavirus
LOS ANGELES — Stevie Nicks canceled appearances at five music festivals, citing coronavirus concerns, she said in a statement Tuesday. Nicks had been scheduled to headline one day each of BottleRock Napa Valley in California and the Jazz Aspen Festival in Colorado in September. In October, she was to have...
Free Westmoreland Symphony concert will celebrate Lincoln Highway history
Take a musical journey along the Lincoln Highway during “Rhythm of the Road,” a free outdoor concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lincoln Highway Experience in Unity. The nation’s first transcontinental road for automobiles, dedicated in 1913, helped spawn new business and cultural opportunities as travelers passed through...
Durand Jones & the Indications bring new, disco-inflected album to Lawrenceville concertVideo
Durand Jones & the Indications just keep getting smoother. The R&B group recently released its third album, “Private Space,” which takes its gritty soul sound and sands down the edges until it becomes something more akin the disco-inflected sound of late ’70s Curtis Mayfield. “One of the biggest things I’ve...
New outdoor concert venue in Harmar set to hold 1st act next month
So far, it seems to be a pretty well-kept secret. But a new outdoor concert venue is coming to Harmar. The Mountain View Amphitheater is at 10 Rich Hill Road, off Route 910. It’s up the hill from the Harmarville business district and not far from Pennsylvania Turnpike Exit 48...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Aug. 6-8
This first weekend of August is predicted to be a hot one. Here are some ways to enjoy those warm temperatures. Millvale Music Festival Approximately 250 bands, comedy acts, spoken word performances and visual artists will perform at the Millvale Music Festival. The performances run Friday from 6 p.m. to...
Free ‘Lights On!’ events to celebrate Pittsburgh’s Cultural District
Pittsburgh’s Cultural District will celebrate the return of live programming with a three-day “Lights On!” event from Sept. 9-11. The special celebration of the arts will be the official kick-off to RADical Days, an annual thank-you to the public with free admission, tours, performances and family activities offered by organizations...
Drummer Charlie Watts likely to miss Rolling Stones’ tour
LOS ANGELES — Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts likely will miss the band’s upcoming U.S. tour to allow him to recover from an unspecified medical procedure. A spokesperson for the musician said the procedure was “completely successful” but that Watts needs time to recuperate. The Stones are set to resume...
Grammys commit to more hiring diversity for 2022 show
LOS ANGELES — The Grammy Awards will adopt an inclusion rider that will require producers to recruit and hire more diverse candidates backstage and in front of the camera for next year’s ceremony. The Recording Academy announced Wednesday that the rider will be added to its agreement with producers staging...
SummerSounds returns to Greensburg Friday
The sounds of summer will echo through Greensburg as SummerSounds, one of the region’s longest-running free outdoor concert series, returns Friday for its 21st year. The Steepwater Band, a rock band from Chicago, is scheduled to take the stage at 7 p.m. at the Robertshaw Amphitheater in St. Clair Park....
PPG Paints Arena recommends masks, starting with tonight’s James Taylor concert
PPG Paints Arena announced it will follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s masking recommendations – beginning with tonight’s James Taylor concert. Taylor is scheduled to take the stage after Jackson Browne opens at 7:30 p.m. “Out of an abundance of caution with Allegheny County reaching the...
19 people arrested at Lollapalooza, with daily crowds around 100,000
CHICAGO — Nineteen people were arrested at the four-day Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago’s Grant Park, according to figures the city released Monday morning. The Office of Emergency Management and Communications said in a news release that there also were seven violations and 102 transports. The largest number of arrests...
