Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble continues to innovate
The Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble is relentless in its pursuit of new ways to make concerts more meaningful experiences. When current artistic director Kevin Noe took over the group in 2000, he introduced the “Theatre of Music” approach, which brings the drama, lighting, sound and stage design of the theatre...
Craig Morgan tops bill at Indiana County country show
Country music star Craig Morgan will headline the 45th annual Fraternal Order of Police Rhododendron Lodge No. 33 Country Music Show July 14 in Indiana County. The concert begins at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Indiana County Fairgrounds in White Township’s Mack Park. The Andy Davis Band of Southwestern Pennsylvania...
Primanti Bros. debuts Wiz Khalifa ‘Black and Yellow’ sandwich
What would Wiz eat? From now until July 20, Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa can chow down on Primanti Bros. exclusive “Black and Yellow” sandwich. To celebrate Khalifa’s return home for a concert July 20 at KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown, Primanti Bros. is offering a tribute to Wiz, featuring “a half-pound...
Penn-Trafford grad will join Shinedown onstage at KeyBank PavilionVideo
When hard rock band Shinedown takes the stage Wednesday at KeyBank Pavilion, Penn-Trafford High School alumni from the late ’90s and early 2000s will see a familiar face onstage. Josh Sturm of Murrysville, a 2000 Penn-Trafford graduate, will join the band onstage after a brief stint filling in for bassist...
Daughtry, with ‘American Idol’ frontman, to play Palace TheatreVideo
Rock band Daughtry, fronted by “American Idol” alum Chris Daughtry, will play a show Oct. 20 at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. Tickets are $59.75-$79.75 and go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. July 12 at 724-836-8000, thepalacetheatre.org and druskyent.com A promoter presale will be held 10 a.m.-10...
New Kids on the Block’s Donnie Wahlberg dances his way through Hersheypark
One way to unwind before performing your hits in an amusement park is to dance along to the beat of a passing band. New Kids On The Block member Donnie Wahlberg grabbed a friend Saturday afternoon and cut a jig through Hersheypark a few hours prior to the band’s show....
Stevie Wonder says he’s getting a kidney transplant
LONDON — Stevie Wonder surprised concertgoers in London on Saturday night by announcing that he will take a break from performing so that he can receive a kidney transplant this fall. The 69-year-old music legend made the announcement after performing “Superstition” at the end of a packed British Summer Time...
Shinedown show is ‘all killer, no filler’Video
Talk to Brent Smith for a few minutes and it becomes clear that there’s never going to be any rest for Shinedown. Nor will the multi-million-selling, hit-generating rock band ever get stuck in its ways. The latter translates to everything from switching up the band’s record-setting stage show to finding...
Deutschtown Music Festival brings more than 300 bands to 30 venues on North SideVideo
It might seem that, after six years of organizing the Deutschtown Music Festival, the logistics would get easier. But when more than 300 bands and 30-some venues are involved, it’s always a challenge, according to organizer Ben Soltesz. “It keeps getting bigger,” said Soltesz, 46, of Pittsburgh’s Spring Hill neighborhood....
‘Old Town Road’ now longest-running No. 1 hip-hop songVideo
He’s on the Old Town Road to success. Lil Nas X earned the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for the 13th consecutive week — the longest for any hip-hop record — with his breakout single “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. The artist beat out “See You...
Thomas Rhett taking risks, reaping rewardsVideo
Four albums into his career, Thomas Rhett has shown that while being one of country music’s top hitmakers, he also has a rebellious streak that has found him pushing the envelope on what kind of song can actually work in the country genre. This willingness to test boundaries comes naturally...
Hip-hop star Nicki Minaj to perform in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia said Wednesday that hip-hop star Nicki Minaj will perform in the ultraconservative kingdom as it sheds decades of restrictions on entertainment. The female rapper is known for her outlandish, provocative style and hits like “Anaconda,” where she raps about her “big fat” backside. Her lyrics are often laced...
Peter Frampton bids heartfelt farewell to Pittsburgh
Farewell tours are all the rage in the pop music world these days as aging rock musicians try to squeeze every dollar they can from new audiences excited about their music, or old ones who have never tired of it. Kiss, The Who (both of whom played PPG Paints Arena...
Laurel Harmony holds barbershop music open house
In celebration of Barbershop Music Appreciation Day, the Laurel Harmony chapter of Sweet Adelines will hold an open house to share its singing style with the public. The Greensburg-based group’s members will demonstrate their a cappella four-part harmony of barbershop-style singing from 7:30-9 p.m. July 11 at Trinity United Church...
Classic, contemporary highlight free philharmonic concert
Music from Schubert to John Williams will be included in the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra Academy of Music’s free summer philharmonic concert. The program will be performed at 8 p.m. July 16 in Seton Hill University’s Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Ave., Greensburg. Music director Morrie Brand conducts the concert that...
Russian Chicago cover band returning to Pittsburgh area in OctoberVideo
After packing St. Clair Park in Greensburg on Friday night, Russian band Leonid & Friends is already making plans to bring the classic pop-rock sound of Chicago back to the Pittsburgh region. The band will play Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale on Oct. 22. Tickets are $34 to $50, and...
With Rolling Stones’ return, Keith Richards looks for peace and quiet – onstage
Sometime over the weekend, depending on when they hopped into the private plane with the lips logo on the side to fly from Ontario to Washington, D.C., Keith Richards might have sidled up to Mick Jagger to bring up an important issue: whether the Rolling Stones will play their cover...
Taylor Swift pens scathing post about Scooter BraunVideo
LOS ANGELES — Taylor Swift is not staying silent over the sale of her masters to Scooter Braun. In a scathing Tumblr post Sunday, the pop superstar writes she is sad and grossed out that her music catalog now belongs to Braun, whom she accuses of subjecting her to years...
Russian band covering Chicago tunes packs SummerSounds in GreensburgVideo
Friends of SummerSounds Chairman Gene James knew people from New York, Maryland and Virginia who were traveling to Greensburg on Friday evening to watch Leonid & Friends, a Russian band covering hits by American pop group Chicago. But it was nearly impossible for him to point them out in a...
New Whitney Houston song released
NEW YORK — You can dance to a new-ish Whitney Houston song this weekend. Houston originally released a cover of Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” as a Japan-only bonus track on her 1990 album “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” but the song has been given an upbeat, dance remix by Norwegian DJ-producer...
Live Nation, Hanover officials dodge questions about KeyBank Pavilion traffic
Fans might want to arrive early for Friday’s Zac Brown Band show at KeyBank Pavilion. You could be waiting in your car for a while. Live Nation, the entertainment company that owns the Hanover Township amphitheater near Burgettstown, won’t say if it is doing anything to address reports of long...
Youngwood Park & Pool summer concert series returnsVideo
The Youngwood Park & Pool’s “moonlight swims” and summer concert series, “Battle of the Bands,” kicks off Wednesday night with a concert by the Loose Change Band. Gates open at 7 p.m. The schedule for the rest of the summer will be: • July 3: Caught on Sight • July...
Zac Brown Band will mix it up on stop at KeyBank PavilionVideo
Zac Brown Band may just be the world’s greatest cover band or at least a case could have been made for that statement on its recent “Down the Rabbit Hole” tour. The tour, which began last summer and finished up this spring, found the ZBB mixing all or parts of...
Kiefer Sutherland discusses ‘very personal’ songs, inspiration ahead of Pittsburgh-area show
When Kiefer Sutherland was on the verge of releasing his debut album “Down In A Hole” a few years ago, a lot of people might have assumed he would be delving into alternative rock, heavy metal or grunge. After all, while he has shown tremendous range over his decades as...
Tributes to Michael Jackson flow on 10th anniversary of his deathVideo
Michael Jackson’s estate paid tribute to his artistry and charity Tuesday as fans make final preparations for gatherings to celebrate his memory on the 10th anniversary of the King of Pop’s death. “Ten years ago today, the world lost a gifted artist and extraordinary humanitarian,” the Jackson estate said in...
