Pittsburgh Symphony plans 4 performances of Beethoven’s Ninth
The Pittsburgh Symphony has a big weekend planned for its upcoming performances of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Rather than the usual two or three concerts, the symphony will perform Beethoven’s final symphony four times. In addition, the music making will be recorded for commercial release, adding to the...
Blink-182 performs seminal album in entirety on tour
Promising on Twitter that “this is gonna be a fun one,” blink-182 will feature its pivotal album, “Enema of the State,” in its entirety on its summer tour. Among the band’s stops will be a July 6 concert at KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown. Along with playing that seminal album start...
Bluegrass concert benefits Fayette County fire company
A June 29 bluegrass concert at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort in Mill Run will benefit the Springfield Township Volunteer Hose Company. “Bluegrass at Jellystone” promises a full day of pickin’ and grinnin’ from noon-10 p.m.at the Fayette County campground/resort. Featured performers include the Allegheny Drifters, Black Diamond, Hickory...
Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan to perform at CMT Music Awards
Carrie Underwood is the queen of the CMT Music Awards with the most wins in the show’s history: 18. And she could take home more trophies Wednesday night. Underwood’s “Cry Pretty” is nominated for the top prize — video of the year — while her clip for “Love Wins” is...
Ariana Grande’s upward spiral continues with Pittsburgh tour stopVideo
Ariana Grande’s “Arianators” are fiercely loyal to the superstar pop singer. When she was forced to cancel two Florida concert dates May 28 and 29 in Tampa and Orlando due to an allergic reaction to tomatoes, her fans took to social media in protest, urging others to boycott the fruit,...
Summer chamber music series returning to Unity Chapel
A performance by the Duquesne Piano Trio will open the Summer Chamber Music Series in Unity Chapel near Latrobe. The trio will play selections from Haydn, Beethoven and Russian Romantic composer Anton Arensky at 7:30 p.m. June 13 in the historic chapel at 114 Chapel Lane, Unity. Formed in 2013,...
LA Times seeks access to grand jury transcripts in Nipsey Hussle murder case
LOS ANGELES — A public defender representing the man accused of killing rapper Nipsey Hussle is seeking to keep transcripts from his grand jury hearing secret until after his trial. In a motion filed late Thursday, Deputy Public Defender Lowynn Young sought an immediate hearing, arguing that unsealing the transcripts...
Pittsburgh Symphony extends Andres Franco’s contract
Associate conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Andrés Franco’s contract has been extended through the 2021-2022 season. Franco is in his fourth season with the symphony. As resident conductor, Franco will continue to assist music director Manfred Honeck and the orchestra’s guest conductors, while also leading education, outreach and other...
Hempfield teen plans album release, concertVideo
Describing his music as “alternative folk rock,” Eli Yaroch is a teen-age musician with a laser focus on molding his future career. Yaroch, 17, of Hempfield, is a Pittsburgh CAPA musical theater major by day and a musician in his free time. His debut EP, Yaro and the Static’s, “A...
The Who rocks Pittsburgh in orchestra-studded show
The Who rocked PPG Paints Arena in an orchestra-studded show Thursday night that paid tribute not only to nostalgic fans but also to the resiliency of the city of Pittsburgh. “It’s great to be back in Pittsburgh, thank you for coming out to see us tonight,” legendary guitarist and songwriter...
Want to see The Who? Plenty of cheap tickets still available
You can buy tickets to see The Who in Pittsburgh right now cheaper than you can buy a Grand-Dad’s Secret hard shake from Burgatory. The cheapest tickets available Thursday morning on StubHub.com were going for as low as $8.81. A bourbon-laced caramel milkshake will set you back $9.50. Roger Daltrey,...
‘Calling All Divas’ musical scheduled for Palace Theatre stop
“Calling All Divas,” a musical hit parade celebrating music, friendship and the power of sisterhood, will make a July 19 stop at Greensburg’s Palace Theatre on its North American premiere tour. Featuring pop, rock, soul and country hits, the show will begin at 8 p.m. in the theater at 21...
NBC’s ‘The Voice’ to hold Pittsburgh auditions
Got a good voice? Don’t hog it all to yourself, Pittsburgher. NBC’s “The Voice” will be in town on June 19 to hold auditions — maybe it’s your voice they’re looking for. The network’s reality competition has announced the private, invite-only session on its website. Those seeking a slot must...
Travis Tritt bringing rockin’ country to Pittsburgh’s Stage AEVideo
Grammy-winning singer Travis Tritt may be known mostly for his many hits in the ’90s rather than anything recent. The country star’s last album, “The Calm After,” came out in 2013. But no matter who the artist is, fans typically love their heyday work far more than anything current. Take...
Guitarist Tinsley Ellis brings the blues to BlawnoxVideo
Alligator Records recording artist Tinsley Ellis is bringing his substantial guitar chops to Moondog’s in Blawnox in early June. Ellis is touring in support of his latest record, “Winning Hand,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s blues chart. “Guitar, guitar, guitar is what this album is all about,” says...
Gabby Barrett to open for Toby Keith in PittsburghVideo
Gabby Barrett’s star continues to rise. The Munhall native, along with Clay Walker, will be the special guests for country crooner Toby Keith’s Sept. 27 concert at Pittsburgh’s Highmark Stadium. Barrett, 19, shot to fame on “American Idol,” finishing in the top three two seasons ago. She has opened for...
The Who not resting on legacy during Moving On! tourVideo
Last year, The Who singer Roger Daltrey joined up with a number of pops and local orchestras to put a new musical spin on the Who’s legendary rock opera “Tommy.” This year, The Who itself is seemingly taking a page from that playbook with a tour in which the current...
Rob Thomas brings new music, tour to Benedum CenterVideo
Matchbox Twenty frontman and solo vocalist Rob Thomas is taking his Chip Tooth Tour across North America, including a Aug. 27 stop at Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center. The Grammy award winning singer/songwriter is touring in support of his fourth solo album, Chip Tooth Smile. “Chip Tooth Smile is vintage Thomas —...
WDVE Memorial Day 500 ends in major upset
The WDVE Memorial Day 500 returned to the airwaves after more than two decades this holiday weekend, but not without some controversy. Perennial 1980s winner, “Stairway to Heaven,” was unseated as the No. 1 song by Pink Floyd. It wasn’t the defeat of Zeppelin that led to tweets of rage...
Benefit headliner Sheila E. says Pittsburghers are ‘so cordial’
When drummer Sheila E. was 15 years old, her father’s band needed a percussionist. One of the members was ill and not able to perform at the show in San Francisco, Calif. Sheila E. told her dad she could step in. “He wasn’t for that, but when my mom told...
WDVE revives the Memorial Day 500 music countdown
Are you counting down the tunes with WDVE this holiday weekend? The radio station resurrected the beloved Memorial Day 500, a countdown of the top 500 rock tunes of all time. It’s been more than two decades since WDVE-FM 102.5 hosted the music bonanza. Middle age yinzers no doubt remember...
Finale for Renaissance City Choir artistic director Jeffry Blake Johnson
Jeffry Blake Johnson will soon take a final bow. His last performances as artistic director for the Renaissance City Choir are
4 p.m. June 1-2 at East Liberty Presbyterian Church’s Courtyard. He’s been with the group for seven seasons. A search for his replacement has begun. “It’s time,” he says....
Adam Levine leaving ‘The Voice’ after 16 seasons
Adam Levine is leaving NBC’s “The Voice” after 16 seasons. Carson Daly made the announcement Friday morning on the “Today” show. Daly said Gwen Stefani will return for season 17 in Levine’s chair. The Maroon 5 frontman wrote a length Instagram post Friday, saying the Emmy-winning show “went on to...
Sean McDowell discusses retiring from WDVE, last song he’ll play
Sean McDowell has been on Steelers flagship radio station WDVE since 1993. He’s been on air in Pittsburgh since 1981. I spoke with him about his pending retirement which will happen on July 31. LISTEN: Sean McDowell discusses retirement from WDVE When McDowell made the announcement a few weeks ago,...
Pittsburgh area sports strong summer concert lineupVideo
Mark you calendars and get your tickets (although quite a few shows are free) — the sounds of summer are heading this way. Sure as the days get longer and warmer, concert season is upon us. Whether you want to rock, stomp, sing along to the oldies or hum along...
