Jason Mraz to headline Rock, Reggae & Relief benefit concert

There is hope that live music is coming back in 2021.

Rock, Reggae & Relief, a festival benefiting hospitality workers and food insecurity, has announced a lineup of artists.

It’s scheduled for Aug. 28.

“We feel safe that, by then, most people will have taken the (covid) vaccine, and it’s an outdoor event that we can keep people safe,” said Lucas Piatt, founder of the festival, and president Millcraft and Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty.

He and well-known music promoter Rich Engler teamed to book the talent for the fourth annual festival. This is the third time it will be for charity.

The lineup included Grammy winning and Billboard top–charting artists Jason Mraz, The Wailers, UpRooted featuring Michael Gablicki of Rusted Root, and Roots of Creation.

Mraz will be coming off the heels of his newly released reggae-infused album, “Look for the Good.”

“We are super excited,” said Piatt. “We are so looking forward to it and believe the city of Pittsburgh is, too.

”That’s why we wanted to release (the announcement) around Christmas. We need some positives this year.”

The all-ages music festival will be held from 1 to 11 p.m. on Forbes Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh. Bands will play throughout the afternoon and late evening.

There is an after-party nearby at Revel + Roost.

Tickets start at $50 and are available here.

Piatt said the pandemic has devastated the hospitality industry and caused many families to face food insecurity. Funds raised will benefit the Food Insecurity and Hospitality Workers Fund managed by The Piatt Family Foundation.

Another fund the event will help is the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s “Community Takeout” initiative, established in partnership with 412 Food Rescue. It supports downtown Pittsburgh’s restaurants and their employees.

“This is a way to give back and also have some fun with a concert,” Piatt said. “In 2020, we learned that maybe we took some things for granted.”