Two bandmates in Pittsburgh’s Nowhere Wolves are organizing the second annual Loud & Proud Music Festival, a grassroots LGBTQ+ music event.

The festival, set to run from noon to 8 p.m. June 8 at Allegheny City Brewing, will benefit the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation, which helps to improve the health of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities in Western Pennsylvania. Last year’s event raised $1,600 for the foundation.

“LGBTQ+ and HIV+ people are still very much members of marginalized and persecuted communities,” said J. Trafford, who is organizing the festival with Candrika Rice. “We want to support our friends, loved ones and neighbors.”

The festival features performances by LGBTQ+ talent from the Pittsburgh area and surrounding regions, including Nowhere Wolves, Lylyth, Aggressica, Nutmeg Party, Casey Catone, Lez Paul, Uprising, Lady Grace & the Infinite Failure, Sarah Halter, Justiere, Moreluvbby and Millie Dread.

“Loud & Proud Music Festival is a peaceful affirmation of art,” Trafford said, “and peaceful affirmations of art are honestly fewer and farther between.”

Trafford filled in TribLive on what else we should know about Nowhere Wolves:

Band: Nowhere Wolves

Band members: Candrika Rice (electric bass, backing vocals); J. Trafford (vocals, 12-string electric guitar); Paul Bradley (drums); Wes Alden (electric 5-string violin)

Founding story: Nowhere Wolves came about when three other rock bands in the Pittsburgh area wrapped up. The previous acts had some live dates to be fulfilled, and J. Trafford called together Nowhere Wolves as a spontaneous unit to oblige.

Origin of band’s name: Nowhere Wolves is taken from a line in the British punk band Buzzcocks’ 1977 song “Breakdown,” in which Howard Devoto sings “a nowhere wolf of pain.”

For fans of: Placebo, The Sex Pistols, Frank Sinatra, J.S. Bach

Influences: Green Day, Esquerita, Auguste Rodin

Releases: “Nowhere Wolves” album (2024), recorded live at Poetry Lounge in Millvale

Next shows: June 8, Loud & Proud Music Festival at Allegheny City Brewing; June 21 at 222 Ormsby; June 25 at Moondog’s Pub; July 16 at Arsenal Lanes

How to find them: Nowhere Wolves can be found online at their website and on Spotify.

Three other Pittsburgh area bands to check out: Lylyth, The Slobberknockers, Edgewood Symphony Orchestra

Favorite pizza shop: Candrika says Country Style Pizza in Bridgeville, and Paul says Caliente.

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