Carnegie Mellon University’s Exploded Ensemble hosts virtual, interactive concert
Audience participation from afar is highly suggested for this performance. Carnegie Mellon University’s Exploded Ensemble will play a live concert at 7 p.m. Sunday on Twitch.tv, a livestreaming platform for gamers that has become a virtual vehicle for other interactive events. According to its website, Exploded Ensemble is the university’s...
Hampton teen inspired by Taylor Swift wins WYEP’s singer-songwriter competitionVideo
Lindsay Liebro hasn’t had years of vocal training or lessons on a musical instrument. The 16-year-old Hampton High School junior says she developed her vocal style by singing in the choir and performing in school musicals. And she is self-taught on the guitar, which she says “came so naturally.” But...
SiriusXM launches 14 of its holiday music channelsVideo
SiriusXM announced today that 14 of its 17 holiday music channels are available now on the app. The lineup will include 17 ad-free channels including a new channel, Jolly Christmas. The holiday music channels include traditional songs, classic Christmas carols, holiday pop, country Christmas, contemporary, soul, Hanukkah and Christmas favorites....
The late Whitney Houston makes history with 3rd diamond albumVideo
The late Whitney Houston has earned her third diamond-certified album, becoming the first Black artist to achieve the feat. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Legacy Recordings announced Wednesday that Houston’s 1987 sophomore album, “Whitney,” has reached diamond status, which is equivalent to selling 10 million albums. Her...
Westmoreland-based Derek Woods Band earns Hollywood music award nominationVideo
The first award nomination for a Westmoreland County-based band is a bright spot in a challenging year. “Unforgiving Tree,” a song and video by the Derek Woods Band, is nominated in the Americana/Folk/Acoustic category of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards to be announced Jan. 27. “We’re in a network...
Chorus of artists tell Trump to stop using their music
From the beloved opening lines of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” to the rousing, children’s-choir conclusion of the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” President Donald Trump’s campaign rallies have been filled with classic songs whose authors and their heirs loudly reject him and his politics. It’s become a...
Lost interviews hold new Bob Dylan insights
For nearly half a century, they were blowin’ in the wind: lost interviews that contained surprising new insights about celebrated singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Transcripts of the 1971 interviews with the late American blues artist Tony Glover — and letters the two friends exchanged — have surfaced at a Boston auction...
The Weeknd and Roddy Ricch lead AMA nominations with 8 each
The Weeknd and Roddy Ricch are the leading nominees for this year’s American Music Awards with eight apiece. Both will compete for artist of the year against Justin Bieber, Post Malone and Taylor Swift, it was announced Monday. Megan Thee Stallion is the next leading nominee with five, including for...
Proposed bill would provide relief for theaters, music venues
John Pergal is in a difficult situation. Pergal owns the Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall in Lawrenceville, and is part of the ownership group for the Roxian Theater in McKees Rocks. Both buildings are usually filled with the sounds of music and the sight of dancing crowds enjoying their favorite...
SPUDS and ATS to perform at ‘Old School Cool’ in Pittsburgh’s Strip District Terminal
When the “Special People Under Doctors Supervision” band played in the 1980s, the first set started at 10:17 p.m. Fans could listen to live music from the SPUDS at Moondog’s Pub in Blawnox, the former Bloomfield Bridge Tavern in Bloomfield and the former Electric Banana music venue in Oakland. “We...
Carrie Underwood adds to CMT Music Awards haul
NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Carrie Underwood already had the most CMT Music Awards of any artist, but she’ll need to make more room on her shelf. The superstar picked up two more trophies for video of the year and female video of the year in a remotely shot awards show. Underwood...
CMT Music Awards to feature trio of hosts, outdoor stagesVideo
A trio of new hosts will lead fans through a new look at this year’s CMT Music Awards, which replaced the live arena audience with performances in scenic outdoor locations around Nashville, Tenn. Country singers Kane Brown and Ashley McBryde join “Modern Family” actor Sarah Hyland as co-hosts during Wednesday...
Photo altered to Ice Cube, 50 Cent in ‘Trump 2020’ hats
An altered photo of rappers Ice Cube and 50 Cent in hats that appear to show support for President Donald Trump circulated widely on social media Tuesday, fueled in part by a tweet by Eric Trump. “Two great, courageous Americans,” Trump’s son tweeted. He removed the tweet with a photo...
Guitars played, partly designed by Eddie Van Halen go to auction
Two guitars owned, played and partly designed by the late Eddie Van Halen will be going up for auction. A 2004 EVH Charvel Art Series electric guitar and a customized electric guitar Van Halen built at his home studio with his guitar tech Matt Bruck and given to a friend...
Pittsburgh Symphony, Comcast play sweet music together
Hear the sounds of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra throughout the city — from your home. Comcast will offer “Front Row: The PSO Virtual Experience” On Demand for Xfinity customers in Pittsburgh and throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. The first of five episodes, “Our Love for Pittsburgh” premieres at 7:30 p.m. Monday. “The...
Virtual beer festival hosted by Pittsburgh-area women will bring performances from G. Love, Flavor Flav
Alyssa Smith and Michelle Dangelo Arnoni are best friends. They were having a girls’ night, drinking and laughing, when they came up with an idea. Fill a box with 24 beers and have a virtual beer festival during the pandemic. “We really want to connect people and bring a little...
412 Food Rescue hosting virtual concert fundraiser with Wiz Khalifa
A virtual “Yinz Citizen” concert and fundraiser hosted by 412 Food Rescue and featuring appearances by Wiz Khalifa, Anti-Flag, The Commonheart, Joe Grushecky, Donnie Iris and others is set for Nov. 12. The event is designed to raise money for 412 Food Rescue’s work to combat hunger and food waste....
Post Malone owns Billboard Awards, John Legend shines onstage
NEW YORK — Walking into the show with 16 nominations, Post Malone won nine honors at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, where John Legend gave a heartfelt performance that was dedicated to his wife. With his voice aching as he sang passionately from the piano, Legend told viewers “this is...
Stage Right plans outdoor, circus sideshow-inspired ‘Rocky Horror Show Live’
Get ready to do the time warp again. Stage Right Theatre Company will stage “The Rocky Horror Show Live” under a big top tent on Oct. 23-24 and 30-31. There will be a few pandemic-driven changes to the company’s long-running Halloween season production, including the outdoor venue, said director and...
Hong Kong orchestra quarantines after member contracts covid
HONG KONG — About 100 members of a Hong Kong orchestra are being quarantined after one of its members tested positive for the coronavirus. A bass clarinet player for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra was infected, according to a Facebook post by fellow orchestra member Andrew Simon. Simon, the orchestra’s...
Westmoreland Symphony’s virtual season opener features ‘the other Bach’Video
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s virtual concert season opens Oct. 24 with “Back to Bach,” streaming live at 7:30 p.m. from the stage of Greensburg’s The Palace Theatre. The Bach listed in the program is not Johann Sebastian, but rather Carl Philipp Emanuel, son of the renowned composer and also a musician...
Connellsville’s Harold Betters, known as ‘Mr. Trombone,’ dies at 92
Known as “Mr. Trombone,” Western Pennsylvania native Harold Betters succeeded on the world stage, but he always called Connellsville home. It was in Connellsville where Betters died peacefully Sunday, surrounded by family, according to his daughter. He was 92. Betters, well known for his command of the trombone, was for...
Valerie Bertinelli, David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, others post tributes to Eddie Van Halen
Rock legend Eddie Van Halen died Tuesday at the age of 65 after a long fight with throat cancer. Eddie, along with his brother Alex on drums, Michael Anthony on bass and singer David Lee Roth started Van Halen the band in Pasadena, Calif., in 1974. Eddie’s unique style and...
Linda Ronstadt looks back at her most cherished momentsVideo
Growing up close to U.S. border in Tucson, Ariz., Linda Ronstadt was exposed to the music and culture of Mexico from an early age. Her father would often sing at their home in Spanish. “I heard Mexican radio my whole life,” the American singer told The Associated Press in a...
Pittsburgh DJ Sean McDowell ranks Eddie Van Halen among greatest guitarists
Longtime WDVE disc jockey Sean McDowell has no doubts about guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen’s place in rock history. “I’ve always had him at number five on my list of the greatest rock guitarists ever,” said McDowell. “I’ve always had him there, at least since 1978, along with (Jimi) Hendrix,...
