John Williams, Ben Folds have new Pittsburgh Symphony dates
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announced new 2021 dates for two special concerts that were postponed from the 2019-2020 season. “An Evening with Honeck & Mutter & Williams” will take place on June 9, while Ben Folds will appear with the orchestra on Oct. 15 next year. Both concerts will begin...
Pittsburgh hip-hop artist Mars Jackson talks new album, social justice, ways to ‘Look Up’
Pittsburgh hip-hop artist Mars Jackson has a knack for surprising people. He performed in art galleries, like Penn Avenue’s Most Wanted Fine Art, when clubs weren’t his style. Threads of soul, jazz and gospel are prominently displayed in his melodic brand of hip-hop music. He openly discusses the benefits of...
Annual John Lennon tribute, in 40th year, goes online
NEW YORK — Like many other events, an annual John Lennon tribute concert that takes place in his adopted city of New York on his Oct. 9 birthday has been forced online because of the coronavirus pandemic. There was no way it was being canceled, not on what would have...
Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs top CMT nomsVideo
Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett top the 2020 CMT Music Awards nominations with three each. In nominations announced Wednesday for the pandemic-delayed show, 14 videos are vying for the top prize of video of the year. The fan-voted show will air...
Elton John announces new North American dates for final tour — in 2022
NEW YORK — After postponing several shows because of the coronavirus pandemic, Elton John is saying hello to the yellow brick road of touring. The pop icon announced Wednesday that his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour” will return to North America on Jan. 19, 2022, in New Orleans. John also...
40 years ago, reggae legend Bob Marley jammed Pittsburgh in his final concertVideo
When David Meerman Scott snuck down from the Stanley Theatre balcony to snap photos of Bob Marley’s performance 40 years ago, he was just happy to be closer to the music. “I was never rich or connected enough to have really great seats at a show,” said Scott, who at...
South Side’s Rex Theater closing permanently
Pittsburgh’s Rex Theater, a South Side concert venue, will close permanently, theater management announced Tuesday on social media. “Due to the ongoing hardship and uncertain future caused by the covid-19 pandemic, The Rex Theater will be closing our doors after over a decade of live music and events,” they wrote on...
Post Malone leads Billboard Awards nominationsVideo
Post Malone is the sunflower of the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. The multi-platinum 25-year-old star scored 16 nominations, dick clark productions and NBC announced Tuesday. Malone’s nominations include top artist, top male artist, top rap artist and top streaming songs artist. His 2019 album “Hollywood’s Bleeding” — which featured the...
Last studio recording of jazz trumpeter Woody Shaw released
RIO RANCHO, N.M. — A forgotten studio recording of the late jazz trumpeter Woody Shaw has been released as part of an effort to preserve jazz history. “49th Parallel,” a 1987 recording led by Canadian bassist Neil Swainson that features Shaw and tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, was made available this...
Twisted Sister to anti-maskers: Don’t use our protest song
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider took to social media to condemn anti-maskers who went into a Florida Target store blaring the group’s hit “We’re Not Gonna Take It” while ripping off their masks. In a tweet Wednesday, Snider called the stunt “moronic” and shared a video...
New box set has trove of rare, unreleased Elton John songs
Elton John is opening up his vault and releasing an expansive collection of rarely heard and unreleased tracks. John announced Thursday that the eight-CD collection, “Elton: Jewel Box,” will be released on Nov. 13. The collection includes “Sing Me No Sad Songs,” an unreleased studio demo from 1969. The “Jewel...
Carrie Underwood, Thomas Rhett tie for top prize at ACMsVideo
In surprise twist that fit an unexpected year of firsts, Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett tied for entertainer of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, the first time the top prize has been split between two artists. Underwood and Rhett seemed equally taken aback after host Keith...
Country’s night to party sobers up amid pandemic
In a pre-pandemic world, the Academy of Country Music Awards advertised itself as country music’s night to party with gambling, after-parties and a Las Vegas-style attitude. This year the red carpet, crowds and gambling are all replaced with covid-19 tests, temperature checks and face masks. The awards show was delayed...
Brad, Kimberly Williams-Paisley fight hunger with 1 million meal pledge
After opening a free grocery store earlier this year, country music star Brad Paisley and his wife are expanding their efforts to fight hunger in America. Paisley and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, have pledged to donate 1 million nutritional meals this month. The initiative is billed as the Million...
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and opera take stage for outdoor concert SundayVideo
Classical music-starved fans in Western Pennsylvania will finally get to see a live performance Sunday. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Opera will perform an open-air concert at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s mobile stage in the parking lot of their Strip District headquarters. It’s part of PBT’s Open Air...
Modern string quartet next up in WSO outdoor concert seriesVideo
Beo String Quartet will perform Sept. 25 in Hempfield Park, as part of the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s “Live on the Lawn” summer concert series. Music will begin at 7 p.m. in the amphitheater of the park at 220 Forbes Trail Road. The Pittsburgh-based quartet’s two earlier dates in the series...
The Clarks’ Scott Blasey to perform at diabetes fundraiser
If Julia Balobeck sleeps through her phone’s alarm, it can be life-threatening. The 18-year-old from Crafton has diabetes and wears a device that alerts her to low blood sugar through her smartphone. It also sends a warning to her mother’s phone. “At night she gets some crazy low readings,” said...
Grammy Museum to launch online streaming service
Ready to Grammys and chill? The Grammy Museum is launching its own online streaming service featuring performances and interviews from A-list musicians, as well as material from the museum’s archive. COLLECTION:live will debut on Sept. 17 and the monthly subscription will cost $2.99 (the yearly price is $29.99). About 40...
Blue Oyster Cult headlines Vinoski Winery show
Pioneer heavy metal band Blue Oyster Cult will play Oct. 3 at Vinoski Winery in Rostraver. The band will be joined by Pittsburgh-area singer/songwriter Mark Ferrari and indie rock trio Abacus Jones. Doors will open at 3 p.m., with music beginning at 4 p.m., rain or shine. Blue Oyster Cult...
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announces financial changes because of pandemic
In the wake of canceled concerts and postponed tours, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Thursday announced a series of financial cutbacks to help sustain the organization through the pandemic. The 87 musicians have agreed to a 25% reduction in base salary. Additionally, 75% of the staff has been affected with...
New Kensington record store reopening over Labor Day weekend at new location
A New Kensington record store will reopen this weekend in a new location designed with social distancing in mind. AJ Rassau, owner of Preserving Underground with his wife, Sarah, is spreading his store’s grand reopening over the Labor Day weekend to keep the crowd from becoming overwhelming. Preserving Underground is...
‘Git Up’ singer Blanco Brown undergoes surgery after car accidentVideo
“The Git Up” singer Blanco Brown is in intensive care after suffering significant injuries in a head-on vehicle collision near Atlanta. A statement from his record label, BBR Music Group, said the writer and producer was injured Monday night and was transported to a local hospital where he underwent a...
Miranda Lambert leads CMA noms, Luke Combs’ streak continuesVideo
Country star Miranda Lambert turns her “Wildcard” into an ace as she’s the leading nominee at the 2020 Country Music Association Awards, including her first entertainer of the year nomination in five years. The CMAs announced Tuesday that Lambert earned seven nominations. The Grammy winner was pushed by the success...
‘American Idol’ holding virtual auditions for upcoming season
The search is on for the next “American Idol” via virtual Zoom auditions. “Idol Across America” remote auditions are taking place across all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., for the first time since the show’s inception. Idol hopefuls have the chance to audition face-to-face in front of “American Idol” producers...
Ed Sheeran and wife Cherry announce birth of daughter Lyra
Ed Sheeran and his wife, Cherry, have announced the birth of their daughter, Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran. The singer-songwriter said in an Instagram post that the couple’s “beautiful and healthy daughter” was born last week. View this post on Instagram Ello! A quick message from me as I have some...
