Africa’s jazz great Manu Dibango dies in France of virusVideo
PARIS — Renowned jazz man Manu Dibango, to many the beloved “Papy Groove” who served as an inspiration and pioneer in his art, died on Tuesday with the coronavirus, his official Facebook page announced. He was 86. The saxophonist who inspired what is known as “world music” was recently hospitalized...
River City Brass celebrates anniversaries, honors supportersVideo
When River City Brass artistic and general director James Gourlay, a native of Scotland, was invited to be a guest conductor for the Pittsburgh band in 2010, he immediately fell in love with the city. “I kept a video diary. I would go into Giant Eagle or a barbershop. I...
Celtic Thunder sets November date at The Palace TheatreVideo
The Irish vocal group Celtic Thunder has a Nov. 23 concert date at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. Promoter presale begins at 10 a.m. April 1 with the passcode “PALACE” via eventbrite.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. April 3 at thepalacetheatre.org. Show time is...
Neon Swing X-perience invites fans to interactive online session
Fans of Neon Swing X-Perience can connect with the band during an interactive online session from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday. The Pittsburgh-based jazz-funk-blues band will host a session that will include members talking about their experiences with the band, a question-and-answer session and clips from albums and past live shows. A...
Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ rewrite eliminates hands touching handsVideo
We all know by now that we should not have hands … touching hands. Neil Diamond is doing his part to help. The singer-songwriter has rewritten the lyrics in “Sweet Caroline” to be more in line with the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Sitting beside a fire with his dog, Diamond played...
Singer, actor, ‘The Gambler’: Kenny Rogers dies at 81Video
Actor-singer Kenny Rogers, the smooth, Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned jazz, folk, country and pop with such hits as “Lucille,” “Lady” and “Islands in the Stream” and embraced his persona as “The Gambler” on record and on TV, died Friday night. He was 81. He died at home in Sandy Springs,...
Placido Domingo resigns from opera union, donates $500,000
Superstar Plácido Domingo has resigned from the U.S. union that represents opera singers and will contribute $500,000 to sexual harassment eradication programs and a fund that helps opera employees in crisis, the union said Friday. The development came weeks after investigations by the American Guild of Musical Artists and Los...
The Grand Ole Opry to play on in an empty theater
The Grand Ole Opry, the longest running radio show in history, is playing on through the coronavirus outbreak by returning to its roots. The country music institution, which has been airing Saturday nights for 94 years, is set to broadcast live on television this week in front of an empty...
Garth Brooks plans acoustic concert on Facebook LiveVideo
Country superstar Garth Brooks will do his part to keep fans entertained during coronavirus shutdowns with a live Facebook concert. The singer said on his “Inside Studio G” Facebook Live show that he’ll livestream an acoustic set at 6 p.m. March 23 CST, 7 p.m. here in southwestern Pa. Brooks...
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra plays on — onlineVideo
In an effort to provide music to its fans while on hiatus due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra is introducing its new WSO to Go series. The orchestra website notes the series will “keep the music playing wherever we can.” ”We will be sharing videos from our...
Pittsburgh Symphony reschedules ‘Bugs Bunny,’ cancels other dates
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has announced new dates for its previously postponed PNC Pops “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony” concerts, and has issued a new list of cancellations. The “Bugs Bunny” series has been moved to June 30-July 2 in Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall. Information for current ticket-holders includes: March 20 tickets...
With venues closed, bands turn to live streams to connect with fans
At their live shows, the Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers’ earning potential is typically limited by the size of the venue they’re playing. On the evening of March 14, the Stragglers live-streamed two sets of bluegrass from a band member’s living room that garnered about 20,000 views — and by inserting PayPal...
Bonnaroo postponed until the fall
Bonnaroo won’t be happening in June. The Manchester, Tenn., music and arts festival announced Wednesday that the annual event, originally set to take place June 11 to June 14, would be moved to the fall. Bonnaroo will be rescheduled to Sept 24-27, 2020. Updates to come. Can’t wait to see...
Rolling Stones postpone Pittsburgh show, ‘No Filter’ tour
The Rolling Stones won’t be playing Pittsburgh, for now. AEG Presents/ Concerts West announced Tuesday that the Rolling Stones “No Filter” tour is being postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Stones were set to play Heinz Field on June 23. pic.twitter.com/d6lbhVdXzK— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) March 17, 2020 “We’re...
Band Together Pittsburgh founders earn international Communitas Award for autism programsVideo
Music can be a stabilizing force and an anchor in one’s life. It’s certainly been that for Ron Esser of Frazer Township, whose longstanding love for live music — the blues in particular — led him to become the owner of Moondog’s and the Starlite Lounge in Blawnox. Esser and...
Where to see local and national music through live streamsVideo
The live performances may have been canceled (or postponed) out of an abundance of caution amid the coronavirus outbreak, but — as they love to say — “the show must go on.” And why not online? Many acts — local and national — are taking to the internet to perform...
With 208th song on Hot 100 chart, Drake sets new record
Drake has landed his 208th song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, setting a new record for most songs on the music chart. The rapper’s latest track, “Oprah’s Bank Account” with DaBaby and Lil Yachty, debuted at No. 89 on the Hot 100 chart this week and helps Drake surpass...
Academy of Country Music postpones awards show amid virus
NEW YORK — The show won’t go on for the Academy of Country Music, after all. The academy said Sunday that it was postponing its annual awards show, which was to be held April 5 at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas and televised on CBS, because of the...
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Wuorinen dies at 81
NEW YORK — Charles Wuorinen, winner of the 1970 Pulitzer Prize in Music and composer of the operas “Brokeback Mountain” and “Haroun and the Sea of Stories,” died from injuries suffered in a fall in September. He was 81. Wuorinen, who composed more than 270 works, died Wednesday at New...
Code Orange will Twitch stream show planned for Roxian Theatre after postponement
Code Orange will not play a show in front of fans Saturday, but they will play a show. The Pittsburgh hardcore band announced Friday, the day of the release of new album “Underneath,” that their record release show at the Roxian Theatre would not happen, for now. ANNOUNCEMENT. please RT...
Westmoreland Symphony hits social media to get postponement out
The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s decision to postpone the planned March 14 “Irish Rhapsody” concert included a “full court press” announcement. Patron notifications include Endy Reindl, executive director, making the announcement Thursday via a video posted Thursday to the WSO’s website and social media accounts. In the video announcement, Reindl notes...
Reba show at PPG Paints Arena rescheduled over coronavirus concerns
Reba McEntire’s March 26 show at PPG Paints Arena has been postponed as coronavirus concerns continue to stretch across the country, the singer/songwriter announced Thursday night. She will now be coming to Pittsburgh July 16. All tickets purchased for the March 26 show will be honored. The nationwide arena tour,...
The Killers set for Pittsburgh return
The Killers are coming back to Pittsburgh. Live Nation Pittsburgh announced the Grammy-nominated rock band would return this fall for a show Oct. 8 at Petersen Events Center. JUST ANNOUNCED: @thekillers return to Pittsburgh for the first time in 7 years! They'll be at the Petersen Events Center on October...
Robert Cray brings legendary blues to The Palace TheatreVideo
If ever an artist firmly stood at the intersection of rhythm and blues it’s Robert Cray. While the Georgia native has earned numerous accolades (and quite a number of Grammys) for his acumen as a blues artist, Cray’s vocal and playing style is far more reflective of his deep and...
Sweet sounds of doo-wop coming to The Palace Theatre stage
There was something magical about those vocal harmony groups of the 1950s and ’60s. Before the days of Auto-Tune and other recording studio wizardry, what they sang into the microphone was what came out on the record — and what they re-created in concert. Maybe that sheer artistry and talent...
