Hills Church in Murrysville will host ‘Christmas in Germany’ concertVideo
Over the summer, Masterworks Concert Chorale Director Snezana Lazich fell in love with a piece by one of her favorite composers. “I found Beethoven’s ‘Mass in C,’ and it has such beautiful moments in it,” Lazich said. The 40 members of the MCC, along with a 15-piece orchestra of local...
Renowned Finnish conductor returns to PSO for 2 programs
One of the world’s leading conductors returns to Heinz Hall this week to do double duty. Osmo Vanska will lead a particularly interesting program for a pair of BNY Mellon Grand Classics concerts, and also conduct a masterpiece for the holiday season, “Messiah.” Vanska will conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra...
Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe coming to Pittsburgh in 2020
Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe are coming back to Pittsburgh. The bands will co-headline “The Stadium Tour” with support from Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts in 2020, with dates from July to September. The tour comes to PNC Park on Aug. 16. Tickets go on sale Dec. 13,...
Jay-Z is 50 and his music is back on Spotify
Jay-Z’s milestone birthday comes with some good news for his fans. Today on the 50th birthday of Hov, the rapper’s music has returned to Spotify after being going for years. According to Pitchfork, most of Jay-Z’s music was removed in April 2017 from the streaming service. As far as a...
Westmoreland Symphony schedules annual ‘Home for the Holidays’
The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Home for the Holidays” concert of choral and instrumental holiday pops this year will include a world premiere of “For Behold from Henceforth,” by Pittsburgh-based composer Nancy Galbraith. Also featuring guest conductor Maria Sensi Sellner, the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at...
Maroon 5 coming to Burgettstown’s KeyBank Pavilion on 2020 tourVideo
Three-time Grammy Award-winning band Maroon 5 will play KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown on June 19 as part of its 2020 tour of North and South America. The tour will include the biggest U.S. shows of the band’s career, with the group playing iconic venues such as Wrigley Field in Chicago...
Willie Nelson says he’s quit smoking marijuana over breathing issues
Country icon and marijuana proponent Willie Nelson is saying no to pot … because he wants to keep touring. Nelson spoke to San Antonio’s television station KSAT and said that he wants to continue performing and that he loves touring. But he has to be more healthy. Nelson, 86, told...
Oak Ridge Boys prepared to fill Palace Theatre with holiday cheerVideo
The audience will get a bargain when the Oak Ridge Boys return to Greensburg for their “Down Home Christmas” show. “It’s two shows for the price of one,” says bass singer Richard Sterban of the Dec. 6 date at The Palace Theatre. “At the start of the show, we do...
New holiday albums run the gamut from traditional to original tunesVideo
It’s been a rather prolific year for holiday albums – the 17 titles covered in this column even omit a few 2019 releases. And there aren’t any real duds, either. So here’s a look at this year’s selections. Idina Menzel: “Christmas: A Season Of Love” — If one 2019 Christmas...
Phish jams out at Petersen Events Center
Phish rolled into Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center on Wednesday for its seven-date Fall Tour. The rock band, formed in 1983 on the campus of the University of Vermont, performed its massive catalog of songs to the delight of the crowd. Phish kicked off the show with “555,” “AC/DC Bag” and...
Drake is Spotify’s most streamed artist of the decade
NEW YORK — Drake is the king of streaming: the rapper has been named Spotify’s most-streamed artist of the decade. Spotify announced Tuesday that Drake has been streamed 28 billion times in the past 10 years. Ed Sheeran came in second, while Post Malone, Ariana Grande and Eminem round out...
Pete Townshend regrets not staying to mourn after Who stampede in Cincinnati in 1979
NEW YORK — Forty years after a stampede left 11 people dead and 23 injured at a Who concert in Cincinnati, Pete Townshend says he’s always regretted not sticking around to deal with the aftermath. Instead, the band left the Riverfront Coliseum on Dec. 3, 1979, and moved on to...
Cheap Trick plans winter show at Greensburg’s Palace TheatreVideo
Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick will play The Palace Theatre in Greensburg on Feb. 9. Promoter pre-sale begins at 10 a.m. Dec. 5 via eventbrite.com with the passcode “PALACE.” Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 at 724-836-8000 or thepalacetheatre.org. Tickets...
Bluesman Robert Cray schedules Palace Theatre concertVideo
Grammy Award-winning blues guitarist and singer Robert Cray will play The Palace Theatre in Greensburg on March 13. The original Robert Cray Band came together in 1974 in Eugene, Ore. Its debut release was “Who’s Been Talkin’” in 1980. Songs from the 1986 release of “Strong Persuader,” brought the band...
Chicago tour featuring Rick Springfield coming to PittsburghVideo
Legendary rock and roll horn band Chicago and pop icon Rick Springfield have announced a North American summer amphitheater tour that includes a July 25 date at KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 at livenation.com Chicago has been honored...
Vocal Confluence plans ‘Metro Holiday’ concert
Vocal Confluence, Pittsburgh’s men’s a cappella chorus, will perform its metro holiday concert, “A December to Remember,” on Dec. 8. The 3 p.m. performance will be held at Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh. The group performs music in a variety of styles, including barbershop, jazz, traditional choral and...
Murrysville group will host Italian Christmas program with tenor Marco FioranteVideo
The American Association of University Women’s Murrysville chapter will host Italian singer Marco Fiorante at its Dec. 12 meeting for a special holiday program. Born in Cellino San Marco in Italy’s Puglia region, Fiorante completed his musical study in “canto lirico” (“opera performance”) at the Conservatorio Tito Schipa in Lecce,...
Former Pittsburgh Symphony conductor Mariss Jansons dies at 76
FRANKFURT, Germany — Mariss Jansons, conductor of top classical ensembles including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, has died in Russia. He was 76. Jansons’ death in St. Petersburg was confirmed by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, where he was chief conductor. Jansons had canceled...
The Menzingers had the Pittsburgh crowd singing at Roxian Theatre
There ain’t nothing wrong with rocking on a Saturday night. The Menzingers came through Pittsburgh, playing the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks, and brought a great energy for an hour and 15 minute set for a fun show. The healthy-sized crowd was with the Philadelphia punk band from the time...
Vandergrift’s Casino Theatre hosts annual holiday extravaganza
Get in the holiday spirit at “Hometown Christmas 2019: Counting Down to Christmas.” This 24th annual event will feature songs that exude happy feelings this time of the year. There are three performances at the Casino Theatre in Vandergrift. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6-7 and 2 p.m. Dec....
Snoop Dogg’s songs turned into lullaby album
Some of the biggest Snoop Dogg tracks have been turned into baby jams. “Lullaby Renditions of Snoop Dogg” was released Nov. 29 on vinyl for Record Store Day’s Black Friday 2019 event by Rockabye Baby!, a label that takes “music parents love and transforms it into soothing instrumental lullabies.” The...
Brothers Osborne triumph over sound issues during Bears-Lions Thanksgiving gameVideo
If you try, try and try again, you might be able to play your song, if you’re Brothers Osborne. The duo played the halftime show of the Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions Thanksgiving game, but not without issues. The real-life brothers had the power cut out on them within seconds...
The Menzingers stop at Roxian Theatre in support of ‘Hello Exile’Video
The Menzingers are well known within punk rock circles, having landed multiple albums, including their 2017 release, “After The Party,” on best album lists from such outlets as “Noisey,” “Clash” and “Kerrang!” But in the mainstream rock world, the Menzingers, despite being among the very best punk-centric bands of the...
Saint Vincent community welcomes holidays with 3 performances
A trio of musical performances will herald the Christmas season at Saint Vincent College. All three will begin at 7 p.m. in Saint Vincent Basilica on the Unity campus. The schedule includes: • Sixth Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols, performed by the Saint Vincent Camerata, Dec. 5. The Camerata...
Pittsburgh stations to play Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young marathon, ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ on Thanksgiving
Turn on the Thanksgiving tunes Thursday for a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young marathon on WYEP and the annual WDVE airing of Arlo Guthrie’s 18-minute-plus song “Alice’s Restaurant.” As much a tradition as turkey on Thanksgiving, WDVE will air “Alice’s Restaurant” at noon Thursday when cooks throughout the region pause...
