Allegheny RiverTrail Park summer concert series returns

Good music, tasty food, and a beautiful view can make any summer night perfect. This year, Allegheny RiverTrail Park will once again offer all three with its free summer concert series.

On the second Friday of June, July, August and September, music lovers will gather at the park to watch local favorite bands and nationally rising artists perform.

“It’s just a really unbelievable place to have a concert,” said Dee Stathis, executive director of Allegheny RiverTrail Park. “You’re right on the Allegheny River, the riverside deck sort of extends over the river and there’s a beautiful lawn. It’s just an incredible place to have it.”

This is the fifth year of the free summer concert series, and Stathis said that the institution has grown over the years, along with the park itself, which added eight acres of land last year. Allegheny RiverTril Park was established in 2011 when thousands of community members banded together to purchase the Aspinwall Marina and turn it into parkland for public use.

According to Stathis, the summer concert series was the brainchild of an ARP board member who loves music. Now, it’s blossomed into a summer must-see with top-tier talent.

Kicking off this season on June 13 will be The Commonheart, an energetic and positive collective of musicians that offer feel-good messaging, charismatic performers and a killer horn section. The Pittsburgh-based group will brighten up even the sunniest sunset at the Alegheny RiverTrail Park.

July 11 will bring Palmyra to the riverside deck. The Virginia trio has deep roots in the South but takes that musical tradition to new heights with complex songs and innovative, genre-bending sound. With a mix of folk, post-rock and more, they’ll keep you entranced for their entire set.

The Sun King Warriors will perform on Aug. 8. Jim Donovan, of the blockbuster Pittsburgh band Rusted Root, leads this energetic group that plays roots rock with a vibrant twist. You’ll love their original songs, but they also mix in some of their unique takes on classic tunes.

Last but not least, on Sept 12, are Good Brother Earl & Brownie Mary’s Kelsey & Co. See Kelsey Friday, of the successful ’90s local band Brownie Mary, now with her own band. She’ll bring her singular vocal talent to the stage. Good Brother Earl is another long-running local treasure. They’ll blend together Americana, rock and country to create the perfect end-of-summer sound.

All of the concerts will begin at 7 p.m., but attendees are encouraged to get to the park as early as 5 p.m. to pick their favorite viewing spot.

“We have food trucks out there and there’s a lot of space for kids to run around, so it’s a really great family place to have it,” Stathis said. “There’s usually a lot of dancing, depending on the artist.”

Different food trucks will be available at each concert, and Trace Brewing will be on hand to provide the perfect beer to pair with your evening. The concerts will go on rain or shine, so bring your ponchos or umbrellas if the skies look gray. Concertgoers are also encouraged to bike, walk, carpool or ride share, as parking is limited — and turnout is expected to be big.

“It really is a community celebration. It’s exciting to bring not just people from Aspinwall but really people from all around the city to enjoy a unique space,” Stathis said.

For more information about the lineup for Allegheny RiverTrail Park’s summer concert series, visit alleghnyrivertrailpark.org.