Friday, May 9, 2014

The Summer of '14 (and Beyond), Part 2

Allegheny County Summer Concert Series

This year's lineup features a number of treats in addition to the Pittsburgh Blues Festival. For blues fans, Sonny Landreth will make a second appearance in the area. Li'l Ed Williams, a Chicago-based slide guitarist, will be appearing with his band, the Blues Imperials. Buckwheat Zydeco will make another Pittsburgh appearance. You may also want to catch popular soul singer Macy Gray. Fans of '50s vocal groups will have a chance to hear Pure Gold.

The Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, led by Sean Jones, will appear along with a guest star, Cuban saxophonist Paquito d'Rivera. You can also catch Gloria Reuben and the Caribbean Jazz Ensemble. Finally, even if you've never heard of them, be sure not to overlook Lake Street Dive, aptly described in the Post-Gazette as “a jazzy roots band from Boston.” I've heard one of their CDs and it's a winner.

Here's the full schedule. There are two outdoor venues. With the exception of the Pittsburgh Blues Festival (see Part 1 of this post) and others noted, the shows are free and start at 7:30.

Hartwood Acres (Sunday nights)

June 1              The Abby Lee Dance Company
June 8              28 North, with 7Horse
June 15            Pure Gold, with Father's Day Car Cruise
June 22            Sonny Landreth, with Kevin Garrett
June 29            Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers
July 6               Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (8:15)
July 13             Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, with Paquito d'Rivera
July 20             Lake Street Dive
July 25-27        Pittsburgh Blues Festival
August 3          Jerry Douglas, with Nameless in August
August 10        Macy Gray
August 17        Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
August 24        Duquesne Tamburitzans
August 31        Allegheny County Music Festival ($20 admission)


South Park Ampitheater (Friday nights)

May 30           Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers
June 6             Li'l Ed and the Blues Imperials, with Jill West and Blues Attack
June 13           Pittsburgh Opera
June 20           Buckwheat Zydeco
June 27           The Stickers, with the Christian Beck Band
July 5              Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Saturday, at 8:00)
July 11            Ha Ha Tonka, with Townsppl
July 18            Sister Hazel
July 25            Gospel Music Night
August 1          Serena Ryder, with the Harlan Twins
August 8          The Hitmen (original members of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and
                       Tommy James and the Shondells)
August 15        Lovebettie
August 24        Gloria Reuben and the Caribbean Jazz Ensemble
August 31        River City Brass

Calliope Concerts, 2014-15

Calliope, Pittsburgh's Folk Music Society, has announced next year's concert schedule. It includes two acts of interest to blues fans and one to jazz fans. Josh White, Jr., Rev. Robert B. Jones and Radoslav Lorkovic, three folk and blues musicians, will pay tribute to Lead Belly. The Holmes Brothers—Wendell Holmes, Sherman Holmes and Popsy Dixon—who have a new Alligator CD, Brotherhood, will be in for an evening of blues, soul and gospel. Jazz banjo player will end the season with fellow banjoist and singer Abigail Washburn. All concerts are held on Saturday at 7:30 in the monumentally uncomfortable confines of the Carnegie Lecture Hall in Oakland. Here's the full schedule.

October 18            The Duhks (Canadian fusion folk band)
November 11         Darlingside and Danny Schmidt (indie folk and singer-songwriter)
November 22         Janis Ian (you probably know her)
December 6           The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band
January 17            Josh White, Jr., Robert B. Jones and Radoslav Lorkovic
February 28           The Holmes Brothers
March 28               The Cathie Ryan Band (Celtic music)
April 11                  Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn

You may also be interested in reading:

No comments:

Post a Comment