Free shows at county’s parks varied
Billy Porter, Boz Scaggs highlight lineups at Hartwood, South Park
Circle the date July 23 on your calendar, because it’s going to be a party.
The Mavericks, one of the most festive rock bands on the circuit, will play a free show at Hartwood Acres in Hampton as part of the Allegheny County Concert Series.
The Hartwood season also will feature ’70s hitmaker Boz Scaggs (“Lido Shuffle,” “The Lowdown”), homegrown Tony- and Grammy-winning Billy Porter (“Kinky Boots”), jazz great Larry Carlton and funk band Con Funk Shun.
The South Park Amphitheater in South Park will play host to ’90s faves the Gin Blossoms (“Hey Jealousy”) joined by Pittsburgh’s own Jimmer Podrasky (of the Rave-Ups, performing with local pickup band the Redd-Ups), the genre-bending NRBQ, roots rocker JD McPherson, Southern rock legends The Outlaws and jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco.
“Our 2017 summer concert series will be one of the best yet with new sound and lighting equipment at both amphitheaters, local craft beer for sale, more food truck options, and amazing artists,” Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said in a statement, announcing the series on Thursday.
Mr. Porter, a CAPA High School and Carnegie Mellon University grad, will also perform a more intimate concert on the Hartwood Acres Mansion lawn in Indiana Township on Aug. 26, the day before the free show, for the Allegheny County Parks Foundation’s inaugural Twilight Picnic for the Parks fundraiser. Tickets are available at the $250 (individual), $500 (patron) and $1,000 (benefactor) levels at 724-327-7627 or www.acparksfoundation.org.
The county will also present movies and Unrehearsed Shakespeare Project performances.
More info at www.alleghenycounty.us/summer. Here is the lineup: Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater
All concerts are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Food trucks and Hop Farm Brewing Company will be on site at all concerts beginning at 6 p.m. June 4: Pittsburgh Opera June 11: River City Brass Band
June 18: Father’s Day Car
Cruise & Concert featuring Johnny Angel & The Halos (Oldies; car cruise 2-7 p.m.; concert at 7:30 p.m.)
June 25: Orkesta Mendoza (Ranchera/indie rock)
July 2: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (8:15 p.m.)
July 9: Tank & The Bangas (funk/soul; 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner) with Sweet Crude
July 16: Boz Scaggs (rock/soul/blues)
July 23: The Mavericks with The Last Bandoleros (Americana)
July 30: Con Funk Shun (funk/soul)
Aug. 6: Nick’s Fat City Night featuring Gathering Field and Brownie Mary with special guest The Dick Clarks (local rock)
Aug. 13: BNY Mellon Jazz presents Larry Carlton with Don Aliquo Sr. & Jr. “Fathers and Sons” Album Release Celebration
Aug. 20: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
Aug. 27: Billy Porter (pop/soul/Broadway)
Sept. 3: 18th Annual Allegheny County Music Festival featuring Rusted Root with local opening bands — $20 per vehicle donation benefits the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (World Beat/Rock/ Pop; opening acts at 5 p.m.; Rusted Root at 7:30 p.m.) South Park Amphitheater Schedule
All concerts are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Food trucks and Hop Farm Brewing Company will be on site at all concerts beginning at 6 p.m.
June 2: The Stickers with special guest The Hobbs Sisters (country)
June 9: Tamburitzans (Eastern European folk music and dance)
June 16: Nicole Atkins (soul/Americana)
June 23: U.S. Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors (Big band)
July 1: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (8:05 p.m.)
July 7: BNY Mellon Jazz presents Joey DeFrancesco and Catherine Russell
July 14: NRBQ & The Whole Wheat Horns (rock/ folk)
July 21: Gin Blossoms with special guest Jimmer Podrasky & The Redd-Ups (alt-rock)
July 28: JD McPherson with Dan Getkin & The Twelve Six (rockabilly/blues)
Aug. 4: Sauce Boss (blues)
Aug. 11: The Outlaws with The Steppin Stones (Southern rock)
Aug. 18: Summer of Love Experience (Woodstock covers)
Aug. 25: The Commonheart (rock/soul)
The county parks also will have Family Fun Nights at the Movies with free movies beginning at 8 p.m. at Deer Lakes Park Wagman Observatory, South Park Amphitheater and North Park Boathouse Lawn.
The Unrehearsed Shakespeare Project will have performances of “The Taming of the Shrew” and “The Tragedie of Macbeth” at North Park, Settlers Cabin Park, Boyce Park, Harrison Hills Park and Hartwood Acres.
For free notifications about concerts and other activities in the parks, sign up for Allegheny Alerts at www.alleghenycounty.us/ alerts. Once you have created an account, you can choose the topics you want and how you want to receive the information (email, text, voice) and where you want to receive it (home, work, cell).