more to do
THURSDAY: We Were Promised Jetpacks, the brilliantly named Scottish band, which emerged in 2009 on FatCat, the label that gave us The Twilight Sad and Frightened Rabbit, plays the kind of thunderous post- punk meant to rock stadiums. Surprisingly, you can still find them in a club. They bring shoegazy guitars, rumbling beats and thick Scottish accents to Spirit, Lawrenceville, touring behind fourth album “The More I Sleep the Less I Dream.” 8 p. m. $ 16; ticketmaster. com.
THURSDAY: The Woodlands, which provides a music program for individuals with disabilities or chronic illness, presents the 20th anniversary Notes From the Heart Summer Music Camp concert at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, Downtown, at 7 p. m. Tickets are free but must be reserved through eventbrite. com ( search for Notes From the Heart). THURSDAY- SATURDAY: Cranberry Township Community Days features Art in the Park, a car cruise, concerts, free kids area, carnival, Saturday morning pancake breakfast, and music by Sydney Mack ( 7: 30 p. m. Friday) and Mary Ann Mangini ( 5: 30 p. m. Saturday). Cranberry Township Community Park; www.ctcchest.org.
FRIDAY: Switzerland- born and Nashvilleraised Sophie Allison, who works under the banner Soccer Mommy, comes from the Liz Phair school of dreamy, lo- fi indierock. Since releasing proper debut “Clean,” on Fat Possum records, she’s toured with Paramore and Kacey Musgraves and recently played Coachella. She returns for a show at Mr. Smalls, Millvale, with Kevin Krauter. 8 p. m. $ 16; ticketweb.com.
FRIDAY- SATURDAY: The seventh annual Band Jam music festival features 20 local bands performing in a natural amphitheater at Cooper’s Lake Campground in Butler. It includes a mix of genres with Southern and country rock, acoustic and blues, alternative and rock with Shag Dog Melon Head, Highland Brothers Band, Anger the Ant, The Redlines, Dizzy Woosh, The Shiners, Wine & Spirit, John Vento & Friends, Homicide Black, Doppler Affect, Sophie Lockhart, Justin Wade Band, Meathook, Amanda Noah/ James Graff, Dinnerbell Road, J. Roger Davis, Cindy Cooper, Fire Gods, Miranda Brandon and Noble Hops. The $ 20 ticket offers come- and- go admission for both days of the event, which is an extension of The Grass Roots Show that airs on Sunday evenings on The Rock Station 97.7 FM. It begins at 5 p. m. Friday and 11 a. m. Saturday. Tickets at the gate are $ 25; www.thebandjam.com.
FRIDAY- SATURDAY: The seventh annual Pittsburgh Summer Beerfest at Stage AE, North Shore, features hundreds of American Craft beers, live music and food trucks, to benefit the Animal Rescue Partners and Biggies Bullies of Pittsburgh. 6: 30 p. m. $ 45-$ 65; beerfesttickets.com.
FRIDAY- SUNDAY: The 38th annual Slovenefest, a celebration of the music, tastes and traditions of Slovenia, will be held at the SNPJ Recreation Center in Lawrence County. It will feature more than 20 Slovenian polka bands and button box accordion clubs at five indoor and outdoor venues, starting at noon each day. Slovenian sausage, and barbecued lamb, chicken and pork will be available for purchase, along with other favorite festival foods and a variety of beverages, including Slovenian beer and wines. There will also be a display of folk attire, crafts and presentations in the SNPJ Slovenian Heritage Center museum. Guests can swim in the Olympic- size pool, fish in the SNPJ Recreation Center lake, play miniature golf, ride the trackless train and more. The Slovenefest “Make It, Bake It, Grow It” Crafters Bazaar will present several of the area’s finest crafters. Hours of operation for the crafters bazaar are noon to 7 p. m. on Saturday and Sunday. It’s at 270 Martin Rd., Enon Valley. Admission is $ 10 Friday and Sunday, $ 15 Saturday. A threeday pass is offered for $ 30. Children and teens age 16 and under are admitted free of charge. Ample free parking is available, and shuttle service is also offered free of charge; snpjrec.com.
SATURDAY: Bruce Hornsby, the Grammy- winning singer- songwriter- pianist from Virginia who came to fame in 1986 with “The Way It Is” and became a touring member of The Grateful Dead in the early 1990s, returns having just released “Absolute Zero,” a new album that challenges fans once again with its emotional depth, jazzy textures and rhythmic complexity, thanks in part to collaborators like Jack DeJohnette and Justin Vernon. Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers play the Roxian in McKees Rocks. 8 p. m. $ 45; roxianlive.com.
SATURDAY: The Steel Curtain, the new Pittsburgh Steelers- branded roller coaster at Kennywood Park, will open to the public with a nine- inversion steel track — touted by park officials as the most in North America — and the world’s tallest inversion, at 197 feet high. Riders also will experience Pennsylvania’s tallest coaster experience, at 220 feet, with a top speed of 75 miles per hour. If those aren’t enough thrills, there’s also a 205- foot drop in the mix.
SUNDAY: Stephen Marley, the 47- yearold son of Bob and Rita Marley, started off in older brother Ziggy’s band in 1979 when he was just 7. The singer- guitarist, who sounds remarkably like his dad, went solo in 2007 and won three straight best reggae album Grammys by putting his own stamp on the classic sound. Of course, his free show at Hartwood Acres in Hampton will be a celebration with some of father’s legendary songs mixed in with this own. With DJ Shacia Payne at 7: 30 p. m. SUNDAY: “Rising Above the Waters” is a benefit for Butler County flood victims at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille, Marshall, with Jim Donovan & Sun King Warriors and Dennis McCurdy & the Lonesome No More Band. Doors open at 4 p. m., the show starts at 6 p. m. and tickets are $ 20-$ 30 at www. ticketfly. com.