Pittsburgh International Auto Show (Friday-Monday)
The 79th International Auto Show cruises into the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown, with a wide variety of new vehicles in a non-selling environment. Enthusiasts can learn about new safety features, climb into a sporty convertible, explore new SUV cargo space, check out rugged offroad trucks and more.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Admission is $15; $12 military and seniors (65+); and $7 kids 6-16; pittautoshow.com
Ghost Hounds (Friday)
The Pittsburgh blues-rock band founded by local entrepreneur and guitarist Thomas Tull will play its first 2024 show, marking the debut of singer SAVNT (Stephan Marcellus). He replaces Tre’ Nation, who has been part of the lineup since the group reformulated in 2019. SAVNT is a neo-soul singer from New Jersey who competed on season 13 of “The Voice” in 2017. They are joined by singer-songwriter and guitarist Orianthi, renowned for her work with everyone from Michael Jackson to Alice Cooper.
The show starts at the Roxian Theatre at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $41; livenation.com.
John Crist: The Emotional Support Tour (Friday)
The Nashville-based comedian, originally from Georgia, visits Carnegie Library Musical Hall of Homestead in Munhall on a tour that follows his latest special, “John Crist: Would Like to Release a Statement,” and debut book “Delete That.”
The show is at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.75; librarymusichall.org.
Drake (Friday and Saturday)
The Canadian rap superstar returns to Pittsburgh for the first time since 2016 on the It’s All A Blur – Big As the What? Tour with J. Cole. On this leg’s opening night in Tampa Bay on Feb. 2, Drake came out and did 34 songs, handed the stage to J. Cole for a dozen or so and then returned to finish the show. Drake is touring behind his chart-topping eighth album, “For All the Dogs,” which spawned five more Top 20 singles for the prolific hitmaker.
Shows are at 8 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena. Tickets are $230+; ticketmaster.com.
Oscar Nominated Shorts (Friday-Sunday)
As it does each year, The Harris Theater, Downtown, offers three programs of Oscar nominated shorts — in the categories of animation, live action and documentary — presented by Shorts HD and Magnolia Pictures. Viewers can grab a ballot and predict the Oscar winners for a chance to win prize packages.
The animation program runs at 5:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday; live action at 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday; and documentary at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $11. Additional showings are available on select dates through March 7; trustarts.org.
Bohemian Spirit: Manfred Conducts Dvořák (Friday and Sunday)
Composer Antonin Dvořák said of his Symphony No. 7 in 1885, “My new symphony must be such as to make a stir in the world.” It was, and nearly 150 years later, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will perform it at Heinz Hall in a program conducted by Manfred Honeck. The evening will also feature Pablo Ferrández making his PSO debut with Dmitri Shostakovich’s Cell Concerto No. 1 and the world premiere of “musica pyralis” by Katherine Balch, who will be present for the performances.
Concerts are at 8 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $25; pittsburghsymphony.org.
‘Song of the North’ (Saturday)
Hamid Rahmanian & Kingorama combine shadow puppetry with projected animation to tell the epic love story of Manijeh, a Persian heroine who must rescue her beloved Bijan and help prevent a war. This production is adapted from the Book of Kings and employs a cast of 500 handmade puppets and an ensemble of nine actors and puppeteers to advance the themes of unity, collaboration and experimentation.
The show, at Downtown’s Byham Theater, begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12; trustarts.org.
Contemporary Craft Community Day (Saturday)
Contemporary Craft gallery in Lawrenceville opens its doors for family-friendly hands-on activities, artist demos, light snacks and a scavenger hunt through the new exhibition, “ONENESS: Brie Ruais.” The day will also feature artist-led fiber, metals and ceramics activities (led by national artist-in-residence Yael Braha) and a broom-making demo with artist Tia Tumminello.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 5645 Butler St.; Admission is free; contemporarycraft.org.
‘Soul To Soul’ (Saturday)
The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, in its 109th season, makes its first Pittsburgh visit with “Soul to Soul,” a multimedia program that follows the American experience of the Black and Jewish communities. The performers, with careers spanning from Broadway to the pulpit, will present spirituals, jazz, civil rights-era anthems, Yiddish traditional and theater songs from the Great American Songbook.
The concert features Lisa Fishman (Yiddish version of “Fiddler on the Roof”), Elmore James (Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast”), Tony Perry (Broadway’s “Five Guys Named Moe”) and Daniella Rabbani (“Amid Falling Walls”). It will be followed by a talkback with the cast about the creation of the show and a presentation by the University of Pittsburgh’s History department about jazz and the collaboration between Black and Jewish musicians in the Hill.
It will all take place at the Kaufmann Center in the Hill District at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25; bethshalompgh.org.
3 Rivers Psychic Fair (Saturday)
The ballrooms at the Comfort Inn in Penn Hills will be filled with 59 vendors including tarot readers, mediums and healers of all types, plus products and workshops. It runs from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 699 Rodi Road.
‘Admission is $5; kitsyhiggins.com/3-rivers-psychic-fair
‘Water Lilies of Monet: The Magic of Water and Light’ (Sunday)
The Frick Pittsburgh in Point Breeze advances its upcoming exhibition “Vermeer, Monet, Rembrandt: Forging a Collection in Pittsburgh and New York” with a screening of this documentary chronicling the origin of Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies.” It will begin with a brief conversation about the Monet work in the Frick collection.
It’s at 7227 Reynolds St. at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15; $10 members; $5 students; thefrickpittsburgh.org.
Sunny War (Sunday)
The Andy Warhol Museum Sound Series continues with Sunny War, a folk/blues/punk songwriter from Nashville who is touring behind last year’s "Anarchist Gospel.” Rolling Stone wrote of the album: “It all amounts to a powerful statement from a singer-songwriter poised to become one of the year’s most vital voices in roots music.”
The performance starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25; $20 members/students; warhol.org.
Henhouse Prowlers (Sunday)
These bluegrass ambassadors, working with the U.S. State Department, have toured more than 25 countries and incorporate music from Africa, Asia and the Middle East into their sound. They visit City Winery Pittsburgh in the Strip District, at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $20; citywinery.com/pittsburgh.
First Published: February 13, 2024, 10:30 a.m.
Updated: February 14, 2024, 8:37 p.m.
