Welcome to Night Vale (Thursday)
This podcast, reporting on the strange events in the fictional town of Night Vale, visits the Byham Theater with hosts Cecil Baldwin, Symphony Sanders and Kate Jones and original music by Disparition. On this tour, “Cecil and Carlos are building a new house for themselves, but strange occurrences and ghostly encounters are plaguing the construction process.” It begins at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $32; trustarts.org.
“The Drowsy Chaperone” (Thursday-Sunday)
Clay Aiken and Paige Davis star in the Pittsburgh CLO premiere of this five-time Tony-winning production that is a loving and farcical sendup of the Jazz Age musical. The New York Times called it a “masterful meta-musical, poking fun at all the tropes that characterize the musical theatre genre.” Aiken, the former “American Idol” star, Billboard chart-topper and Broadway talent, returns to Pittsburgh CLO after hosting the 75th Anniversary Broadway Musical Celebration at Heinz Field to play the “Man in Chair.” Davis is best known as the host of Emmy-nominated design-reality show “Trading Spaces.” It’s at the Benedum at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $29-$90; pittsburghclo.org.
PNC Pops (Friday-Sunday)
Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, The Temptations, The Four Tops and Stevie Wonder are on the program when the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Pops series presents “Dancing in the Street: Music of Motown” at Heinz Hall. Byron Stripling conducts the concert with singers Chester Gregory, Michael Lynche and Shayna Steele. It’s Heinz Hall at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $22 to $90; pittsburghsympony.org.
Pogopalooza (Friday-Sunday)
The top pogo athletes in the world bounce into Pittsburgh to compete for the title of World’s Best in the competitions of High Jump, Best Trick, Tech Freestyle and Big Air Freestyle. The athletes use high-flying, air-powered pogo sticks to elevate more than 10 feet while doing flips and tricks. There will be a "free jump area" with pogo sticks for people of all ages to try. On Sunday, there will be a 15-and-under bounce off. It’s at Market Square at 5 p.m. Friday and at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1256 Franklin Ave., Wilkinsburg. The free event also includes food trucks; xpogo.com.
Metal Immortal Festival II (Saturday)
Three years and two postponements after the inaugural Metal Immortal Festival, Deb Levine of Lady Beast is back with the sequel, which will feature nine bands on the main stage of Mr. Smalls and in the Funhouse upstairs. It is headlined by the British proto-thrash metal band Raven, which dates back to 1974, and also includes Virginia death metal band Deceased, speed-metal band Bat (also from VA), and Portland, Ore., speed-metal band Bewitcher. Pittsburgh’s own Lady Beast will play early, at 4:40 p.m. and rounding out the lineup are Vicious Blade, Soul Grinder, Solicitor and Accused. It begins at 4 p.m. Tickets are $45; mrsmalls.com. Playing the Immortal preshow on Thursday, at Spirit in Lawrenceville, is the reunited Eviction, led by Todd Porter of The Cheats; spiritpgh.com.
WYEP Summer Music Festival (Saturday)
The station’s music festival in Schenley Plaza, Oakland, returns for the first time since 2019 with a lineup that features DC-based piano pop trio Jukebox the Ghost, formed in 2006, touring behind its sixth studio album, “Cheers.” They are joined by Louisiana-based funk-soul-rock group Seratones and four Pittsburgh artists: singer-songwriter Bill Deasy, alt-folk duo The Living Street, neosoul singer-songwriter Sierra Sellers and 2022 WYEP Reimagination Project artist Ashley Marina. It begins at 3 p.m.. Admission is free; wyep.org.
Squirrel Hill Night Market (Saturday)
The I Made It! Market sets up on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill with dozens of merchants and food trucks. Vendors include Aether Erebus Photography, City Life Adventures, Duck Wizard Wands, Earth Mind Soaps, Fat Cat Chocolates, Jewelry by Old Soul, Kindred Spirits Rescue Ranch, Mark Collins Furniture, paint by dumbers, Pittsburgh Chess Club, Spring Hill Candles, The Pickled Chef Wigle Whiskey and Threadbare Cider and YinzLidz. It’s free and runs from 6 to 10 p.m.; imadeitmarket.com.
Symphony Splendor Garden and Patio Tour (Sunday)
This tour of some of Shadyside and Squirrel Hill’s grandest gardens features lushly landscaped pools, estate and cottage gardens and even a 20-foot totem pole. A benefit for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, it runs from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 on tour day at the registration check-in point, the Mansions on Fifth guesthouse, 925 Amberson Ave., Shadyside. Bus transportation to all gardens is $45 in advance. Seating is limited. Register at pittsburghsymphonyassociation.org.
Flogging Molly/The Interrupters (Sunday)
This co-headlining tour features Flogging Molly, the Dublin-based Celtic rock band led by the charismatic Dave King, paired with lively LA ska-punk band The Interrupters, plus Tiger Army and The Skints. Flogging Molly recently previewed the fall release of a new Steve Albini-produced album with the single “These Times Have Got Me Drinking." The Interrupters, led by the dynamic Aimee Interrupter, are working on their fourth album and follow-up to “Fight the Good Fight.” Doors at 5 p.m. $42.50/$45; axs.com.
Chamber Music Pittsburgh (Sunday)
The organization will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a gala fundraiser featuring a pair or string quartets and Hope Academy’s Hip Hop Orchestra, a mix of classical and contemporary music. The evening also includes salsa dancing with the band Noel Quintana and the Latin Crew and a silent auction, all at the event space This is Red, a converted church in Homestead. Founded in 1961, Chamber Music Pittsburgh hosts concerts and education initiatives throughout the year. 4 p.m. $250; chambermusicpittsburgh.org.
Free concerts (Thursday-Sunday)
Thursday: The TGIS (Thank Goodness It’s Summer) Concert Series at Greensburg Garden & Civic Center presents country band Colin Southfield & The Mushroom Country Band at 6 p.m.; westmorelandculturaltrust.org.
Friday: Pittsburgh folk/bluegrass band Buffalo Rose performs at South Park Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: Kea Michaels plays the Stars at Riverview Jazz Series at Riverview Park, Observatory Hill, North Side, at 7 p.m.; pittsburghpa.gov/events.
Saturday: Tim Schmider, Jordan McLaughlin and The Fourth Hour bring classic rock and country) to Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg at 6:30 p.m.; co.westmoreland.pa.us/767/Summer-Concert-Series
Sunday: The Bach, Beethoven and Brunch Concert Series in Mellon Park continues with the Shadyside Brass from 10:30 a.m. to noon; pittsburghpa.gov/events
Sunday: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre does its annual performance at Hartwood Acres at 7:30 p.m.
First Published: June 21, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
