Fitzgerald Announces 2017 Summer Concert Series Lineup and Parks Foundation Inaugural “Twilight Picnic for the Parks” Fundraiser
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Amie M. Downs April 20, 2017 Allegheny County 412-350-3711 (office) 412-327-3700 (cell) [email protected] Bill Deasy Allegheny County Special Events Office 412-586-8367 (cell) [email protected] Carole Smith Allegheny County Parks Foundation 412-877-7573 (cell) [email protected] Fitzgerald Announces 2017 Summer Concert Series Lineup and Parks Foundation Inaugural “Twilight Picnic for the Parks” Fundraiser PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald today announced the lineup for the county’s 2017 Summer Concert Series at South Park and Hartwood Acres Park, which features Grammy-winning, Tony-winning and platinum-selling artists, including Boz Scaggs, Gin Blossoms, The Mavericks, Con Funk Shun, Larry Carlton and Billy Porter. “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,” said Fitzgerald. “We are also very proud to welcome home Tony and Grammy winner, actor, singer, composer, director and playwright Billy Porter for two special appearances in August. Mr. Porter will perform in an intimate setting on the Hartwood Acres Mansion lawn on Saturday, August 26, for the Allegheny County Parks Foundation’s inaugural ‘Twilight Picnic for the Parks’ fundraiser. Then on Sunday, August 27, Mr. Porter will take the stage at Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater for a free concert.” Porter’s accomplishments span a wide range of performing arts, including stage, film and television. He won the 2013 Tony for Best Actor in a Musical for originating the role of Lola in Broadway’s long-running, award- winning “Kinky Boots.” He brought that role home to Pittsburgh in 2015 to sell-out crowds with the touring company. Porter graduated from CAPA High School and Carnegie Mellon University, where he retains the position of adjunct professor, before heading off to New York City to begin his career. “We are thrilled to be featuring Mr. Porter at our inaugural signature event,” said Caren Glotfelty, Executive Director of the Allegheny County Parks Foundation. “Our communities have strong attachments to their parks, and bringing a Pittsburgh hero back to help us celebrate these valuable regional assets creates a very special evening.” According to the Parks Foundation, the luster of twilight will provide the backdrop for al fresco-style cocktails and dinner that will elevate the notion of picnic fare using the finest local ingredients. Coupled with the Billy Porter performance, the evening promises to blend summer chic with rustic sophistication to create a truly memorable experience in the park. Tickets are available at the $250 (Individual), $500 (Patron), and $1,000 (Benefactor) levels. For further information on corporate sponsorships, tickets or the event, contact Barbara Brewton at 724-327-7627 or www.acparksfoundation.org. “Twilight Picnic for the Parks” is a celebration of a new era for Allegheny County Parks, commemorating its 90th Anniversary in 2017. One of the nation’s largest public park systems, these nine parks contribute to the vitality of our region, improving our quality of life, healthy lifestyles and year-round entertainment. The Allegheny County Parks Foundation supports the parks by raising funds and managing major improvement projects to enhance these features and sustain them for generations to come. 2017 Summer Concert Series The Allegheny County Summer Concert Series will look and sound better than ever thanks to exciting improvements to sound and lighting at both amphitheaters. New digital mixers, speakers, microphones, cabling, monitor boards and amplifiers, as well as state-of-the-art LED lights, will take the concert experience to the next level. Hop Farm Brewing Company will be the exclusive craft beer vendor for the Summer Concert Series. Hop Farm is a woman-owned, family-run brewery in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. It is dedicated to the responsible use of natural resources, from production to packaging and everywhere in between. The company grows its own hops, by hand, organically, and adds them to every batch of beer. Hop Farm will be selling a variety of craft beers in the $5-$7 price range. South Park Amphitheater will host 13 free performances this season beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 2, with dynamic local country band The Stickers. Other South Park highlights include: July 1 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, playing patriotic favorites in honor of Independence Day. July 7 – Grammy nominee Joey DeFrancesco has been called the greatest Hammond Organ player of all time. He will be joined by two-time Grammy winning vocalist Catherine Russell. July 21 – Gin Blossoms, whose breakthrough album “New Miserable Experience,” which debuted in 1992, is a quadruple-platinum-selling album. Their hits “Hey Jealousy,” “Found out About You” and “Follow You Down” are radio staples to this day, displaying the band’s infectious brand of power pop rock. July 28 – JD McPherson, whose retro sound is rooted in the rock-n-roll, rhythm and blues, and rockabilly of the 1950s. He calls to mind early Elvis Presley. August 11 – The Outlaws: when you think “Southern rock,” this is the band! Their songs “Green Grass and High Tides” and “There Goes Another Love Song” are perennial favorites on rock stations everywhere. August 18 – Back by popular demand, Summer of Love, a concert experience that celebrates the songs of the Woodstock generation with all arrangements played note-for-note by the highest caliber of musicians, including a horn section, rhythm section, singers, string section, back-up vocalists, keyboardists, guitarists and more. August 25 – The Commonheart, hometown favorites who are poised to explode onto the national scene. Consider this concert a send-off as they prepare to conquer the world! Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater will host 13 free performances, starting with the Pittsburgh Opera at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 4. Other Hartwood highlights include: July 2 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, playing patriotic favorites in honor of Independence Day. July 9 –Tank & The Bangas, a red-hot band from New Orleans that is “blowing up” on the heels of winning NPR’s prestigious Tiny Desk Contest. This group falls in the “catch ‘em while you can” category! July 16 – Boz Scaggs, the legendary artist whose songs and style display a timelessness rarely seen in modern music. Tracks like “Lido Shuffle” and “The Lowdown” sound as good today as they did when they first hit the airwaves in the 1970s. July 23 – The Mavericks, a Grammy-winning group that’s flying high with the success of its new release “Brand New Day.” The Mavericks bring a joyful celebration wherever they perform. You do NOT want to miss this party! July 30 – Con Funk Shun, funk and R&B legends from California who rose to fame and great popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. Many of their instrumentals have been sampled by today’s Hip- Hop and R&B artists, such as Lil Wayne on his Grammy-winning album the “Carter III.” August 13 – Larry Carlton, a four-time Grammy-winning jazz mega-star whose work with Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell has been heard and loved by millions. August 20 – Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, one of the most exciting ballet companies in the United States, which has built a legacy of excellence and innovation since 1969. Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater will also host the 18th Annual Allegheny County Musical Festival featuring Rusted Root on September 3, benefiting children and youth served through the county’s Department of Human Services. As usual, the 2017 Summer Concert Series will feature numerous local performers, including The Hobbs Sisters, Jimmer Podrasky & The Redd-Ups, Dan Getkin & The Twelve Six, Johnny Angel & The Halos, Gathering Field, Brownie Mary, and The Dick Clarks. To get 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). You can change the information and topics at any time by logging into your account and modifying your choices. It’s a great way to keep up to date with changes due to weather or other considerations as well. The complete schedules for the 2017 Allegheny County Summer Concert Series, Family Fun Night at the Movies, and Unrehearsed Shakespeare Project are below and available online at www.alleghenycounty.us/summer. # # # 2017 Summer Concert Series – 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 6:00 p.m. Date Performer Genre Time June 2 The Stickers with special guest The Hobbs Sisters Country 7:30 p.m. Eastern European June 9 Tamburitzans 7:30 p.m. Folk Music & Dance June 16 Nicole Atkins Soul/Americana 7:30 p.m. U.S. Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors – June 23 Big Band/Patriotic 7:30 p.m. America’s Big Band July 1 Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Orchestral 8:05 p.m. BNY Mellon Jazz presents Grammy nominee Joey July 7 DeFrancesco & two-time Grammy winner Jazz 7:30 p.m. Catherine Russell July 14 NRBQ & The Whole Wheat Horns Rock/Folk 7:30 p.m. Gin Blossoms with special guest Jimmer Podrasky July 21 Alternative Rock 7:30 p.m. & The Redd-Ups JD McPherson with special guest Dan Getkin & July 28 Rockabilly/Blues 7:30 p.m. The Twelve Six Aug. 4 Sauce Boss Blues 7:30 p.m. The Outlaws with special guest The Steppin Aug.