This Weekend in the 412

Blues/R&B

Thu. Jul. 16

Atria’s Restaurant & Tavern – Soul Merchants. Thu., July 16.
PNC Park, 103 Federal St., Pittsburgh (North Side), 412-322-1850.

Jacktown Ride and Hunt Club – The Usual Suspects. W/ weekly special guests. Thursdays.
11369 Center Hwy., North Huntingdon, 724-863-8151.

Sloppy Joe’s – Wil E Tri and the Bluescasters. Thursdays.
217 Shiloh St., Pittsburgh (Mt. Washington), 412-381-4300.

Sunseri’s – The Contenders. Thursdays.
3385 Babcock Boulevard, Ross, 412-364-9902.

Fri. Jul. 17

Atrias Restaurant & Tavern – Soul Merchants. Fri., July 17.
12980 Perry Highway, Wexford, 724-934-3660.

Carhops @ Fleetwood Grille – Souled Out. Fridays.
2500 W. Liberty Ave., Dormont, 412-561-5015.

Cefalo’s Restaurant & Nightclub – Gary Belloma & the Blue Bombers. Fri., July 17.
428 Washington Ave, Carnegie, 412-276-6600, http://www.clubcefalo.com.

Inn the Ruff – WitchDoctors. Fri., July 17.
6229 Saltsburg Rd., Penn Hills, 412-793-9779.

Little E’s – The Blues Orphans. Fri., July 17.
949 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-392-2217.

Sat. Jul. 18

CJ’s – The New Show Band. Sat., July 18.
2901 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh (Strip District), 412-642-2377.

d’Vine Wine Bar & Lounge – Sweaty Betty Blues Band. Sat., July 18.
12017 Perry Hwy., Wexford, 724-933-5533, http://www.dvinewinepa.com.

Heinz Hall – Maxwell. Sat., July 18.
600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-392-4900, http://www.pgharts.org.

The Inn’Termission – Chizmo Charles & The Rhythm Aces. Saturdays.
1908 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-381-3497.

Moondog’s – Flockery Blue, Freeport Road Gang. Sat., July 18.
378 Freeport Road, Blawnox, 412-828-2040, http://www.moondogs.us/.

Sun. Jul. 19

The Carrick Inn – The Jaminators Blues Rock Band w/ special guest Warren King.. Sun., July 19.

1144 Brownsville Rd., Carrick, 412-884-9939.

The Inn’Termission – Dying Breed, Warren King. Sundays. 412-576-1767.
1908 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-381-3497.

Lambro’s Lounge – East End Dukes. Sundays.
1802 E. Ohio St., Pittsburgh (Strip District), 412-231-7699.

Paparazzi – Billy the Kid & the Regulators. Sundays.
2100 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-488-0800.

Carson City Saloon – Carson City Gang feat. Chizmo Charles. Sundays.
1401 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh (South Side), 412-481-3203, http://www.carsoncitysaloon.com/.

Jazz

Thu. Jul. 16

Altman’s – Spider Rondinelli. Thursdays.
611 Old Clairton Road, Pleasant Hills, 412-653-6440.

Backstage Bar at Theater Square – Keith Stebler. Thu., July 16.
655 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-325-6769, http://www.pgharts.org/venues/backstagebar.aspx.

Capri Ristorante – Tony Campbell & Jazz Surgery. Thursdays.
6001 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh (East Liberty), 412-362-1250.

Firehouse Lounge – Etta Cox Trio. Thursdays.
2216 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh (Strip District), 412-434-1230.

Little E’s – Jessica Lee. Thursdays.
949 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-392-2217.

Omni William Penn – Harry Cardillo. Thursdays, Fridays.
530 William Penn Pl., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-553-5235, http://www.omnihotels.com.

Altman’s – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Thursdays.
611 Old Clairton Road, Pleasant Hills, 412-653-6440.

Fri. Jul. 17

Barella’s Lounge – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Fridays.
1101 Rt. 885, Jefferson Hills, 412-384-7978.

Gullifty’s – Etta Cox & Al Dowe Band. Fri., July 17.
1922 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill), 412-521-8222, http://www.gulliftysrestaurant.com.

Melange Bistro – Roger Barbour Jazz Quartet. Fridays.
135 Sixth St., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-325-4310.

Pangea Shadyside – Live Jazz. Guest performances. Fridays.
736 Bellafonte St., Pittsburgh (Shadyside), 412-621-3152.

The Pioneer Grille – The Dan Baker Trio. Fridays, Saturdays.
The George Washington Hotel , 60 S. Main St., Washington, 724-225-3200.

Wolcott Park – New Orleans Riverside Band. Fri., July 17. 412-741-4405, www.sweetwaterartcenter.org.
Broad St. & Beaver St., Sewickley.

Omni William Penn – Harry Cardillo. Thursdays, Fridays.
530 William Penn Pl., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-553-5235, http://www.omnihotels.com.

Barella’s Lounge – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Fridays.
1101 Rt. 885, Jefferson Hills, 412-384-7978.

Melange Bistro – Kenny Blake. Fridays.
135 Sixth St., Pittsburgh (Downtown), 412-325-4310.

Sat. Jul. 18

April’s On the Ave – Jazz Surgery Feat. Tony Campbell. Saturdays.
7101 Frankstown Ave., Pittsburgh (Homewood), 412-731-1630.

Barella’s Lounge – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Fridays.
1101 Rt. 885, Jefferson Hills, 412-384-7978.

Boyce Park – Monroeville Jazz Festival. Feat. Rodney McCoy, Kenia, Roger Humphries Big Band. Wave pool north parking lot. Sat., July 18. 412-372-4332.
675 Old Frankstown Road, Monroeville, 724-327-0338, http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/bpfac.aspx.

The Pioneer Grille – The Dan Baker Trio. Fridays, Saturdays.
The George Washington Hotel , 60 S. Main St., Washington, 724-225-3200.

Barella’s Lounge – Spider Rondinelli & The Pittsburgh Jazz Giants. Saturdays.
1101 Rt. 885, Jefferson Hills, 412-384-7978.

Bethany Presbyterian Church – Philip Russell & Friends. Gospel jazz concert benefits church trip to Malawi. Sat., July 18.
740 Washington Ave., Bridgeville, 412-221-5132.

Sun. Jul. 19

Ligonier Diamond – Moonlighters Band. Sun., July 19.
Main St., Ligonier, 724-238-4200.

Mellon Park – Bach, Beethoven & Brunch. Ortner-Roberts Duo. Sun., July 19. 412-255-8975.
Fifth and Shady, Pittsburgh (Shadyside).

Rhythm House Cafe – Roger Humphries & R H Factor. Sun., July 19.
3026 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, 412-221-5010, http://www.rhythmhousecafe.com.

Help End Hunger With the Blues

While it’s not funk, funk has been influenced by blues, and vice versa in later years, so I thought I would share this upcoming event in Pittsburgh. I will be volunteering at the event to help out the Pittsburgh Food Bank. If you are interested in volunteering, go to www.pghblues.com/volunteer to see what positions are still available.Volunteers receive Free admission, Free Parking, $2.00 off coupon for merchandise, and a Complimentary meal.

tru.funk.soulja

********

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s largest annual fundraiser, the Pittsburgh Blues Festival, is celebrating its 15^th Anniversary this year with a stellar musical line-up and some new features. The Blues Festival, presented by First Commonwealth, will be held at Hartwood Acres for the 5^th year, thanks to a partnership with Allegheny County.

The list of performers exemplifies the usual mix of blues legends and up-and-comers. The Festival begins with Free Friday, sponsored by Fox 53 TV, FedEx Ground, WDVE and Hefren-Tillotson, when admission to the Festival is free with the donation of a bag of non-perishable groceries for the Food Bank (last year, more than 13 tons of food were donated). Friday’s bands are Eric Lindell, and Cyril Neville and Tribe 13. Lindell is known for an eclectic style of New Orleans blues, and Neville is one of the famous Neville Brothers.

Saturday’s headliner is the legendary Los Lobos. Over 35 years, Los Lobos has pushed the limits of blues, rock and folk with their own special blend of Latino instruments, probing lyrics, and can’t-sit-down rhythms. Other groups performing on Saturday include Shannon Curfman, Shawn Kellerman, and Curtis Salgado. Curfman, just 24, has already been known as a blues wunderkind for nearly 10 years. Reviewers call Kellerman a true blues guitar wizard, and Salgado is a veteran who has played with the likes of Muddy Waters, Robert Cray and Bonnie Raitt, and whose new release Clean Getaway was called “one of the best records you’re going to hear this year” by Blues Revue Magazine.

The Festival will close on Sunday with the “master bluesman and storyteller” Robert Cray. The five-time Grammy winner is still going strong after 25 years with the success of 2006’s Live from Across the Pond, recorded in London’s Albert Hall during his tour with Eric Clapton. Other Sunday performers include Deb Callahan and JJ Grey & Mofro. Callahan released her latest CD, Grace & Grit, just last year, and JJ Grey’s latest, Orange Blossoms, drew this review from Billboard Magazine: “The MOFRO vibe travels freely among swamp funk, blues, rock and soul, and does so with a certain down-and-dirty swagger that’s as real as it is appealing.”

“The Blues Festival is our largest annual fundraiser,” said Joyce Rothermel, CEO of the Food Bank, “but it is also the Food Bank’s way of honoring our community’s support by giving back a Festival of joy, celebration and America’s great music – the blues. We are so grateful to our sponsors and to our volunteers for making the Blues Festival possible.”

Interspersed with this line-up will be local blues bands, including Glenn Pavone & the Cyclones, Jill West & Blues Attack, Eugene & the Nightcrawlers, the Jimmy Adler Blues Band, Ron Yarosz & the Vehicle, and the local International Blues Challenge winners Felix & the Hurricanes.

One exciting new feature added to the Festival this year is called Blues in the Tents, an interactive kids’ music workshop series, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, which will be an extension of the popular KidZone. Added to the usual crafts and games for kids will be interactive music presentations by local blues musicians Bubs McKeg, Eugene Morgan, Bill Weiner, Bob and Andy Gabig, and Larry Nath. Another local bluesman, Jimmy Adler, is organizing the effort which will include age-appropriate story-telling, blues history, and sing-along.

The Pittsburgh Blues Festival takes place on July 24-26, 2009, at Hartwood Acres, Allegheny County’s park in Hampton Township. Tickets to the Festival on Saturday and Sunday are $25.00 each day. Advance ticket, weekend pass, and family fun pack discounts can be found on the Festival website, www.pghblues.com, with a schedule of events and more information.  Parking is free.

Admission for children under 12 is also free. The Blues Festival is family friendly, with children’s activities planned all weekend at the Festival’s KidZone, sponsored by UPMC Health Plan and Children’s Hospital, and supervised by experienced staff with Act 33/34 clearances.

The Pittsburgh Blues Festival reached the total fundraising milestone of $1 million last summer. Thanks to generous sponsorship, all money raised at the Blues Festival goes directly to support the Food Bank’s programs for helping the hungry. An estimated 300,000 people are at risk of hunger in southwestern Pennsylvania, the number estimated to be living below the federal poverty level (a 2007 pre-economic downturn statistic).

The Food Bank thanks all Blues Festival sponsors: First Commonwealth, UPMC Health Plan, Giant Eagle Express, Del Monte Foods, Hefren-Tillotson, David A. Tepper Family Foundation, Allegheny County, Fidelity Investments, Bay Valley Foods, Children’s Hospital of UPMC, WPXI-TV11, Grainger, FedEx Ground, WDVE, Comcast, Massaro Corporation, Coors, Coors Light, Blue Moon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 91.3 wyep fm, Fox 53, Sodexo, Fiserv, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Armstrong Cable, KDKA-TV2, Moondog’s, GBL, Inc., White Diamond Vodka, Team Amcom, WTAE-TV4, U.S. Airways and Keller Williams Realty.

More information about the Pittsburgh Blues Festival can be found at the official Festival website www.pghblues.com, or by calling the Blues Hotline at 412-460-BLUE.