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“Summer’s here and the time is right for dancin’ in thestreet.”Surely Martha and the Vandellas summed up how many

of us feel when they sang those memorable lyrics.“All we need is music, sweet music, there’ll be music

everywhere.”That breezy, swaying, finger-snapping tune is the perfect

soundtrack to herald the start of the outdoor concert sea-son. As much anticipated as warm weather and blue skies,concerts under the stars or in the bright sunshine are a ver-itable summer ritual, beckoning neighbors to green parksand neighborhood streets for a rollicking good time in cel-ebration of live music.Throughout the East End and the Fox Chapel area,

open-air concert venues are plentiful, and the music isdiverse. So gather your favorite blanket, friends and family,and perhaps a picnic basket brimming with homemadegoodies, and head for any or all of these outdoor concerts.

First Fridays at the Frick

For 19 years, the expansive and verdantGreat Lawn of the Frick Art &Historical Center in Point Breeze has

been home to one of Pittsburgh’s mosteagerly awaited and enduring summer tra-ditions. Its name—First Fridays at theFrick—gives the date and place, and thetime is 7 p.m.

The range of musical styles and gen-res over the years has been eclectic. Thinkbrass, bluegrass, jazz, reggae, and even aperformance of multi-phonic singing bythe Drepung Loseling monks of Tibet,which generated a record attendance.

While the selection of acts generallyhas no tie to museum exhibitions, anappearance two years ago by the St.Petersburg String Quartet was alignedwith the opening of a Fabergé decorativearts show. That outdoor concerts wouldbe so integral to the programming at theFrick speaks to the history of this famedproperty.

The Frick estate was the childhoodhome of Helen Clay Frick, daughter of19th-century industrialist Henry ClayFrick. Her vision of preserving the familyhome, Clayton, and the surroundinggrounds included the art museum withan auditorium for concerts because sheloved music. In a foreshadowing of thingsto come, archival records indicate thatPresident Teddy Roosevelt visitedClayton one Independence Day, and amilitary-style band played music by JohnPhillips Sousa as part of the program.

“When First Fridays at the Frick wasborn, we felt it was in line with MissFrick’s affinities and what she’d like thesite to be used for,” explains Greg Langel,media and marketing manager.

MusicAl Fresco

BY MARY S. GILBERT

First Fridays at the Frick

S U M M E R 2 0 1 3 2 7

Undoubtedly, Helen Clay Frick wouldbe both surprised and delighted at the result.The first Friday of every month from Junethrough September brings overflowingcrowds of some 3,000 people to the grounds.The Frick’s education department welcomeschildren with creative, hands-on art projects.Gates open at 5:30 p.m. so visitors can alsoexperience the other facilities on site.

While some cart their own picnics, oth-ers delight in purchasing dinner from TheCafé at the Frick. Chef Seth Bailey preparesa select menu of light seasonal fare.

This year’s free concert lineup consistsof: Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artists, June7; guitarist Robert Michaels, July 5;Matrimony, an indie folk group, August 2;and Axiom Brass Quintet, September 6.

Jam onWalnut

Twenty-five years ago, Muzz Meyers andBobby Feldman, owners of TheBalcony, the storied Shadyside restau-

rant and nightclub that was a centerpiece ofPittsburgh’s jazz scene, decided to hold afundraising concert on Walnut Street for cys-tic fibrosis because Feldman’s son had thedisease.

Although The Balcony is long gone, theirevent—Jam on Walnut—continues as both asignature summer concert and fundraiser forthe Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation’s WesternPennsylvania Chapter.

Occurring one Saturday during each sum-mer month, this free mega block party shutsdown six blocks of Walnut Street from 7 to 11p.m. for a night of fun, food, drinks and hotrock ‘n’ roll bands from across Pittsburgh. Amelting pot of an audience numbers around10,000 each night. Many bars and restaurantsstay open, as do some retailers, which oftendisplay CF Foundation-labeled tip jars in ashow of support. Participants ages 21 andolder can buy wristbands for $3 to drink beer.

Jam on Walnut is now a fixture on sum-mer calendars, according to William PennTavern owner Richard Rattner, who is presi-dent of the Shadyside Chamber ofCommerce and event organizer with the CFFoundation.

MusicAl Fresco

“Anytime you get people out of their hous-es and into a happy venue, it makes for astronger neighborhood,” Rattner says. “As theChamber of an affluent neighborhood, this isa way to give back to the community and givemoney to an excellent charity.”

Sara Steele, development manager at CFFoundation, notes that Jam on Walnut raisesabout $40,000. Volunteers from the nonprof-it sell the wristbands and staff an informationtable. A bigger focus this year will be securinga variety of food vendors.

The scheduled bands are: Kelsey Fridayand Dancing Queen (headlining), June 29;Donora and Radio Tokyo (headlining), July27; and Abacus Jones and Chris Higbee (head-lining), August 17.

WYEP SummerMusic Festivaland Final Fridays

91.3FM WYEP, a nationally recognizedadult album, alternative public radiostation, definitely knows music. So

how better to serve its listeners and would-belisteners than with free summer concerts?

“We look at the season as the peak time toassemble people and go outside with our com-munity outreach and our mission, which is toact as an independent voice, inspiring our

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Jam on Walnut

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community with diverse music and vibrantideas,” says Suzanne Meyer, WYEP director ofmarketing.

That credo is what drives the WYEPSummer Music Festival, which will kick offJune 28 at 6 p.m., and Final Fridays at 6:30p.m. on July 26, August 30, and September27. All events take place at Schenley Plaza inOakland.

Meyer anticipates that the 16th annualWYEP Summer Music Festival will draw morethan 10,000 people to the covered stage set upon the plaza’s sprawling lawn. The show startswith a local act and then brings on two nation-al acts. Such esteemed artists as Dr. Dog, GreatLake Swimmers, Donora, Moe, and SineadO’Connor have performed.

The festival also features a family area. IMade It! Market, a nomadic indie crafts mar-ketplace, sells locally-sourced handmade wares.Organizations like the Carnegie Science Centerset up a variety of children’s art activities.

The Final Fridays series usually brings insmaller breakthrough bands or single artists.These concerts are solely about the music.With smaller crowds numbering around4,000, the mood is more relaxed and intimate.

A new addition for both series is a part-nership with Bike Pittsburgh, which will offerbike valet services to coincide with the organi-zation’s Car Free Fridays.

Concerts in the Wall

Each summer, the Aspinwall CivicAssociation hosts a concert series just forchildren, along with a concert series

geared for adults, as part of its free Concertsin the Wall program. The name is a catchyriff on “Aspinwall.”

The first Thursday of the month from Mayto September from 6 to 8 p.m. is for the kids;the third Thursday in those same months from7 to 9 p.m. is for the adults. Both have a localflavor in this friendly walking community.

For the kids, the civic association blocksoff Loop Street and brings in a deejay playingage-appropriate music, a bubble machine, amagician, and hula hoops.

“It’s quite something to see the kids enjoy-ing the limbo, line dancing, the hokey pokey,

and the Macarena,” says Aspinwall council-man and concert co-organizer Joe Giuffre.“Usually the parents join in because they feelthey can get a little looser with their kids.”

New this year will be a nine-hole minia-ture golf course. A photo opportunity withponies will be added as a throwback to an ear-lier time. Decades ago, the borough alsobrought in ponies for kids to have their photostaken astride the animals, an activity thatGiuffre fondly remembers as the AspinwallRough Riders.

“Back then, families knew everyone on theblock, and it isn’t that way today, so the concertshelp in that regard,” he says. “For the youngerfamilies, it’s an inexpensive evening out. Theydon’t have to load kids into car seats and driveaway, and they can walk home in minutes.”

The adult series takes place on BrilliantAvenue in the heart of the borough’s commer-cial district. Local musicians, includingGeorge Marsico, owner of Aspinwall Beans

‘N’ Cream, and Nieds Hotel Band, are pastperformers. The merchants tend to stay openlonger on concert days, with some setting uptents to offer pizza and gyros, and variouschurch groups sell funnel cakes.

To help draw people into HartwoodAcres—a 629-acre preserve straddlingIndiana and Hampton townships—the

Allegheny County Parks Departments holdsthe free Allegheny County Summer ConcertSeries at Middle Road field. The schedulethis year is every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. fromJune 2 to September 1.

“The concert series is a great gift to thetaxpayers and an affordable night out—anice, economical way to have a beautifulsummer evening,” says Bill Deasy, specialevents manager for Allegheny County andthe event organizer.

Started in the 1970s, the event had a nar-rower focus as more of a wine and cheese

MusicAl Fresco

Concerts in the Wall

Allegheny County Summer Concert Series

Allegheny County Summer Concert Series

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gathering with classical music. It slowlybroadened its musical scope and even addedan annual dance performance by thePittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

The series is known for its musical variety,including blues, rock, jazz, Broadway, andclassical styles. Deasy books a balanced mix oflocal and national acts. The series has a knackfor showcasing performers on the cusp of big-ger stardom, including Mary ChapinCarpenter, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals,and Dixie Chicks. Also look for a variety ofgames and activities for children, including theever-popular corn hole.

As much as Deasy himself enjoys the per-formances, he tends to savor the natural set-ting above all.

“Hartwood Acres is idyllic and magical,”he enthuses. “The night Spyro Gyra played,there was something extra special about thecolors in the sky as the sun was going down,and they made everyone stop and look at thecolors.”

PittsburghBlues Festival

Also taking place at Hartwood Acres isthe Pittsburgh Blues Festival. Like Jamon Walnut, it’s music with a mission.

Now in its 19th year, the festival beganas—and remains—a fundraiser for theGreater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.The three-day festival, scheduled for July 19-21, has raised $1.8 million to help fighthunger in the food bank’s 11-county servicearea. The caliber of the lineup determines theticket prices. Friday is free with a request fornonperishable food items; last year’s collec-tion neared 13 tons of donations. Prices aver-age $25 per day, with $45 for a weekend pass.

Ron Esser, who owns Moondog’s bluesclub in Blawnox, recalls that a friend came tohim at the outset and asked for his help inlaunching the festival because of his musicexperience. The early years were rough going,and the organizing committee was temped tocancel the event. But the Pittsburgh Blues

Festival survived and thrived, moving to sever-al locations before finding its true home atHartwood Acres.

The festival relies on a devoted corps of400 volunteers. It draws an audience of some10,000 strong and eager to hear the likes ofnationally renowned blues performers BuddyGuy, Susan Tedeschi, Johnny Winter, and TheYardbirds. A host of local and regional musi-cians, including Jill West, also perform. Whilethe lead acts are paid, the local artists donatetheir time.

In addition to providing stellar sounds, thefestival addresses the problem of hunger.According to Esser, one in seven children inAllegheny County is in danger of going to bedhungry each night. He says the food bankserves about 120,000 people monthly—enough to fill Heinz Field twice. Education ispart of the festival, with on-stage discussionsabout hunger and a KidZone that teaches chil-dren proper nutrition.

“The blues community in Pittsburgh hasreally embraced the festival,” Esser says. “Ourlocal musicians not only want to play—theyfeel honored to play. I thank them for thatbecause a lot of people out there are hungryand need help.”

MusicAl Fresco

PittsburghBlues Festival

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Can you think of a more pleasant way tospend the lunch hour than sitting out-doors on the grass or in a park chair, eat-

ing a sandwich or salad while live music playsin the background?

That’s the entertaining experience avail-able every Tuesday at lunchtime from July 9 toOctober 8 at Schenley Plaza, thanks to thePittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s lunchtimemusic series. The plaza is a favorite middaydestination for office workers, students, med-ical professionals, and librarians from theneighboring businesses, hospitals, and univer-sities in Oakland, as well as families.

“Oakland is the cultural center ofPittsburgh, and how better to connect withthat and the beauty of the plaza with its gar-den, lawn, tent, and carousel?” asks JimGriffin, director of facilities for theConservancy. “Our parks are an essential,

invaluable investment and are a living, breath-ing entity in the life of the community.”

The lunchtime concerts began six yearsago as a calm, but fun mixture of live musicthat also invite dining and conversationamong the listeners.

“It’s less of a concert and more of a party,”Griffin explains. “The music isn’t intimidat-ing, and it doesn’t force you to listen. There’san ambiance that defines the park, an individ-ual spirit that combines with the creative andartistic element of the music.”

Musicians who have stood center stageinclude jazzman Sean Jones, singer/songwriterJoy Ike, Ray Ryan playing Dixieland, and theSquirrel Hillbillies. Visitors without their ownbrown bag can buy lunch at any of the fourfood kiosks in the plaza, or they can dine in,eat on the porch, or take out from The Porchrestaurant.

Bach, Beethoven &

Brunch

Despite bearing a classically orientedname, the Bach, Beethoven & Brunch

concerts held Sunday mornings from 10:30to noon on the lawn at Mellon Park presenta wide range of musical performances. Withits renovated walled garden and fountains,the park provides a picturesque setting for anoutdoor concert. This summer, the seriesruns from June 16 to August 11.

“I’d call the music classical styling, withmaybe a contemporary spin,” says Brian Katzeof Citiparks, which puts on the concerts withthe Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition.

The acts are mostly local, such asCellofourte, while some tour nationally andinternationally. Depending on the musicalgroup, the crowd size can range from 800 to1,300. The majority of the audience comesfrom the East End, and many walk over to thepark after attending church services nearby. Theages run the gamut, and the vibe is laidback.

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MusicAl Fresco

Schenley Plaza Lunchtime Music

Schenley Plaza Lunchtime Music

Bach, Beethoven & Brunch

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sells bagels, pastries, and beverages. Nonprofitorganizations may vie on a first-come, first-serve basis for an information booth to sharetheir stories.

The music and setting are important tothis concert series, but food claims an almostequal share of the limelight. As the name indi-cates, brunch has been part of event’s success-ful formula since its inception in 1984.Organizers even hold a weekly contest forthose who bring their own picnics.

Katze looks for obvious displays of food tojudge. He first asks the owners if they want toparticipate, and then he gets the lowdown onthe spread. Is the food store-bought or home-made? More weight is given to the latter. Doesthe party have a theme? What are you doingthat’s above and beyond? One enterprisinggentleman hung a chandelier from a treebranch. A group of pre-med students from theUniversity of Pittsburgh all wore their scrubsand stethoscopes. Most offer Katze a sampling,

but he politely declines, as taste isn’t part of hiscriteria.

“The brunch contest is fun and unique,”Katze says. “I don’t know of any other concertthat encourages people to bring picnics andthen rewards them for it.”

Hemlock Groove

The dual rows of soaring evergreens atHartwood Acres’ Hemlock Court areboth the namesake and the lush, piney

backdrop of a two-year-old concert seriescalled Hemlock Groove. Concerts are heldthe second Wednesday from May throughAugust, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Scheduledartists this season include Matt Constantine,who plays folk and bluegrass and was thedebut performer last year; Maddie Arnold, afolk musician; and Cue Ball, an Irish group.

The concerts are the brainchild of theFriends of Hartwood, a volunteer organizationfounded in 2003 to preserve and protect thenatural environment and cultural heritage ofHartwood Acres. They are small and intimatein tone and setting and feature only localmusicians—an intentional counterpoint tothe larger Allegheny County Summer ConcertSeries and the Pittsburgh Blues Festival held atMiddle Road field.

Hemlock Court is situated behind thestately Tudor mansion that was erected in1929 for John and Mary Flinn Lawrence asthe centerpiece of their country estate.Attendance at the concerts last year rangedfrom approximately 40 to 80 people, depend-ing on the band.

Carrie Classen, vice chair of Friends ofHartwood, says Hemlock Groove fosters asense of community and belonging.

“We wanted to do something outside insummer that enables people to enjoy the parkand feel a connection with it,” she says. “Wewanted something laid back and on a week-night, so you can come with your picnic bas-ket, your kids, your dog, and just relax.”

While the concerts are free, there is a $5suggested donation for adults to raise moneyfor park projects. Monies collected last yearhelped to restore the park’s stables.

“My hope is that Hemlock Groove growsand becomes recognized as a fundraiser forHartwood Acres, but that it continues to stayintimate and manageable,” Classen says.

Reservoir of Jazz

As weekends in August wind down andMonday morning looms, people look-ing for a final respite on Sunday

evenings can be found on the lawn near thereservoir in Highland Park, enjoying free jazzconcerts from 5 to 7 p.m.

A program of the Highland ParkCommunity Council in conjunction withCitiparks, Reservoir of Jazz has been a tradi-tion going on 25 years.

Tania Grubbs, who chairs the series,deems it a priority because it helps to positionHighland Park as different from neighboring

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communities. Even when the City ofPittsburgh went bankrupt several years agoand cut funding for the program, the commu-nity persevered and made the concerts hap-pen—albeit scaled back. Grubbs sees the seriesas a unique way to welcome others toHighland Park and to showcase and celebratelocal jazz artists.

“The concerts are a real morale builder,and we feel a sense of pride at our ability toshow others our community and get them tosay, ‘I’d like to live here,’” Grubbs says.“Probably some people have selectedHighland Park for their home because theycame to a concert and liked the energy.”

The East End has long been a hotbed ofjazz, and the local greats have graced thestage—Sandy Staley, Roger Humphries,Jimmy Ponder, and the Pittsburgh JazzOrchestra, among them. Last year, one of theprograms took more of a global approach withthe appearance of World Beats, and the toeswere tapping.

Even rain hasn’t deterred the crowds.Grubbs remembers one “magical” night whenit started raining. Kids splashed in the puddlesas the adults started to dance—and everyoneactually enjoyed the abrupt change in weather,she says. SA__

__

MusicAl Fresco

Reservoir of Jazz

Allegheny County Summer Concert SeriesHartwood Acres, Middle Road field, Hampton Township412-350-7275 or alleghenycounty.us/newsroomSundays at 7:30 p.m. from June 2 to September 1

Bach, Beethoven & BrunchMellon Park, Beechwood and Fifth avenues, Squirrel Hill412-255-2493 or pittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/bach-beethoven-brunchSundays from 10:30 a.m. to noon, June 16 toAugust 11

Concerts in the WallLoop Street (kids) and Brilliant Avenue (adults),Aspinwall412-781-0213 or aspinwallpa.comKids concerts - first Thursday of the month from May to September, 6 to 8 p.m. Adult concerts - third Thursday in those samemonths from 7 to 9 p.m.

First Fridays at the FrickThe Frick Art and Historical Center7227 Reynolds Street, Point Breeze412-371-0600 or thefrickpittsburgh.orgJune 7, July 5, August 2 & September 6, 7:30 p.m.

Hemlock GrooveHemlock Court at the Hartwood Acres Mansion,Indiana TownshipFacebook.com/FriendsofHartwoodSecond Wednesday of the month from May through August, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Listen Up!Jam on WalnutWalnut and Bellefonte streets, Shadysidethinkshadyside.comKelsey Friday and Dancing Queen (headlining),June 29; Donora and Radio Tokyo (headlining),July 27; and Abacus Jones and Chris Higbee(headlining), August 17Concerts run from 7 to 11 p.m.

Pittsburgh Blues FestivalHartwood Acres, Middle Road field, Hampton Township412-460-BLUE or pghblues.comJuly 19-21

Reservoir of JazzHighland Park Reservoir, near the Highland Avenue park entrance412-255-2493 orpittsburghpa.gov/citiparks/reservoir-jazzSundays in August, 5 to 7 p.m.

Schenley Plaza Lunchtime MusicSchenley Plaza, Forbes Avenue at Bigelow Boulevard, Oakland412-682-7275 or pittsburghparks.orgTuesdays at lunchtime, July 9 to October 8

WYEP Summer Music Festival and Final FridaysSchenley Plaza, Oakland412-381-9131 or wyep.orgSummer Music Festival kicks off June 28 at 6 p.m.Final Fridays start at 6:30 p.m. on July 26, August 30, and September 27.

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