Strip District Music Fest returns; now has comedy and art, too
Sarah L. Wilson Photography
Cello Fury performs at Altar Bar as part of last year’s inaugural Strip District Music Festival. The cello-rock quartet returns to that Strip District club Jan. 9 for this year’s festival.
Nevada Color will perform Jan. 16 at Altar Bar during the Strip District Music Fest.
Beaver comedian Day Bracey hosts the new comedy night that's part of the second annual Strip District Music Fest.
Gio Attisano will be featured at Maggie's Farm Rum Room during the Jan. 16 all-day festival.
The Hawkeyes will perform Jan. 16 at Plantscape Warehouse during the Strip District Music Fest.
Donora will perform the last set of the evening at the "Edge of The X" Stage at Plantscape Warehouse during the festival.
Chip Dimonick will perform at Altar Bar on Jan. 16 during the Strip District Music Fest.
Chase Barron will perform an afternoon set at Thin Man Sandwich Shop on Jan. 16 during the Strip District Music Fest.
Bill Deasy is one of the many performers at this year's Strip District Music Fest. He'll perform at the Pittsburgh Winery.
Ben Valasek and The Growlers will perform at Pittsburgh Winery during Saturday's music festival.
Bastard Bearded Irishmen will perform on the "Edge of The X" stage at Plantscape Warehouse, 31st & Penn Avenue, in the Strip District.
Balloon Ride Fantasy will perform at Altar Bar during the Strip District Music Fest.
Arcane Haven will perform at Altar Bar during the Strip District Music Fest.
Good Brother Earl will perform at the Pittsburgh Winery on Penn Avenue in the Strip District during the Jan. 16 all-day music festival.
Meeting Of Important People will perform at Altar Bar on Jan. 16 during the Strip District Music Fest.
Mike Cali will perform at Pittsburgh Winery during the Strip District Music Fest.
Aperture Sound will perform in the electronic basement at Altar Bar during the Strip District Music Fest.
Amplifiers will perform at 21st Street Coffee on Smallman Street during the Jan. 16 during the Strip District Music Fest.
Alex Stypula will perform at Maggie's Farm Rum Room Jan. 16 during the Strip District Music Fest.
They stuffed a sandwich shop, filled a frame store and waited in line outside a winery. Further proof came at the whiskey distillery and at the coffee shop filled to the brim.
Live music lovers turned out by the thousands last January, boosting Pittsburgh’s music scene by checking out local bands at typical and nontraditional sites as part of the first Strip District Music Fest.
Buoyed by that success, the multi-venue, music-focused festival returns Jan. 16 for a second year, branching out to 19 locations where more than 150 western Pennsylvania musical acts will provide entertainment from noon to 2 a.m.
“I think it highlights the fact Pittsburgh is a great music city,” said Nicole Myers, a cellist in Cello Fury, which for the second year will take part in the festival from the main stage at Altar Bar.
Myers likes how Cello Fury’s 45-minute set of cello-driven rock will come between performances by pop-punk band the Spacepimps and party-rock band Gene The Werewolf.
“It’s cool if people go to see a band they know then get excited to hear different styles of music,” Myers said.
At last year’s debut festival, many of those watching Cello Fury were doing so for the first time, “and that turned out great,” Myers said. “The place was packed.”
Once again, there are no cover charges for the Strip District Music Fest, which relies on a pay-what-you-want policy, encouraging spectators to donate digitally (at stripdistrictmusicfest.com) with 75 percent going to the donor’s specified artist, and the other 25 percent to be reinvested back into next year’s festival.
“We’re not playing the festival for monetary reasons as much as to support the Pittsburgh music scene,” Myers said.
Beaver resident Day Bracey, host of the festival’s new comedy show at Maggie’s Farm Rum Room on Smallman Street, said acts should view the festival as more of a resume builder than a paycheck.
“I’m just honored to be a part of something so big, so early on in my career,” Bracey said. “None of this would be possible without local businesses taking a chance and opening up their doors to us.”
Maggie’s Farm, the most awarded rum distillery in America last year, will set the stage for a night of comedy that begins with two live podcasts followed by five hours of stand-up from comics like Tim Ross, Ed Bailey and Molly Sharrow.
“I’ll be hosting the event, so you can expect me to say things that may make your grandmother blush, depending on how much rum she’s already had,” Bracey said.
After filling up on laughs, festivalgoers can head to Altar Bar to see main stage acts such as Moon Township rockers Chip Dimonick, hard-pounding Dethlehem and top indie bands Balloon Ride Fantasy, Meeting of Important People and the 1:15 a.m. closing act, Nevada Color.
“I’m predicting that Nevada Color will be one of the hottest acts,” Strip District Music Fest creator Josh Bakaitus, of concert promoters Drusky Entertainment, said. “I also think Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing (6:15 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Winery) are a band that everybody should take the time out of the day to see live. Really incredible musicians on the rise.”
As bands rock Altar Bar’s main stage, six electronic dance music deejays will entertain in the club’s basement, while outside hip-hop MCs hold sway on the Daily Bread/Taylor Gang Beats Stage.
Restaurants like Savoy and Lidia’s Pittsburgh bring a new level of sophistication to this year’s festival, while Wholey’s Fish Market presents artists painting live from noon to four.
“I’m personally most excited about the reunion sets we have this year; Creta Bourzia, Voice In the Wire, Teddy Duchamp’s Army, Tabula Rasa and Once Nothing to name a few,” Bakaitus said.
Most of those reunions will take place at another new festival spot, the Enrico Biscotti Warehouse at the corner of 31st and Penn Avenue.
Beaver Valley artists are represented by the likes of the Hawkeyes (2 p.m. at Plantscape Warehouse, 31st and Penn), Wine & Spirit (3:15 p.m. at Beerhive at 2117 Penn) and Dan Bubien (3:30 p.m. at Pittsburgh Winery).
“Get there early,” Myers said, noting that at some of last year’s venues, “the lines were out the door.”
A music festival spread throughout the Strip might not have been so successful earlier this decade, according to Bakaitus.
“The one thing that I’ve been noticing for the past five years and don’t expect it to slow down in 2016 is that people are hungrier than ever for live music and art,” he said.
“I think as long as Pittsburgh continues to grow and evolve, the arts will also thrive.”