Festival Programming for TRAF Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Shaunda Miles – Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-471-1578 / Miles@TrustArts.org
Diana Roth – Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-471-1578 / Roth@TrustArts.org
Jessica Warchall – Visual Arts Publicist, 847-477-8714 (cell) / Warchall@TrustArts.org
Images available at: http://TrustArts.org/press
Search name: 2014 TRAF
For More Information: TrustArts.org/TRAF

PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST ANNOUNCES
FULL COMPLEMENT OF FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING FOR
55TH ANNUAL DOLLAR BANK THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL
POINT STATE PARK | CULTURAL DISTRICT | GATEWAY CENTER
10 DAYS OF FREE music + art | JUNE 6 – 15, 2014

Pittsburgh, PA—The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces the full complement of programming scheduled to be presented at the 55th annual Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The 10-day celebration of the arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is unlike any other in the nation. The world-class, multi-disciplinary festival is free to attend and is open to the public. Attracting over 400,000 visitors annually, the Festival begins on the first Friday in June and takes place at the confluence of Pittsburgh’s famed three rivers in Point State Park, throughout picturesque Gateway Center, and in the city’s world-renowned Cultural District.

“Just over $165 million dollars in household income is generated by the arts and culture throughout the Allegheny and neighboring counties,” shared J. Kevin McMahon, President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.  “This is just one of many economic indicators that evidence the power of art has to transform our communities.  The Trust’s free festivals will welcome a half million people between May and December of this year alone.  Art truly does make a difference in the holistic development of our city and is vital to its sustainability.”

Joseph B. Smith, Senior Vice President Marketing for Dollar Bank added, “Our desire to provide the people of this region with a free day of music began twenty years ago when we had our first Dollar Bank Jamboree. Today, this vision continues providing free music and programming for 10 days on the Dollar Bank Stage and throughout the Cultural District and Gateway Center.  It is our hope that our sponsorship provides the means to keep programming broad, spanning across sectors and disciplines, thereby reflecting and encouraging diversity within our city and region.”

This year’s major theme, the intersection of the festival’s core values, is aesthetic creativity and environmental sustainability.  From Diversion, supported by the Colcom Foundation, and the interactive tents in the Giant Eagle Creativity Zone, to the portal bridge and art galleries, these installations and exhibitions are aimed to evoke a sense of wonder, responsibility and renewed awareness of how our actions and choices affect our world and the people around us.

The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival is made possible by the generous support of Peoples Natural Gas, Giant Eagle, ChoosePAWind, Bessie F. Anathan Charitable Trust of the Pittsburgh Foundation, Buhl Foundation, Calgon Carbon Corporation, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, Colcom Foundation, The Fine Foundation, The Grable Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Henry Hillman Foundation, Lannan Foundation, Laurel Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

PERFORMING ARTS

Pittsburgh Premieres

Squonk | Pnuematica
Squonk’s new outdoor work, “Pneumatica,” is made of air, powered by air, and about air. The performances will awaken social connections into joyful wind-powered emergent air spectacles. It will push physics and civic interdependency into tangibility, with wind powered turbines, tentacles, and a whirl of inflatables.  Squonk has created seven new works over 18 years with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, which have toured to Europe, Asia, Broadway, and off-Broadway. This successful history includes the premiere of the truck-mounted Squonk Roadshow 2012 that has gone on to 14 cities in 10 states for 100 shows.  The group just returned from a busy winter playing Manhattan, where The New York Times called them a “multi-media troupe of infinite jest” from Pittsburgh with “images of strange and startling beauty...”

Bricolage | OJO presented by Pittsburgh Foundation
OJO is a world-premiere immersive theater experience produced by Pittsburgh's own Bricolage, whose mission is to immerse artists and audiences in adventurous theatrical experiences that foster connections and alter perceptions. The experience requires registering for a free voucher at TrustArts.org/OJO in advance of your attendance and while capacity remains, first-come first-served.

Complaints n’at Choir
Christiane D, a multimedia-artist with a long standing reputation in the Pittsburgh arts scene, is charged with leading the creation of Pittsburgh’s Inaugural Complaint Choir, as part of the international project, Complaint Choirs of the World.  For a limited time only, the complaints of our fair residents will be gathered and constructed into a song for the choir, for all to sing.

Dance
Dance performances will take place in the Peirce Studio, located at 805 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.  Each performance will have two show times, one at 2pm and one at 5pm.  Performance times vary between 45 minutes and 60 minutes.

Boomerang | June 7
Boomerang is a fearlessly physical, poetically nuanced dance and performance project comprised of Kora Radella, Matty Davis, and Adrian Galvin. Recognizing the body as an evolving repository for both physical and psychological life, Boomerang sifts through and siphons from its rich, eclectic histories. The foundation of both Davis and Galvin as movers, arise from aggressive rollerblading, soccer, snowboarding, tennis, hockey, ultimate Frisbee, and long-distance running.  They have been referred to as the “punk Mozarts of dance.”

Shana Simmons Dance and The Eclectic Laboratory Chamber Orchestra | June 8
We Sing the Body Eclectic is a new work by collaborators Shana Simmons Dance and The Eclectic Laboratory Chamber Orchestra –their fourth collaboration in the past two years. Featuring four dancers and fourteen musicians, the piece takes the form of a long transition from sparseness to density, calm to agitation. Using orchestral and electronic instruments, words, and movement, the audience will question its own perception of time.

Alba Flamenca | June 14
Alba Flamenca is an example of a mix of cultures that have come together to celebrate and perform Flamenco.  The performers are devoted to the art that is Flamenco and have intention to stay as traditional as possible, in addition to keeping true to artistic beliefs and telling personal stories using their bodies and minds.

Reed Dance | June 15
Take a journey with Reed Dance as the ensemble celebrates the music of the great Stevie Wonder. Reed Dance will collaborate with local and national dance, music, spoken word artists and students to present Suite Stevie. These young artists will showcase the genius and timeless music of the man himself.

PUBLIC ART HIGHLIGHTS

Before I Die | Artist: Candy Chang
“One of the most creative community projects ever.”—The Atlantic
Artist, designer, and urban planner Candy Chang creates art that prompts people to think about their secrets, wishes and hopes and then share them. Before I Die is a global art project that invites people to reflect on their lives and share their personal aspirations in public space.

No Limits | Artist: Alexandre Arrechea
Cuban-born artist Alexandre Arrechea’s No Limits, a series of ten sculptures creatively representing iconic New York City buildings and architecture, was installed on New York City's Park Avenue in the spring of 2013, presented by Magnan Metz Gallery in conjunction with NYC Parks and the Fund for Park Avenue Sculpture Committee.  Four of the ten sculptures, nearly 20 feet in height each, are now located throughout Gateway Center as a public art feature of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival.

People's Clothing Archive and Library Initiative No 1: o:ne:ka' | Artist: Edith Abeyta
Supported by Colcom Foundation
What if we recognized clothing as a renewable resource? People’s Clothing Archive and Library Initiative No 1: o:ne:ka' is a large-scale sculpture fabricated from donated t-shirts attached to a wooden framework that formst he word, o:ne:ka'— the Seneca word for water. The sculpture takes into consideration the physical and historical properties of the site as well as the themes of the Festival.

VISUAL ART HIGHLIGHTS

Juried Visual Art Exhibition (JVAE)
The annual Juried Visual Art Exhibition, held at 805-807 Liberty Avenue in the Trust Arts Education Center (James E. Rohr Building) features Pittsburgh’s best new visual art.  Showcasing a selection of new work by some of the most talented members of Pittsburgh’s vibrant creative community, the exhibition is one of the most-anticipated visual arts attractions at the Festival.  This year’s show features 59 works by 53 artists. Exhibition attendees can join the panel of jurors in awarding the best work in the JVAE. After experiencing the show, attendees can vote on-site on mobile devices or with the JVAE staff at the 4th floor entrance lobby.  Selected works may be offered for sale at artists’ discretion.  Rewards include Best in Show, Juror’s Choice and the People’s Choice Award.  This year’s distinguished jurors include John Carson, Regina and Marlin Miller Professor and Head of the School of Art at Carnegie Mellon University;  Rachel Delphia, The Alan G. and Jane A. Lehman Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at Carnegie Museum of Art; and Nicholas Chambers, The Milton Fine Curator of Art at the warhol.

The China Express | Artist: Carlan Tapp
Presented by Lannan Foundation
Photojournalist Carlan Tapp showcases The China Express, a black and white photography exhibition that documents the people and places affected by coal shipping.  The exhibition includes 40 digital images Tapp took while traveling the 1,200 mile train route, including everything from the open-pit coal mines in Wyoming to Pacific Northwest towns and Indian reservations. In some areas, coal mining has depleted wells and caused streams and natural waterways to dry up. The China Express is informative and is presented unobtrusively in the form of brief captions that serve as titles for each image.

Portraits of Air | Artist: Susan Goethel Campbell
Detroit-based artist Susan Goethel Campbell crowd-sourced this installation of more than 100 air filters distributed throughout the Pittsburgh region. Incorporating photography and mixed media, she creates a visual document of the invisible element of air.

Other visual art exhibitions will be on display at galleries and open spaces throughout the Cultural District, including Wood Street Galleries, 707Penn Gallery, 709 Penn Gallery, Tito Way, Backstage Bar at Theater Square and the Trust Arts Education Center.

GIANT EAGLE CREATIVITY ZONE
Artist demonstrations and hands-on activities are available annually at the Festival. Educational shows for all ages are available, ranging from culturally-diverse music performances to story-telling to collaborative painting projects. This year’s Giant Eagle Creativity Zone is being enhanced by several special projects, including Diversion, an installation and activity exploring misplacement of compostables into residential waste streams by Rose Clancy and presented by Colcom Foundation; Chutz-Pow! Superheroes of the Holocaust presented by the Holocaust Center and Toonseum and Reuse-a-Palooza! a hands-on, open-ended art activities using reclaimed materials presented by Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse.

The Miniature Marina by the Laurel Foundation will return to the Artist Market providing the popular children’s model sailboat activity. Other organizations participating in the expanded Giant Eagle Creativity Zone include Union Project, The Sprout Fund, Calligraphy Guild of Pittsburgh, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Gateway to the Arts, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, ZooBeats, Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Society of Artists, Turners Anonymous, MGR Youth Empowerment, Sweetwater Center for the Arts, iNCLUDE: Pittsburgh, and WQED.

The Creativity Stage in the Giant Eagle Creativity Zone will host WYEP’s Reimagination Showcase, Yemaya Pittsburgh, Hope Academy Teen Theater Company, WQED’s Musical Kids, Alastair Moock, Pittsburgh Puppet Works, iQ Kids Radio’s Sand and Surf Dance Party and Pittsburgh Musical Theater Extreme Teen Broadway featuring selections from popular musicals such as SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL and ALICE IN WONDERLAND.  Pittsburgh Filmmakers will host eight (8) art-focused films in the Harris Theaterincluding Cutie and the Boxer, a series of Pride Week short films, Open City of Amereida and Indie Game: the Movie–a Sundance award-winner looking at indie video game developers.

ARTIST MARKET PRESENTED BY PEOPLES NATURAL GAS
The 2014 Artist Market will feature a record 338 artists over 18 different mediums. Artists will be traveling to Pittsburgh from 30 states.  In addition to the professional Artists in the Artist Market, Peoples Natural Gas will provide scholarship opportunities to eight Emerging Artists who will be presenting at a professional show for the first time.

Ranked among the Top 40 shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine, the Artist Market at Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival takes place throughout Point State Park and Gateway Center daily, as well as Penn Avenue Extension on weekends. The Artist Market is a cornerstone of the Festival and provides the public with an opportunity to purchase work directly from artists specializing in an array of media including ceramics, computer graphics and digital art, jewelry, fiber, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, woodworking and more.  New artists appear in the Artists Market throughout the 10 days, making for a new and unique experience each day.

For information regarding the 2014 Music Headliners, visit TrustArts.org/Press.

For up to date information and a full schedule (including locations, dates and times) for the festival, visit www.TrustArts.org/TRAF.

ABOUT THE DOLLAR BANK THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL
The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a celebration of the arts in downtown Pittsburgh unlike any other in the nation. Each of its world-class, multi-disciplinary performing and visual arts attractions is free to attend and open to the public! The Festival begins on the first Friday in June and takes place at the confluence of Pittsburgh’s famed three rivers in Point State Park, throughout picturesque Gateway Center, and in the city’s world-renowned Cultural District.

ABOUT THE PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts.
Follow us on Twitter @CulturalTrust, and like us on Facebook.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Adams Leads ALS Walk

Pittsburgh Penguins (#27) Craig Adams
Leads Walk to Defeat ALS®
Saturday, September 7th at 10 a.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins (#27) Craig Adams and his wife will participate as the Honorary Co-Chairs of the Walk to Defeat ALS® on Saturday, September 7th at a new location this year, Point State Park.

WHO: 3,500+ walkers will join Craig Adams and possibly a few other Pittsburgh Penguins players as they lead the Walk to Defeat ALS®.

WHAT: ALS is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS. Every 90 minutes, someone loses their battle to this disease that robs a person of their ability to speak, walk, eat and eventually breathe. There is no treatment and no cure.

Earlier this year Craig Adams’ father-in-law lost his own battle with ALS. To honor him, Craig and his wife Anne, Craig’s teammates, and the Pittsburgh Penguins Wives Association have become passionate about raising ALS awareness and funds to support continued research and patient care. “Anytime you are touched closely by a disease, it just becomes that much more important to you, especially when it is something that a lot of people do not know a whole lot about,” Adams says.

HOW: To register for the walk, go to the ALS Association Western Pennsylvania Chapter’s website:www.cure4als.com

WHEN: Saturday, September 7th at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Point State Park, Downtown Pittsburgh
For those in need, there will be reserved handicap parking spaces along Point State Park.
Special parking rates have been made available on certain North Side lots.

The ALS Association of Western Pennsylvania Chapter works to enhance the quality of life for people living with ALS while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. This is the only non-profit organization leading the way in global ALS research, providing assistance for people living with ALS and coordinating care through multidisciplinary clinics.

For more information, www.cure4als.org or by calling 412-821-3254.
Twitter: @theALSAWPA

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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Three Rivers Arts Festival Focuses on Art and Collaboration

54th Annual Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival
Focuses on Art & Collaboration
Point State Park | Cultural District | Gateway Center
June 7 – 16, 2013

PITTSBURGH, PA: The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, is set to fulfill its mission of connecting the community to the arts this summer, June 7 – 16, 2013, in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The 10-day Festival is free and open to the public and presents high-quality and diverse visual and performing art attractions sprawling from the newly renovated Point State Park at the confluence of the city’s famed three rivers, through picturesque Gateway Center, and into Pittsburgh’s world-renowned 14-block Cultural District.  During its vast and varied history, the Festival has featured more than 12,000 artists and entertained millions of residents and visitors, including an annual crowd of 400,000.

This year’s Festival is significant for its role as a foundation to a number of cooperating high-profile cultural events bringing national and international attention to the City of Pittsburgh.  Together, the events symbolize Pittsburgh’s 30-year transformation into a global city with a thriving quality of life.

“We are proud of the continued development of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, and excited to celebrate its 54th year.  The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival contributes to the cultural vitality of the city, and generates over $23 million dollars, serving as an economic stimulus to the region,” said Kevin McMahon, President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.  “This year, we are even more proud of the collaborative spirit of community partnership that has prevailed throughout planning and programming. There will be Riverlights at the Point, the grand reopening of the Point State Park fountain presented by Riverlife, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources of Pennsylvania, and the Festival; Point Made! celebrating the opening of the Homestead section of the Great Allegheny Passage and terminus marker in Point State Park; PRIDEFest; the Americans for the Arts Conference; our Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival and other events. We are proud to serve as an artistic and cultural connector between local and national organizations, the city of Pittsburgh, and the world.”

Joseph B. Smith, Senior Vice President Marketing for Dollar Bank added, “Dollar Bank is pleased to continue a long tradition of providing community events in downtown Pittsburgh.  The 10-day Festival represents a microcosm of activity that is taking place throughout our neighborhoods, 365 days per year, and we are proud to serve as the Presenting Sponsor.  We are very pleased to see the return of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in their third consecutive year, in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Opera.”  The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will feature two Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artists who will help to kick off the Pittsburgh Opera’s 75th Anniversary.

“The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to be a part of this year’s Festival that is enjoyed by so many people in our community” remarked James A.  Wilkinson, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

This year, the Festival also welcomes Veronica Corpuz as the Director. Corpuz has infused the Festival with a new vision statement that includes re-imagining and envisioning the Pittsburgh region as a place where impactful, artful experiences contribute directly to the quality of life for everyone and are embraced as essential for the entire community.  “We believe that art matters, and we envision the Festival as a safe place for the open exchange of creativity and dialogue, ideas and participation," said Corpuz.  “Through the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, we seek to present a full spectrum of programming that collectively creates vibrancy throughout Downtown Pittsburgh, provides respite and fun, and evokes a sense of awe and wonder,” she concluded.

The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival is made possible by the generous support of Colcom Foundation, Laurel Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, the Bessie F. Anathan Charitable Trust of the Pittsburgh Foundation, The Grable Foundation, The Fine Foundation, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, The Buhl Foundation, American Eagle Outfitters’ Foundation, imaginePittsburgh.com, and Vibrant Pittsburgh.

DOLLAR BANK STAGE HEADLINERS
All headline concerts on the Dollar Bank Stage begin at 7:30 p.m. in Point State Park.  The headline concerts will be augmented by additional live music on opening weekend, June 7 - 9, as musicians perform on three stages positioned on the streets of the Cultural District at the 3rd annual Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival, a 3-day event produced in cooperation with the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.  More information is available at PittsburghJazzLive.com
Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros | Friday, June 7 | 7:30 - 9 pm

Concert is part of the kickoff of the “Riverlights at The Point” celebration marking the conclusion of renovations in Point State Park. “Riverlights at The Point” is presented by Riverlife, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Ralph Stanley | Saturday, June 8 | 7:30 - 9 pm
Bluegrass Day supported by Colcom Foundation.  Other performances include Allegheny Drifters, Mon River Ramblers and Great American Taxi.  Second Stage performances include The Unknown String Band and the Shelf Life String Band.

Cello Fury with special guests Joy Ike and Scott Blasey of the Clarks | Sunday, June 9 | 7:30 - 9 pm
This WYEP Regional Showcase performance is supported by American Eagle Outfitters’ Foundation and will feature performances by Sleep Experiments, The Deceptions and Grand Piano.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra | Monday, June 10 | 7:30 - 9 pm

Music Director: Manfred Honeck.  Program will feature Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artists Jasmine Muhammed and Kyle Oliver to kick off the Pittsburgh Opera’s 75th Anniversary.

Grupo Fantasma | Tuesday, June 11 | 7:30 - 9 pm

Grammy award-winning Latin funk band

Glen Hansard | Wednesday, June 12 | 7:30 - 9 pm

Acclaimed songwriter from The Swell Season and The Frames

Lucius | Thursday, June 13| 7:30 - 9 pm

Lauded Indie-Pop band

Red Baraat | Friday, June 14 | 7:30 - 9 pm

The pioneering bhangra and brass celebration music of Red Baraat will be presented as part of World Music Day supported by Vibrant Pittsburgh.  Jontrewill open World Music Day, performing Latin and African-American grooves with Columbian flavor.

The Airborne Toxic Event | Saturday, June 15 | 7:30 - 9 pm

Anthemic Indie-Rock band

The Blind Boys of Alabama | Sunday, June 16 | 7:30 - 9 pm

The Blind Boys of Alabama are recognized worldwide as living legends of gospel music.  The group has attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans over 70 years and shows no signs of diminishing. Blind Boys of Alabama's musical events appeal to audiences of all cultures, as evidenced by an international itinerary that has taken them to virtually every continent.

PUBLIC ART HIGHLIGHTS

American Hero #4 |Gateway Center Lawn | Daily, 12pm – 9pm

Artist: Hugh Hayden

Hugh Hayden recently participated in the 2012 Socrates Sculpture Park Emerging Artist Fellowship in New York. The Dallas native is also a recent resident of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Workspace Residency and visiting artist at New York University. He is currently participating in the Abrons Art Center AIRSpace Residency. Originally commissioned by Socrates Sculpture Park, American Hero #4 is a reading on American mainstream culture in pluralistic society through the creation of racing stripes out of cornrowed hair on the body of a first generation Ford Mustang.

Floating Echo | Point State Park | Daily, 12pm – 9pm

Artist: Chang-Jin Lee

Chang-Jin Lee is a Korean-born visual artist who lives in New York City. Her multicultural background and experiences have provoked in her an interest in investigating the diverse cultural and social issues in our current era. In her artworks, she deals with identity, gender, globalism, nationalism, human trafficking, and religion. She most recently participated in the 2012 Socrates Sculpture Park Emerging Artist Fellowship in New York. Floating Buddha is a transparent inflatable Buddha floating on water, which was commissioned by Socrates Sculpture Park. Her awards include: The New York State Council on the Arts Grant, The Asian Cultural Council Fellowship, The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Grant, The Franconia Sculpture Park Jerome Fellowship, New York Foundation for the Arts Fiscal Sponsorship Award, The World Financial Center Sponsorship, The Puffin Foundation Grant, The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council - Creative Capital Professional Development Workshop, The Busan Sea Art Festival Award, and The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Manhattan Community Arts Fund.

Art House at the Arts Festival | Giant Eagle Creativity Zone, Point State Park | Daily, 12pm – 6pm

Renowned performer, poet and visual artist, Vanessa German, will bring her Art House to the Arts Festival, sharing inspiration and imagination with youth and adults. The structure of the Art House at the festival is inspired by the African-American praise houses in the South. Limited edition yard sign will be painted by festival goers which they can take home to show that “signs of goodness can be found everywhere.” Ms. German was recently featured on Huffington Post as one of the top 30 black artists under 40 to watch. Her multimedia work and photography can be found in collections around the globe.

The Drift | Point State Park, Allegheny Front | June 15 and 16, 12pm – 6pm

The Drift is a floating platform for creative projects that explore the rivers and waterfronts within the city of Pittsburgh. In the spring of 2012, a team of seven artists constructed a pair of hexagonal rafts. Since then, The Drift has hosted a series of performances, lectures, and buoyant interventions.

VISUAL ART HIGHLIGHTS

Juried Visual Art Exhibition

The annual Juried Visual Art Exhibition, held at 805-807 Liberty Avenue in the Trust Arts Education Center (James E. Rohr Building) features Pittsburgh’s best new visual art.  Several large-scale three-dimensional works allow the show to be on the 4th floor. The works of 36 artists were selected by jurors: Cecile Shellman, Artistic Director, Visual Arts and Exhibitions of the August Wilson Center for African American Culture; Adam Welch, Curator of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts; and Lauren Wetmore, curatorial assistant for the 2013 Carnegie International. Awards will be given to the Best in Show, Juror’s Select and, new this year, the People’s Choice Award. Festival goers will be invited to vote for their favorite work.

Flight School Showcase (Third Floor, Trust Arts Education Center)

Curated by Casey Droege, the Flight School Visual Art Exhibition features the work and installations by Flight School fellows specializing in the visual arts. In its third year, the Flight School Fellowship is a professional development program designed for professional artists living in the Pittsburgh region. Each year, 15 selected Flight School fellows attend a weekend intensive Creative Capital Professional retreat at the beginning of an eight-week series of workshops with guest artists, mentors, and leaders from the Pittsburgh nonprofit and artist communities. Flight School is a program of Pittsburgh Center for the Arts/Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

GIANT EAGLE CREATIVITY ZONE

Artist demonstrations and hands-on activities are available annually at the Festival.  Educational shows for all ages are available ranging from culturally-diverse music performances to story-telling to collaborative painting projects. This year’s Giant Eagle Creativity Zone is being enhanced by a Dream Cycle Tent, which will include a photo exhibit curated by Renee Rosensteel.  The Dream Cycle Tent, supported by the Colcom Foundation, will be part of a new initiative, Creativity in Motion, which will provide interactive activities inspired by the art and science of cycling and include a portion of the Carnegie Science Center’s Science of Bikes exhibit, highlighting the science behind bikes.  Creativity in Motion is based upon the famous quote by Einstein "I thought of that while riding my bicycle” (on the theory of relativity). A new Miniature Marina by the Laurel Foundation at the Artist Market will also provide a new children’s model sailboat activity.  Other organizations participating in the expanded Giant Eagle Creativity Zone include Carnegie Science Center, Bike PGH, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, iQ Kids Radio, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, City of Play, Citiparks, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Demo Stage, the Calligraphy Guild and the Woodturner's Guild.

ARTIST MARKET

Ranked among the Top 40 shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine, the Artist Market at Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival features 300+ fine artists and fine craftspeople throughout Point State Park and Gateway Center daily, as well as Penn Avenue Extension on weekends.  The Artist Market is a cornerstone of the Festival and provides the public with an opportunity to purchase work directly from artists specializing in an array of media including ceramics, computer graphics and digital, jewelry, fiber, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, woodworking and more.

For a full listing of events, please visit 3RiversArtsFest.org or call 412.456.6666.

 

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Media Contacts/ Pittsburgh Cultural Trust:

Shaunda Miles / miles@trustarts.org

Diana Roth / roth@trustarts.org

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Bridging African Rhythms and Jazz Theme of African Arts in the Park Festival

UMOJA African Arts Company
PO Box 5230
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone:  412-290-0894
Fax:  412-232-3262
www.AfricanArtsInThePark.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mrs. Darcel Madkins, President & CEO
UMOJA African Arts Company
Phone: 412-290-0894
Fax: 412-232-3262
umoja@umojacompany.org
www.AfricanArtsInThePark.org

UMOJA African Arts Company in partnership with CitiParks to Host the African-American Festival being held at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA   - African Arts in the Park Festival is dedicated to the demonstration and promotion of African and African Diaspora Arts in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. This year’s theme, “Bridging African Rhythms and Jazz”, appeals to people of all backgrounds recognizing that African music is a strong contributor to the genre of jazz music.  Umoja’s mission,” to raise awareness and increase appreciation for the rich cultures of Africa and their influence on the world”, utilizes the African Arts in the Park as a wonderful event for such an exposition.  Plan on stopping by Umoja African Arts Company’s 8th Annual African Arts in the Park Festival, August 11th & 12th, 2012, in Point State Park from 11AM-7PM in the center of Downtown Pittsburgh.

The Main Stage will be filled with West African music, dance, and jazz.  Attendees can bring their chairs and blankets and hear live bands.  They will be entertained by various West African dance and drum troops including Sankofa Village, Dreme Drum Dance, Legacy Arts Project, and Tam Tam Magic.  Jazz musicians include Afro-American Music Institute, Jessica Lee Quartet, Elevations, Roger Humphries and RH Factor, AfroJazz, Chelsea Baratz Band, Ray Ryan and the Riverside Band, Tim Stevens and the Leonard Johnson Project, Kevin Howard Band, Dwayne Dolphin Band, and Spirit Filled Ministries.

The Culture Hut will offer interactive demonstrations such as West Africa’s influence on Jazz by Kuumba Inc., African storytelling by Temujin the Storyteller and Jackie Jonas, and drum workshops by Assane M’Baye. New this year are cooking and tasting demos which connect West African food and food from New Orleans by Phat Girlz Cookin’ and Culinary Artists.

We encourage a visit to our Children’s Hut.  There will be Spanish & French Arts & Crafts, Reading Is Fundamental, Carnegie Library activities, African storytelling & mask making, jewelry making, face painting, henna artists, petting zoo, Debo the Clown, a stiltwalker, and a bounce house.

Our food vendors will serve a variety of American and international food. The retail vendors will have several crafts, art, and clothing. Admission to this event is free.

UMOJA African Arts Company is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that is celebrating its 23rd season of bridging and unifying diverse cultures through educational and artistic presentations of African art, culture and heritage.   Sponsors include City of Pittsburgh, Heinz Endowments, Pittsburgh Foundation, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield,  Poise Foundation, The Soul Pitt, Residence Inn- Marriott, and Wyndham Hotel.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Music Headliners for 2012 3 Rivers Arts Festival Announced

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Today's date: April 2, 2012 Contact: Veronica Corpuz, 412-471-6082 The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Announces Music Headliners For 10-Day Festival Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival June 1-10, 2012 – Point State Park | Cultural District | Hertz Gateway Center The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust proudly announces headline music concerts for the 2012 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, June 1 – 10. All concerts are free to the public and take place on the Dollar Bank Stage in Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh. The line-up of musicians represents just one facet of the multi-disciplinary Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, which celebrates its 53rd year in downtown Pittsburgh this summer. Additional daily music acts will be announced in the coming weeks, along with other Festival attractions. J. Kevin McMahon, President and CEO of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, notes, “The music lineup at this year’s Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival upholds the Festival’s mission of connecting the community to the arts – and does so by offering 10 days of celebrated musicians who span a wide range of genres. We thank our lead sponsor, Dollar Bank, for making this diverse programming possible and we look forward to announcing more Festival highlights in the coming weeks.” “Dollar Bank is pleased to continue a long tradition of providing community events in Point State Park,” said Joseph B. Smith, Senior Vice President Marketing, Dollar Bank. “We are especially delighted that the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be returning this year. Music Director Manfred Honeck will once again showcase world-renowned talent to the Festival crowd.” “The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to return to perform at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival,” said PSO President and CEO James A. Wilkinson. “Our concert at Point State Park last year was a tremendous success, and it is an honor to perform at one of the most popular and most anticipated cultural festivals in the country.” This year’s lineup also features the premier of Bluegrass Day, set for Saturday, June 9th, during which three distinguished bands will celebrate the uniquely-American tradition and ever-evolving genre on the Dollar Bank Stage. Regional and local bluegrass musicians will join the effort on a secondary stage with other activities being planned. All headline concerts on the Dollar Bank Stage begin at 7:30 p.m. in Point State Park with the exception of the Sunday performances, which begin at 6:00 p.m. Exact schedule times will be announced in May along with information on the Artists Market, visual arts, family programming, other performing arts, and more music programming. Visit 3riversartsfest.org or call 412-456-6666 for more information. The headline concerts will be augmented by additional live music on opening weekend, June 1 – 3, as musicians perform on three stages positioned on the streets of the Cultural District at the 2nd annual Pittsburgh International JazzLive Festival, a 3-day event produced in cooperation with the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. More information is available at PittsburghJazzLive.com. Friday, June 1st – The Wailers Together with Bob Marley, the Wailers have sold in excess of 250 million albums worldwide. Outside of their groundbreaking work with Marley, the Wailers have also played or performed with international acts like Sting, the Fugees, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, and Alpha Blondy, as well as reggae legends such as Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Burning Spear. As the greatest living exponents of Jamaica’s reggae tradition, the Wailers have played to an estimated 24 million people across the globe. Saturday, June 2nd – Kathleen Edwards On tour supporting her album, Voyageur, Kathleen Edwards continues to receive critical praise for her music. The New York Times said her work “…embodies an evolving idea about what roots music can be,” while Entertainment Weekly said her recent efforts channel “…gorgeously weathered heartbreak, straight from the gravelliest Ontario roads.” Sunday, June 3rd – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra provides musical experiences at the highest level of expression to enrich the community and to satisfy the needs and preferences of its audiences. Last year, the PSO performed to a crowd of 15,000 at Point State Park. It was the orchestra’s first performance at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival since 1977. Tuesday, June 5th – Dawes A self-described “American rock ‘n’ roll band,” Dawes represents everything pure and true about that fundamental delineation – four talented friends making music together, fueled by a shared belief in the power of their songs. The Los Angeles-based band offers a blend of singer/songwriter reflection with folk, country, ringing guitars, soaring harmonies, and heartfelt melodies. Constant touring and collaboration with some of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest artists has translated to staggering growth and evolution while still manifesting a distinctive, unforgettable voice. Friday, June 8th – Carolina Chocolate Drops The GRAMMY Award winning trio has proven that the old-time, fiddle and banjo-based music they have so scrupulously researched and passionately perform can be a living, breathing, ever-evolving sound. Starting with material culled from the Piedmont region of the Carolinas, they pursue fresh interpretation, not merely recreation, of the work, highlighting the central role African-Americans played in shaping our nation’s popular music from its beginnings more than a century ago. The virtuosic trio’s approach is provocative and revelatory. Saturday, June 9th – “Bluegrass Day” featuring: Del McCoury Band For fifty years, Del McCoury’s music has defined authenticity for bluegrass fans and a growing number of fans only vaguely familiar with the genre. McCoury is a living link to the days when bluegrass was made only in hillbilly honkytonks, schoolhouse shows, and on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Yet he and his band, including sons Ronnie and Robbie, remain a commandingly vital presence today. Americana music icon Richard Thompson, who saw his 1952 Vincent Black Lightning turn into a bluegrass standard when McCoury brought it into the fold, has said, "I think that's the best bluegrass band, period. That's it." Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band A GRAMMY Award winner and six-time nominee, Peter Rowan is a bluegrass singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades. From his early years playing under the tutelage of bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe to his stint in Old & In the Way with Jerry Garcia and his subsequent breakout as both a solo performer and bandleader, Rowan has built a devoted, international fan base through his continuous stream of original recordings, collaborative projects, and constant touring. Greensky Bluegrass Defining bluegrass for a new generation, this hard-working Michigan quintet has been performing upwards of 175 shows per year for 11 years all across America. The band is unquestionably a team of friends traversing the country making music they enjoy. Jambase.com has said, “Greensky Bluegrasshits timeless targets with deadly accuracy while simultaneously veering off the tried and true highway.” Sunday, June 10th – Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers Twenty five years after winning a Best New Artist GRAMMY Award and launching one of contemporary music’s most diverse and collaborative careers, Bruce Hornsby is still, blissfully, making joyful noise—and finding clever, expansive ways to chronicle the dynamic musical snapshots along the journey. Superstar collaborations and more than 100 records speak volumes about Hornsby’s unique fusion of mainstream appeal and wild musical diversity. “In the spirit of musical evolution, I’m always trying to keep my band on their toes,” Hornsby says. “I think the guys in the Noisemakers like the gig because there’s never a dull moment and we attempt to keep the spontaneity factor high.” ###

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Returns to Three Rivers Arts Festival Concert Stage

FOR RELEASE:
Thursday, May 5, 2011, 1PM


The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces the return of The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival after 34-year hiatus

Peoples Natural Gas supports special performance as Concert Sponsor

Sunday, June 5, 2011, at 6 p.m. – Dollar Bank Main Stage, Point State Park

Pittsburgh, PA: Today at a joint press conference, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Dollar Bank and Peoples Natural Gas announced a special free concert as part of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival on Sunday, June 5, 2011, at 6 p.m. The outdoor community performance at Point State Park will mark the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s first concert at the festival since 1977.

“I am proud to be leading the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on its return to the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival after more than 30 years,” PSO Music Director Manfred Honeck said. “This is one of the most celebrated summer events in the region and has a rich history of showcasing great performances. It will be a tremendous experience performing outdoors in this great city.”

“This is a great day for our cultural community and Pittsburgh,” noted Robert P. Oeler, President and CEO of Dollar Bank. “The long-awaited return of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to the festival and Point State Park is cause for celebration. The PSO is one of the country’s top orchestras, and this opportunity to experience the extraordinary talents of these musicians ‘under the stars’ will be a very special experience.”

Morgan K. O’Brien, President and CEO of Peoples Natural Gas, said, “Peoples Natural Gas is proud to support The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Pittsburgh Symphony, two organizations that continually infuse creative energy into the quality of life of our region. We’re thrilled to help facilitate the return of the PSO to Point State Park and celebrate the talents of our Cultural District with the community.” Peoples Natural Gas is the Concert Sponsor of the PSO’s engagement on June 5th.

J. Kevin McMahon, President and CEO of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, attributed the collaborative spirit of the Cultural District as an integral factor in this special addition to the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, “The Cultural Trust and PSO have partnered on many projects, including the PNC Broadway Across America – Pittsburgh series and First Night Pittsburgh. However, the return of the orchestra to the festival and Point State Park is a major milestone among our collaborations.”

PSO President and CEO Larry Tamburri said, “The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is excited about returning to the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, center stage at Point State Park. Our hope is that this is the beginning of a new era which will see annual performances by the PSO at this most important of Pittsburgh festivals.”

The concert is also being sponsored in part by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians.

“We are pleased to be a partner in sponsoring this concert and are happy to be returning to the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival,” said Joe Rounds, orchestra committee chairman.

Honeck will conduct the concert which will open with Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, followed by works by Johann Strauss Jr., Hummel, Khachaturian, Shostakovich and Dvořák. The concert will conclude with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. The featured soloist will be PSO principal trumpeter George Vosburgh. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra first performed during the festival in 1965.

Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival is a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. This year’s 10-day festival will be held June 3-12, 2011. The festival has been a celebration of the arts for 52 years and will continue its annual traditions featuring the artists’ market and free live music series, sponsored by Dollar Bank, on the Dollar Bank Stage at Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh. For information, visit 3riversartsfest.org or call 412-456-6666.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Veronica Corpuz
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-6082
James R. Barthen
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

412-392-4835


Ramesh Santanam

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

412-392-4827

Three Rivers Arts Festival Music Lineup Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Veronica Corpuz
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-6082
corpuz@pgharts.org

THE PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST ANNOUNCES MUSIC LINEUP FOR 10-DAY FESTIVAL

Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival

June 3-12, 2011 – Cultural District

PITTSBURGH, PA: The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust proudly announces the 2011 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival music schedule that will take place June 3-12, 2011. All headline concerts are presented on the Dollar Bank Stage at Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh. The free live music series, a 52-year Pittsburgh tradition, is sponsored by Dollar Bank.

J. Kevin McMahon, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust notes, “This year’s Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival promises to have the most eclectic and dynamic mix of music to date. We’re starting with the announcement of the headliners for the Dollar Bank Main Stage, but stay tuned for some more exciting news in the coming weeks. Our thanks to our lead sponsor Dollar Bank for making this diverse and entertaining lineup possible.”

“Dollar Bank has a long history of providing community events in Point State Park, so we are very pleased to continue this tradition of free music at the Festival,” said Robert P. Oeler, President and CEO, Dollar Bank. “The Festival’s programming on the Dollar Bank Stage is a hallmark event of the summer season in downtown Pittsburgh, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the city and Cultural District. We’re proud to ensure the continuity of top-quality, affordable arts programming in our region.”

All concerts at Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival are free and open to the public. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. in Point State Park with the exception of the Sunday performances which begin at 6:00 p.m. Additional Festival details will be announced in May, including information on the Artists Market, visual arts, family programming, performing arts and additional music programming. For information, visit 3riversartsfest.org or call 412-456-6666.

Blind Boys of Alabama – June 3rd

The Blind Boys of Alabama are recognized worldwide as living legends of gospel music. Celebrated by The Grammys and The National Endowment for the Arts with Lifetime Achievement Awards, inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, having sung for two U.S. presidents in the White House and winners of five Grammy® Awards, they have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans over 70 years and shows no signs of diminishing.

Tom Tom Club – June 4th

Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth established The Tom Tom Club exactly 30 years ago as a side project during their tenure with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Talking Heads. The group celebrates their anniversary this year by playing shows around the world, reinforcing why their funky musical style has been a staple of the dance music world since the early 1980s.

James McMurtry with special guest Jonny Burke – June 6th

Texan singer-songwriter James McMurtry, son of acclaimed author Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment), grew up on a steady diet of Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff records. McMurtry appears at this year’s Three Rivers Arts Festival just months after reissuing two of his most popular albums, Childish Things and Live in Aught-Three. “James McMurtry is simply fearless,” wrote Elmore magazine. “While many other singer-songwriters make veiled references to difficult subjects, McMurtry courageously lays it out there.”

Jonny Burke is a man on the move. After travelling through every state in the Continental U.S. over the past two years, the young musician has launched his full-length debut Distance and Fortune. While the disc reflects his time on the road, these aren’t your typical “drivin’ and cryin’” road songs. This set of tunes, according to Burke, is about “not playing it safe and practical, but allowing your future to be decided by forces of distance and fortune.”

The Baseball Project with special guest J. Roddy Walston & The Business– June 7th

Rock n' roll vets Scott McCaughey and Steve Wynn share an unhealthy love for music exceeded only by an even more unhealthy obsession for baseball. The compatriots blend their two passions with The Baseball Project -- Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails, an album of buzzing guitars and baseball back stories. Drummer Linda Pitmon and Peter Buck round out the squad, as they spin tales of ill-fated drinking binges ('The Yankee Flipper', 'The Death of Big Ed Delahanty'), folk heroes ('Fernando', 'Satchel Paige Said') and, on 'Gratitude (For Curt Flood)', the overlooked man who changed the game.

Piano slamming alt rockers J. Roddy Walston & The Business, led by the bandleader’s barrelhouse piano stylings, shifts seamlessly through jump-up shout-a-longs (“Used to Did”) to low slung, gritty travelin’ blues (“Use Your Language”), to arena-worthy anthems (“I Don’t Want to Hear It”). The band has built an audience the old fashioned way, through hard work and unrelenting live shows.

Tea Leaf Green – June 8th

San Francisco-based band Tea Leaf Green got their start in the relationship formed between guitarist Josh Clark and drummer Scott Rager, who played in a high-school band together in Arcadia, CA.Sharing some of the style and substance of musical contemporaries My Morning Jacket, Wolfmother, and the Raconteurs, Tea Leaf Green conjures the spirit of bands like '70s Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and The Grateful Dead, taking classic sounds and giving them a present-day polish.

Formula412 – June 9th

Pittsburgh's own Formula412 returns to the Festival just two months after releasing their latest effort, Reality Show, and receiving the “Best Group” award at the 2011 Pittsburgh Hip Hop Awards. By adding live guitar, bass and drums to the traditional set-up of a DJ and an emcee, Formula412 pushes the limits of the genre and remains at the top of the Pittsburgh burgeoning hip-hop scene.

Brandi Carlile – June 10th

Named Rolling Stone's "10 Artists to Watch in 2005,” Brandi Carlile has toured as a headliner and supported other artists including Ray LaMontagne, Jonny Lang, Hanson, Indigo Girls, The Fray, Chris Isaak, Tori Amos and Shawn Colvin. In 2010, she won Seattle’s City of Music Breakthrough Award. As Carlile's fans well know, her concerts are near legendary in their perfect communion between performer and audience. Whether she is rocking out with her full band or standing quietly, tantalizingly close to the edge of the stage singing a capella, Carlile brings a riveting intensity to every performance.

Ricky Skaggs – June 11th

2011 marks the 52nd year since Ricky struck his first chords on a mandolin. This fourteen-time Grammy Award winner continues to do his part to lead the recent roots revival in music. With 12 consecutive Grammy-nominated classics behind him, all from his own Skaggs Family Records label, the diverse and masterful tones made by the gifted Skaggs come from a life dedicated to playing music that is both fed by the soul and felt by the heart.

Buckwheat Zydeco – June 12th

Legendary zydeco trailblazer Buckwheat Zydeco is celebrating 30 years together with a recently-released and Grammy Award-winning album entitled Lay Your Burden Down. Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural, Jr., bandleader and accordionist, returns to Three Rivers Arts Festival to perform songs from the new album and many of beloved Cajun classics.
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