Hartwood Acres
September 6
5 p.m.
One of the best ways to celebrate late summer and enjoy the great outdoors and live music under the stars is at this weekend’s Allegheny County Music Festival.
Free for all ages the festival’s 16th annual installment will set up shop at scenic Hartwood Acres on Sunday, September 6th for an evening of local and regional live music.
Headlining the fest is Pittsburgh-based band Rusted Root at 7:30 p.m. With a sound that fuses acoustic, rock and world music with a percussion section that draws from African, Latin American and Native American influences, the favorite local is perhaps best known for their platinum-selling 1994 album, When I Woke–which included hit single “Send Me On My Way.” The band–whose latest 10-song album, The Movement, came out in 2012 Shanachie–has released eight albums and has sold some three million albums worldwide.
Most recently, the band contributed music to Buy This Fracking Album, a compilation created to raise awareness about the dangers of hydraulic fracturing. Produced by Movement Music Records in association with Food & Water Watch, the album also features tracks by Pete Seeger, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Franti, Steve Earle and Meshell Ndegeocello, and others. Proceeds from the record will benefit various grassroots anti-fracking organizations across the U.S.
The festival will kick off at 5 p.m. with several additional local and regional bands. Not to miss during the festival is Pittsburgh-born electro-brass-funk sensations Beauty Slap, who have been busy brining their hypnotic high-energy shows everywhere from Three Rivers Arts Festival to NYC’s Rockwood Music Hall. Uniquely merging horns, computers and keys, the ensemble features a traditional brass quartet with a driving drum, bass and DJ culture.
Also featured on the bill will be indie rockers J.D. Eicher & The Goodnights and power pop trio Donora.
Entrance is $20 per vehicle, with proceeds benefiting children and youth served by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.