Schenley Plaza
June 28
2 – 11 p.m.
Summer is all about music under the stars, in parks and gardens, and on street corners and patios. So grab a blanket and the entire friends and family crew, and head to Schenley Plaza in Oakland for WYEP‘s 17th annual Summer Music Festival.
Back and bigger than ever, with newly extended hours and an expanded format, this year’s festival marks the station’s 40th anniversary as a nationally recognized Triple A public radio station. The country’s first green radio station, 91.3 WYEP is housed within its LEED-Silver Certified Community Broadcast Center on Pittsburgh’s historic South Side. Free and open to the public, the Festival runs from 2 to 11 p.m. with an afternoon of cultural attractions, music performances and hands-on activities.
Turning the urban green space into a family-friendly concert and crafts venue, the station’s 17th installment expands upon its annual concept to include a wide range of music and arts programming, including hands-on children’s activities and an indie craft marketplace. This solstice season, the plaza will be teeming with new music fans, picnic-goers and urban weekenders enjoying hands-on art making, fresh fare and quality time on quilts.
Every June, the WYEP Summer Music Festival draws thousands of people to an outdoor venue in Pittsburgh to enjoy an evening of free live music that pairs established national figures with emerging local talents. Kicking off the 2014 lineup will be performances by local teen bands from WYEP’s Reimagination Project, including Jessica Bitsura, Hat Co, FYFS and The Options. At 6 p.m., headlining performances will start, featuring national acts The Red Western, Elizabeth & The Catapult, Valerie June and The Sam Roberts Band.
This year, the WYEP Summer Music Festival boasts a street festival layout along the Schenley Drive Extension. Starting at 2 p.m., visitors can shop for locally made wares at the I Made It! Market. Also opening at 2 p.m. is the festival’s Family Area, featuring child-friendly activities under the large tent at Schenley Plaza. Local bike advocates Bike Pittsburgh will be on-site to provide a bike valet service for all concert-goers arriving on two wheels.
Want to learn more about WYEP’s 40 years on the air in Pittsburgh? Before the festival at 1 p.m., the station will host a panel discussion at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Main (Oakland) exploring its 40-year history.
