Greensburg SummerSounds Kicks Off Friday
Greensburg SummerSounds, the annual free concerts in St. Clair Park in downtown Greensburg is bigger and better than ever for their 19th season of 15 shows on Friday evenings. Kicking off Friday, June 1 with a last year favorite, The Commonheart, this summer is sure to be filled with music, dancing and fun!
A highlight for the area, SummerSounds brings together the people of Greensburg and many others to enjoy up and coming bands, local opening acts and a sense of community in our city. Held at the Robertshaw Amphitheater in St. Clair Park, local opening acts take the stage at 6:15pm with the headliners beginning at 7pm. Admission is free and concert goers are able to bring in food and beverages to have during the concerts. Sun Dawg Cafe will be back again serving up their delicious menu as well as an ice cream vendor.
2018 SummerSounds Concert Schedule
June 1
The Commonheart
Opening Act – Jason Gamble
June 8
Lilly Hiatt
Americana – A set of honest words from an album of personal truths; a collection of songs that take stock of where Lilly Hiatt has been, where she’s going and the challenges she’s weathered to get there.
Opening Act – Meredith Holliday
June 15
Butcher Brown
Rock/Jazz – Butcher Brown takes careful note of the history and legacy of jazz and throws caution to the wind with wanton abandon. Garage punk jazz funk on the low end of the dial gives way to delicate and elegant compositions as the band shows off without trying. These are not just players, these are musicians.
Opening Act – Angry John Stangry
June 22
Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters
Country – Lyrically driven, the songs of Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters blend the band’s old-school country roots attitude with their shared influences of rock and folk.
Opening Act – Willow Hill
June 29
ONA
Rock – Ona, West Virginia is a small sliver of unincorporated ridges, creeks, and floodplains stretching from Route 60 up almost to the Ohio River. Ona makes songs that take place in these spaces.
Opening Act – Zak Blose
July 6
Selwyn Birchwood Band
Blues – With his fiery guitar and lap steel playing, his trailblazing, instantly memorable songs and gritty, unvarnished vocals, Selwyn Birchwood is among the most extraordinary young stars in the blues. His deep familiarity with blues tradition allows him to bust the genre wide open, adding new sounds, colors and textures, all delivered with a revival tent preacher’s fervor and a natural storyteller’s charisma.
Opening Act – East Coast Turnaround
July 13
Christian Lopez
Roots/Pop – An artist whose singing radiates youthful infatuation with life through songs rooted in a reverence for American tradition. Christian Lopez is a dynamic, passionate guitar player, singer/songwriter, and charismatic performer.
Opening Act – Angela Autumn
July 20
Chuck Prophet
Rock – Chuck Prophet shapes his restless career with inimitable subtle flair: a vivid parade of razor-edged one-liners camouflaged in a slack-jawed drawl, songs about heartbreak and everyman heroism.
Opening Act – Sean Howard Duo
July 27
Donna the Buffalo
Jam Rock – Donna the Buffalo drew it’s original inspiration from a cherished part of the American heritage: the old-time music festivals of the south that drew entire towns and counties together. Not only was it playing music at these events, it was the vibe and the togetherness that bonded the people that attended.
Opening Act – Derek Wood Duo
August 3
The English Channel
British Invasion Tribute – The English Channel performs the incredible British pop, rock & prog hits of the mid ’60’s to mid ’70’s. Each song is meticulously recreated to sound just like the original recording, just like you remember it.
Opening Act – Flying Blind
August 10
Vanessa Collier
Blues/Jazz/Rock – At 27 years of age, master musician and multi-talented blues performer Vanessa Collier has become an in-demand artist, bringing her charismatic charm, passionate and fiery performances, soulful voice, searing saxophone solos, and witty songwriting to the stage.
Opening Act – Stevie B. Duo
August 17
Dancing Dream
ABBA Tribute – The Dancing Dream ABBA tribute band, is one of the best ABBA Tributes since ABBA itself. This New York City based ABBA Tribute Band features beautiful harmonies, elaborate costumes and exciting choreography guaranteed to captivate all audiences making every show a night to remember
Opening Act – Aubrey Burchell
August 24
Kwame Biner Shakedown
Roots Rock – High energy, danceable and positive rock from a frontman, Kwame, originally from West London then Ghana, he’s true to rock n’ roll, whether it be British, American or West African.
Opening Act – Nathan Zoob
August 31
Swift Technique
Party/Funk – With bombastic horns, thunderous bass and drums, driving guitar and keys, and more dance moves than you can shake a booty at, Swift Techique’s live performances are unmatched in energy, musicianship and pure feel-good fun.
Opening Act – C.J. Oswald
September 6
Jocelyn & Chris Arndt
Pop/Rock/Blues – Devastatingly powerful vocals & retro-rock guitar, with lyrics that run the gamut from vulnerable to all-out venomous: brother and sister duo, Jocelyn & Chris Arndt are creating a new generation of authentic album rock.
Opening Act – Hayley Dailey & Joshua Carns
After each SummerSounds concert, the opening act will perform again at Mr. Toad’s on E. Otterman St!
The Greensburg SummerSounds concert series was established by a group of volunteers to produce free concerts to the public through the generosity and hard work of many local businesses, foundations, and dedicated volunteers. Several donation boxes are located throughout St. Clair Park during each concert to provide guests the opportunity to help Greensburg SummerSounds as well or ‘feed the pig’ at intermission! Donations are 100% allocated to paying for SummerSounds and are a great way to say, ‘Thank you! I loved the show!’
