The leaves are turning and the temperatures are dropping quickly as we transition to another fall season. Following an incredible summer for music in Pittsburgh, from Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa, to Taylor Swift, to the Backseat Lovers, there is much to look forward to in the next couple of months. No matter what type of music you like to listen to, with the variety and diversity of musicians performing in Pittsburgh this fall, there will be something for everyone. Don’t miss your chance to see any of these incredible artists!
October 3rd – Lana Del Rey
On October 3rd at The Pavilion at Star Lake, is the very anticipated visit of Lana Del Rey. In her first shows since 2020, Lana is touring her most recent album, Did You Know There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, released on March 24, 2023. Featuring older upbeat tracks like “Diet Mountain Dew” and slower ballads like “Candy Necklace” and “Paris, Texas”, her 2-hour show is a must-see. However, seeing Lana Del Rey live is worth it no matter what she is singing, attributable to her incredible vocal range and acapella ability, making the experience ethereal to any concert-goer. Lana fans can expect elaborate choreography, set changes, and a “nostalgic vibe” one might have envisioned. Be sure to dress in your best Lana-inspired outfit, whether it be cowboy boots and heart-shaped sunglasses, or long dresses and hair ribbons. You won’t want to miss it!
October 7th – A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, the young, up-and-coming Bronx native, is making a stop at Peterson Event’s Center during his highly anticipated Me Vs. Myself Tour on October 7th. The dynamic, chart-topping artist is expected to play his top hits including “Drowning (feat. Kodak Black)” and “Still Think About You” in addition to many songs from his 2022 album Me Vs. Myself. A Boogie has impressive collaborations under his belt across the music industry including with Khalid, Roddy Rich, and H.E.R. Who knows, maybe these stars will join A Boogie in Oakland in October. A Boogie’s melodic sounds and vocal delivery are sure to create an impressive, fun show.
October 15 – The Eagles
The Eagles are extending their The Long Goodbye tour through 2023, and performing at PPG Paints Arena is excitingly an added stop. The iconic and beloved ‘70s band has had a long, triumphant run despite “tragic losses, upheavels, and setbacks.” Known for introducing country rock to American youth, not soon before completely expanding its bounds and changing the music industry as a whole, Eagles are a generational triumph of a band. Hotel California highlights this triumph of sound and is an iconic record in history. Hits including “Take it to the limit”, “Hotel California”, and “Heartache Tonight” are sure to be at the final shows of this band’s 50-year existence. Seeing the Eagles’ farewell tour is not to be missed, and despite an older crowd, music lovers of all ages will not forget this celebration of art, history, and music.
October 20th – Kota the Friend
Kota the Friend is opening his “Flowers for my Friends Tour” at Pittsburgh’s Roxian Theatre! He was labeled “one of the most commercially viable indie artists since Chance The Rapper” by UPROXX. The soul, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop artist is highly acclaimed for his unique sound and intense lyricism. Although the tour has not started yet, concert-goers can expect to see many songs from his most recent work, “Lyrics to GO, Vol. 3” in addition to his top tracks including “Long Beach,” “Barcelona (feat. Samm Henshaw),” and “Pennywise.” Kota performs with a “fervent energy” no matter how ‘chill’ his music may be. On past tours, he is known to engage fans, perform freestyle, and effectively communicate his music in a way more meaningful than just listening on Spotify. Getting tickets to this tour opener is a worthwhile opportunity to pursue.
October 7th – Nessa Barrett
Nessa Barrett is stopping at Stage AE as a part of her Young Forever tour. Originally known for her TikTok dances and drama-filled influencer life, Nessa Barrett has successfully transcended to a credible position in the music industry in a way most influencers are unable to. Her brutally honest, gothic, ethereal voice is attractive to many fans. Her hits “i hope ur miserable until ur dead” and “die first” are primarily focused on mental health and her various struggles as a 19-year-old. The honesty surrounding the singer’s bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression is what draws so many fans to appreciate Nessa’s music and performances. Barrett deserves her flowers and reputation beyond her TikTok fame. Don’t miss the emotional, soulful performance.
November 5th – The 1975
On Sunday, November 5th, The 1975 is making a stop at PPG Paints Arena as they embark on their Still… At Their Very Best tour. The English pop-rock band is led by the controversial lead singer Matty Healy in addition to Adam Hann, Ross MacDonald, and George Daniel. On opening night, Healy announced that after this tour wraps, The 1975 is going on an “indefinite hiatus”, or, in other terms, breaking up. This makes the performance in November the final chance to see the band. Following the recent end of the quick love affair with Taylor Swift, Matty Healy is leading the last hurrah with a recap of their own “eras”. With popular songs such as “About You”, “Robbers”, and “Be My Mistake”, the set list is a journey through the time and albums that made this band what it is. If you are interested in seeing these songs or the band live, now is seemingly the last chance.
November 8th – Shakey Graves
For fans of alternative or indie music, Shakey Graves is coming to the Roxian Theatre on November 8th. Although he is a one-man band, Graves, born Alejandro Rose-Garcia, brings energy, passion, and fun to each and every one of his shows. The Movie of the Week Tour kicked off last week in Phoenix and will wrap up in November in Indianapolis. The album, “Movie of the Week”, received much critical acclaim for being an evolving and interactive work of art. Engaging his fanbase, Graves created an AI-generated website that allows fans to craft their own version of the album, drawing from hundreds of takes from months’ worth of recording sessions. Speaking on the concept of the album, Graves said, “My ambition was to craft a perpetually evolving album… Even if users encounter the same songs over time, the sequence and associated imagery would likely differ, making each experience distinct.” With such a creative and unique artist like Shakey Graves, the tour itself also promises to be a must-see.
December 8th – Travis Scott
Lastly, one of Pittsburgh’s biggest events of the year will without a doubt be Travis Scott’s show at PPG Paints Arena. The same night as Allderdice’s Semi-Formal Dance, many upperclassmen have a difficult decision to make. Utopia – Circus Maximus is touring Scott’s most recent album, Utopia, which has held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 200 Albums chart for 4 weeks straight. The album, which features other A-list artists like SZA, Drake, Future, Bad Bunny, and Beyonce, has gathered a lot of excitement for how Scott might choose to perform hits like “MELTDOWN”, “TELEKINESIS”, and “K-POP”. The Utopia – Circus Maximus tour will mark Travis Scott’s first tour since the deadly Astroworld Festival. However, the tour has already announced there will be stricter safety precautions and thoughtful measures taken to prevent another tragedy. With this in mind, if you are able to get your hands on tickets, you will not want to miss Travis Scott in Pittsburgh.
For music fans of all ages and all music tastes in Pittsburgh, the rest of the year is not to disappoint. So, buy yourself a ticket and enjoy the show!
