Tim McGraw Rides into First Niagara; John Hiatt & The Combo and Taj Mahal Trio Play Palace (Sun., 8/30/15)

1) Country superstar Tim McGraw released a greatest hits album this year—35 Biggest Hits—which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Country Album Charts. When you’ve been in the game for 25 years, you can expect to have a double compilation-worth of hits up your sleeve. But this is McGraw’s eighth best-of compilation. That’s not even including a duets album and collection of love songs. Some of the latter output has been the result of McGraw’s former label, Curb Records, cashing in on his back catalogue while he releases new work with new Big Machine Records. That legal headache for McGraw has been a bonanza for fans of the multi-award winning artist. McGraw is touring this year on the back of his 13th studio album, Sundown Heaven Town, which topped the U.S. Country charts in 2014 while third single “Shotgun Rider” also went to No. 1. The 2015 tour shares the hit single’s name and features opening acts Billy Currington and Chase Bryant. 7 p.m. First Niagara Pavilion, 665 Route 18, Burgettstown. (HM)

2) The Palace Theatre is offering the chance to see two different, yet equally accomplished, singer-songwriters, plus their respective bands, in one evening: John Hiatt & The Combo and Taj Mahal Trio. When Hiatt was 18 years old, he moved to Nashville and worked for Tree-Music Publishing Company as a songwriter. In 1974, Three Dog Night scored a top 20 hit with a cover of Hiatt’s song, “Sure As I’m Sittin’ Here,” and artists as diverse as Iggy Pop and Emmylou Harris have since also covered his work. It wasn’t until 1987 that Hiatt had his own charted effort with Bring the Family. His success continued to build, and in the last five years alone, he’s released three albums, with 2014’s Terms of My Surrender being the most recent. Taj Mahal, born Henry Saint Clair Fredericks, is a blues and world musician. His eponymous debut was released in 1968, and by the ‘70s, he was putting a Caribbean/African/South Pacific-spin on finger-picking blues. His cover of Blind Willie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues” inspired the Allman Brothers Band to record their classic take on this old blues standard. Last year, Taj Mahal received the Lifetime Achievement for Performance Award at the 13th Annual Americana Honors and Awards in recognition of a career that spans 50 years. 7:30 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg. (CM)

3) The Art Festival on Walnut Street takes over the main thoroughfare in the popular Pittsburgh neighborhood of Shadyside. Enjoy beautiful and interesting works of art created by some of the best local and national artists. While there treat yourself to a tasty meal and some beverages at a Walnut Street eatery including Shady Grove, The Steel Cactus, Pamela’s, Thai Place, Cappy’s, China Palace, Girasole, Trapuzano’s, and The William Penn Tavern. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free. Walnut Street between Aiken and Negley Avenues.

4) Our beloved Buccos take the diamond again today against the Colorado Rockies. It’s also Kids Day, with a Family Fun Zone outside the ball yard beforehand, and all fans 14 have a chance to run the bases after the game and will receive a Kids Pitching Grip Baseball Get a grip, first pitch is at 1:35 p.m. PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

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