Pittsburgh Bicentennial Celebration Parade; Temptations Play Palace; Deutschtown Music Festival Happening (Sat., 7/9/16)

1) Pittsburgh, the city threw a big party for you last night and this morning starting at 11 a.m. elected officials, city residents, and friends in the region are holding a parade in your honor. Trumpets, flutes, and drums will herald your rise as a true city of champions over the 200 years since you were first incorporated as a city. On July 9, 1816 Pittsburgh’s first Mayor, Ebenezer Denny, took office. Current Mayor, Bill Peduto, will not only be in the parade, but was instrumental in tracking down and inviting members of each of the city’s previous mayors’ families to march in the parade and take part in the Bicentennial Celebration. Note of interest: there have been 56 Pittsburgh mayors. The parade starts at Liberty Avenue at 11th Street and continues down Liberty to Point State Park. Downtown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IUG-9jZD-g

2) Motown was a company known for breaking color barriers—building a crossover audience for black music; becoming the first African American business to win international mass-market fame—but the key to all of it was signing great musical talent, and then helping that talent develop over time. Case in point: The Temptations. The Detroit vocal group signed with Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr. in 1960 and struggled at first to record a hit song. But the Temps kept at it—working with different songwriters, working through tweaks and changes in personnel—and produced a series of widely loved no. 1 and top-ten songs, starting with “My Girl” (above) in 1964. The Temptations also showed versatility, evolving their sound and style. Along with sweet ballads they did rollicking, turn-it-up numbers like “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” Then in the late ‘60s and ‘70s they moved into “psychedelic soul” and social-message songs, capped by the remarkable “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” The Temptations are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and they’re still rolling. With a lineup that includes original member Otis Williams and long-timers Ron Tyson and Terry Weeks, they’ll be doing it at The Palace Theatre. 8 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg. (MV)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URz6HyMMES8

3) The Deutschtown Music Festival may raise questions among those from outside the North Side, the biggest of which will arguably be: Pittsburgh has a Deutschtown? Yep, also known as East Allegheny, Deutschtown is the neighborhood located east of the Children’s Museum and Allegheny Commons Park. The main business-district street, East Ohio, is home to some lively bars and restaurants, many of which will serve as venues for the festival.

Now in its fourth year, what was once a one-day, Saturday event has now spilled back into Friday night as well. The festival showcases some top Pittsburgh bands. Deutschtown’s borders are porous, so expect a few great groups from out-of-state, too. Emerson Jay, who recently opened for Haim, will play the last show at The Modern Cafe Saturday at 11 p.m. Bluegrass, punk, rap, rock, and other genres will all be represented. Some of the venues, like Penn Brewery, are located just outside Deutschtown. For a complete list of venues, and the acts playing therein, be sure to check out the festival’s website. Food trucks will be on the scene as well as art installations. East Allegheny Community Council hosts. 4 – 11 p.m. Friday, July 8 and 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. Saturday, July 9. Free. Deutschtown (East Allegheny), North Side. (CM)

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