Kool & the Gang to Jam the Meadows; Rusted Root and Gang Play Allegheny County Music Festival (Sun., 9/4/16)

1) You can definitely “Get Down On It” with Kool & the Gang in concert. With hits like “Celebration,” “Misled,” and  “Fresh,” Kool & The Gang are one of the premier funk bands of the 1970’s and ’80s. The group was started in the 1960s by Robert “Kool” Bell and his brother Ronald. The Gang’s first chart success came with 1973’s Wild and Peaceful  album that spun off the hits “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swinging.” Kool & the Gang continued to chart in the ensuing decades, and they’ll be at The Meadows Casino. 8 p.m. 210 Racetrack Rd., Washington. (RH)

2) The 17th Annual Allegheny County Music Festival promises a balanced survey of local music. Headlining are Pittsburgh world music royalty, Rusted Root. Depending on how old you are, you know their music, specifically “Send Me On My Way,” from their energetic live shows at clubs like the late Metropol, from the Matilda soundtrack, or from car rental commercials. The band still records and tours and seeing them live is a must for your Pittsburgh Bucket List. Openers include Nevada Color—songs like “1962” sound perfect for dancing barefoot on dewy grass—and Ferdinand the Bull, whose lush “Days We Forgot” is the title track to their debut album. Jim Donovan, a founding member of Rusted Root and drummer, also opens with his Sun King Warriors. Donovan sometimes is behind the drumkit, sometimes in front on guitar: either way, you, too, will be saying “Olalala.” This is the last concert at Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater this year, so be sure to get in as much outdoor dancing as you can before autumn arrives once more. 5 p.m. 200 Hartwood Acres, Hampton and Indiana townships. (CM)

3) The Kickoff and Rib Festival at Heinz Field continues today. The festival features some of America’s top rib vendors reflecting the nation’s diverse barbecue tastes. Adding great music to tasty ribs and cold beverages makes a perfect trifecta. Today’s entertainment features Travis Tritt at 9 p.m. Free admission to Rib Fest. Noon to 11:00 p.m. Heinz Field, 100 Art Rooney Ave., North Shore.

Share on Social Media