Rascal Flatts Plays First Niagara; Pittsburgh Winery Hosts Kelsey Friday; A Fair In the Park (Fri., 9/9/16)

1) Country-pop trio Rascal Flatts are coming to town—well, actually to First Niagara Pavilion, just a little ways out of town—on their Rhythm and Roots Tour, and when these boys come to town, they really go to town. The Columbus, Ohio band’s 2014 album Rewind topped at No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts, featuring hit singles like “Rewind,” “Riot,” and “I Like the Sound of That.” The group is made up of vocalist Gary LeVox, bass and keyboard player Jay DeMarcus, and guitarist Joe Don Rooney. Rascal Flatts has been nominated for the Country Music Association’s 2016 Vocal Group of the Year award, and we’ll see in November if they take home the prize. Meanwhile their concert at First Niagara opens with Kelsea Ballerini and Chris Lane. 7:30 p.m. 665 PA Route18, Burgettstown. (HM/RH)

2) Kelsey Friday self-identifies as a “Rocker Mom” and primarily performs with her children’s music band, aptly named the Rest of the Week. Still, she is quite capable of performing for adult audiences as well, given her previous musical stint with her alt-rock band, Brownie Mary, in the ‘90s. Now she’s out with the Kelsey Friday Band. Sounds like a great idea. Have a glass of wine made on the premises and listen to some happening music. 9 p.m. Pittsburgh Winery, 2815 Penn Ave., Strip District.

3) The 47th annual A Fair in the Park opens today in Shadyside’s Mellon Park. Promoted as a contemporary fine crafts and arts show and sale, it includes performances, concerts, food, and children’s activities. The Fair is presented by the Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh and Citiparks. Today’s musical highlights include several concerts by performers from Calliope, Pittsburgh’s Folk Music Society. Fair hours are 1 – 7 p.m. Free. Continues through Sunday. Fifth and Shady Aves., Shadyside/Point Breeze.

4) The 26th annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival opens at the Riverplex at Sandcastle. Great Irish musicians, dancers and performers play all day on several stages. Entertainment kicks off at 4 p.m. highlights include: Donnie Irish (5:30 p.m., Celtic Spirit Stage), Red Hand Patty (9:15 p.m., Celtic Spirit Stage), Corned Beef and Curry (6:45 p.m., Celtic Spirit Stage), and Scythian (9:30 p.m., UPMC Stage). Plenty of Irish food will be on hand and can be washed down with Irish beers, ciders and whiskies. Remember everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and during the Pittsburgh Irish Festival. See our story on the 2015 Irish Festival. 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. Runs through Sunday. 1000 Sandcastle Dr., West Homestead.

Emerging from the past, Beth Corning thinks outside the box.

.5) Choreographer and dancer Beth Corning returns to the stage with an updated version of her 2013 one-woman show remains. The feature-length piece combines physical movement with spoken and projected text, creative lighting, and other multidisciplinary effects. As for the title: remains is meant to evoke fragments and vestiges of personal memory—ranging, as Corning has written, from “a loved one’s scent left behind in a coat” to “the memory of family dinners past.” 8 p.m. Continues through Sunday. At the New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side.

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