Big Day for RANT Music Fest in Lawrenceville; Pitt vs. Youngstown State in Season Opener (Sat., 9/2/17)

1) Lawrenceville’s sixth annual Rock All Night Tour, aka RANT, now stretches over the weekend before Labor Day. Butler Street and its adjacent boulevards are home to some of the ’Burgh’s hottest spots: bars, restaurants, and Arsenal Lanes. Many of these spots, including the bowling alley, are festival venues. It begins 6 p.m. Friday at Bay 4 at the Foundry, a new venue and former warehouse.

Saturday is the big day with most of the 200-plus bands scheduled. There’s too many acts and venues to list, but here’s a quick sampling: Punk rockers Murder for Girls, who earlier this summer played Ladyfest Pittsburgh, will play Cattivo. The Park Plan and LoFi Delphi, who both put the “rock” in “rock all night tour” last year, will play the VFW. DJ Melnyk and DJ Zombo, who organizes much of the festival, will host a dance party 9 p.m. at Dive Bar & Grille. Singer-songwriter, folk, metal, rap, and other genres will be represented throughout the day.

The festival ends Sunday with an acoustic brunch at 11 a.m. at Hambone’s followed by more bands, such as Nox Boys, at Arsenal Lanes. For a complete list of performers, performance times, and venues, be sure to visit the festival’s website. Free. Lawrenceville. (CM)

2) It’s that time of year again. The air carries a slight hint of autumnal fragrance, the wind conveys an ever-so-subtle chill (not this year)—and college football begins anew. Our hometown University of Pittsburgh Panthers kick off their 2017 season by hosting the Youngstown State University Penguins at Heinz Field. This will be the game that student season-ticket holders, from freshman to super senior, actually roll out of bed for, perhaps hung over and yet perhaps still dewy-eyed. For this particular Pitt alumnus, it’s hard to write this Cool Pick without a pang of nostalgia mixed with optimism. Maybe this will be the season. Anyway, gauged on title alone, it’s hardly conceivable that a Penguin, stands a ghost of a chance against a Panther. Best of luck Coach Narduzzi and team! Kickoff is at 1 p.m. 100 Art Rooney Ave., North Shore.

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