Hootie & the Blowfish Play Star Lake; OpenStreetsPGH (Sat., 6/29/24)

1) “Time,” indeed. The last time Hootie & the Blowfish were in town was the first time they had toured in years. The alt rockers’ 2019 Group Therapy Tour marked the end of a long hiatus which, except for occasional one-off gigs, had put the band in suspended animation since 2008. Now they’re back, and this is welcome news. The band’s rep as having one of the worst names ever is just plain wrong—see if you can come up with a name more distinctive and memorable than Hootie & the Blowfish—while so much about the group is just right. Legendary frontman Darius Rucker is fronting again. They’ve still got a 21X platinum album, 1994’s Cracked Rear View, in their repertoire. The band is known for laudable charity work, and for striking covers as well as original music—the latest being a cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth”—and they can still rock with anyone. That’s why they are booked into the big Pavilion at Star Lake on their Summer Camp with Trucks Tour. Guest artists are Collective Soul and Edwin McCain. 7 p.m. 665 PA Rt. 18, Burgettstown. (C.M., M.V.) 

OpenStreetsPGH — Various dates and locations.

The Strip District was crowded with bikes, walkers, and shoppers during OpenStreetsPGH. (photo: Heather McCracken)

2) OpenStreetsPGH is a fun event during which neighborhood streets are closed to auto traffic in certain parts of the city, so people can roll on through, whether biking, walking, or skateboarding. There are plenty of activities along the way as well. Organized by the nonprofit BikePGH, the OpenStreetsPGH events are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on three Saturdays this year. The remaining dates are June 29, and July 27. Different routes are explored on each date. For more info, check out the OpenStreetsPGH website. (R.H.)

3) The Squirrel Hill Night Market returns to Murray Avenue. Food trucks, vendors, crafters, kids activities, neighborhood restaurants, live music, and more attractions will be on hand at this pop-up street festival on Murray Ave. 6-10 p.m. Free. Murray Avenue beginning at Forbes. POSTPONED until July 13.

Share on Social Media