Billy Price and Johnny Rawls in Concert at Shrine Center; Pgh Symphony and Pgh Ballet in ‘Boléro’; Bantam Jeep Fest; Living Dead Weekend (Fri., 6/9/23)

1) Pittsburgh blues/soul/rock legend Billy Price is celebrating 50+ years as a performer in the music industry and now he’s teaming up with another soul-blues legend, Johnny Rawls. They both performed together at the 2023 Blues Music Awards (BMAs) ceremony in Memphis, Tennessee. Both Rawls and Price were nominated for 2023 BMAs for Soul Blues Male Artist. Rawls is an internationally renowned recording artist, music producer, and songwriter who has toured numerous times throughout North America and overseas. The Blues Music Awards (BMAs), Blues Blast Awards, Living Blues Awards, and the W.C. Handy Awards have all recognized Rawls with multiple awards and nominations, including Soul Blues Album of the Year and Soul Blues Male Artist. Price cut his teeth as a vocalist for the late, great guitarist Roy Buchanan. He then started Billy Price and the Keystone Rhythm Band, best known for songs like “Eldorado Cafe” and “Lickin’ Stick” and albums like Free At Last. In addition to Price, the band featured legendary musicians such as the late Glenn Pavone, Eric Leeds, and others. He’s also leads the Billy Price Band and works as a solo artist. Price’s album with the late Chicago soul singer Otis Clay, This Time for Real, won a 2016 Blues Music Award. His next two albums, Reckoning and Dog Eat Dog were both nominated for Blues Music Awards. And in 2020 Price was nominated for BMA’s Best Male Soul Blues Artist. If all those accolades are not enough, he was also inducted into the Pittsburgh Rock Legends Hall in 2016. Price released a new 3-CD compilation, 50+Years of Soul, on Get Hip Recordings last September. Special guest is Soulful Femme. Proceeds benefit Pittsburgh Syria Shriners. 8 p.m. Syria Shrine Center, 1877 Shriners Way, Cheswick. (R.H.)

Billy Price (L.) and Johnny Rawls performing together at the 2023 BMA (Blues Music Association) Awards.

2) Two things you probably know about Maurice Ravel’s “Boléro” and one that few people know. It is one of the most mesmerizing pieces of modern classic music. It’s the one that keeps repeating the same theme, except differently. And it was composed and first performed as music for a ballet. That’s right: in 1928, at the height of Europe’s interwar avant-garde era, “Boléro” + a ballet troupe premiered in Paris and absolutely rocked an audience who thought they’d seen everything. Today the combination is still so edgy it nearly tips the house over. Pittsburgh Symphony and Pittsburgh Ballet now team up to present “Boléro” as it’s meant to be in a very grand house—Heinz Hall—with the dancers moving to contemporary choreography by the renowned Susan Jaffe. Other music on the program includes two world premieres, Stacy Garrop’s “Forging Steel” and a new arrangement of Strauss’s “Salome Suite,” along with Gershwin’s “Piano Concerto in F Major.” 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday June 11. Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., Cultural District. (M.V.)  

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre artists Tommie Lin O’Hanlon and Corey Bourbonniere perform in ‘Bolero’ which is a joint production with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. (Photo: Rieder Photography)

Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival — June 9 -11, Butler and Slippery Rock.

Jeep owners can register to have some big boulder fun on the Bantam Jeep Festival obstacle course.

3) Whether you have a Jeep or not, head to the Butler area for the annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival. The event is a celebration of the fact that the original winning design for an all-purpose reconnaissance vehicle for the U.S. Army in 1940 was by Butler’s American Bantam car company. The government worried that Bantam couldn’t supply all the Jeeps the Army needed, so the design went to several different manufacturers while Bantam focused on other products. However, diehard Jeep enthusiasts see the Heritage Festival as honoring the true birth of the vehicle, and a rousing celebration it is. Highlights include the annual Jeep Parade, which has set world records for largest Jeep parades; Jeep historical exhibits with a WWII encampment; family-friendly activities; vendors; food; and a variety of on- and off-road Jeep driving events. Camping is offered too. The event is produced by the nonprofit The Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association (FBJA). The Jeep Parade is in downtown Butler and many other events are at Cooper’s Lake Campground, 205 Currie Rd, Slippery Rock. (R.H.)

Living Dead Weekend — June 9 – 11. Monroeville Mall.

4) Get your undead on at the Living Dead Weekend. As you probably know, George Romero, legendary director of the landmark horror film Night of the Living Dead, shot the film in Evans City and its first sequel, Dawn of the Dead, at Monroeville Mall. This makes Pittsburgh the zombie film capital of the world. Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and Land of the Dead are featured this year with many events and reunions. Highlights include celebrity appearances, movie location tours, cosplay, merchandise collectibles, art exhibits and panels, along with photo opportunities. Scheduled to appear are Tom Savini, Christine Romero, Debra Gordon, Tony Buba, David Crawford, Randy Kovitz, and many more. This promises to be a fun weekend, and remember, “They’re coming to get you, Barbara.” (R.H.)

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