Busy Friday: Nicki Minaj at PPG; The Pete Hosts Meghan Trainor; Pgh Irish Fest and Fair in the Park Kickoff (Fri., 9/6/24)

1) Hip-hop superstars don’t just rap and sing. They make themselves into full-blown cultural phenomena, and few have done it better than Nicki Minaj. Along with her many music awards, she’s won a Fashion Los Angeles award as Fashion Rebel of the year. Whereas many musicians have fanbases, the Trinidadian-born artist has fierce female followers who know her personal history inside out and consider her an inspirational role model. Minaj dazzles audiences and critics alike with her flamboyant performances, witty lyrics, and versatility. She even creates alter egos—personas that embody different aspects of herself—and last year, her rambunctious “Red Ruby” persona was made into a playable character model in the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. She furthermore is known for her fragrance lines, her feuds, her philanthropy, and much more—but let’s talk music. Nicki Minaj visits PPG Paints Arena on her world tour built around last year’s Pink Friday 2 album. The tour is subtitled “Gag City Reloaded.” Scheduled guest artists are Bia and Skillibeng.. 9 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. (M.V.) 

2) Large numbers happen on the internet, but let’s face it, over 2.6 billion views for a YouTube music video is a lot. If each viewer watched only once, it would equal almost one-third of the population of the world. And that’s how many hits, so far, Meghan Trainor has gotten for her 2014 breakthrough single “All About That Bass.” Trainor herself is a young woman who has tended to be on the large side. The kicky, doo-woppy song is a high-flying promotion of positive body image. It was the featured track on her 2015 major-label debut album, Title. Since then, Trainor—a seriously skilled musical artist, from a musical family—has released five more albums while winning various awards, scoring TV appearances, playing voice roles in animated movies, getting married, and having a couple of kids. Currently she’s touring in support of her latest album, this year’s Timeless. But in fact, time flies! Catch Meghan Trainor while she’s still just 30 in her concert at Petersen Events Center. With special guest Chris Olsen. 6:30 p.m. 3719 Terrace St., Oakland. (C.M., M.V.)

PITTSBURGH IRISH FESTIVAL—September 6 – 8. Carrie Blast Furnaces.

We Banjo 3 and performers from other groups jamming together at 2015 Pittsburgh Irish Festival. (photo: Rick Handler)

3) Two rules of Irishness: (1) You do not have to be Irish to enjoy Irish things. (2) You might be more Irish than you think. This year’s Pittsburgh Irish Festival is the city’s 33rd annual celebration of Celtic culture—and since scholars say the ancient Celts populated lands from Austria to Portugal, this takes in everybody from Sigmund Freud to Cristiano Ronaldo. They’d both have a blast at the Festival. Irish musical acts perform constantly through the weekend. The entertainment lineup includes Gaelic Storm, Bastard Bearded Irishmen, Screaming Orphans, Donnie Irish, Abbots Cross, Devilish Merry, Morgan Bullock, and Sean Patrick Regan. There’s sure to be at least three pipe bands (there is no such thing as too much bagpipes). In addition to music and dancing, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival has storytelling, arts and crafts, experts on Irish/Celtic culture and genealogy, etc., along with Irish foods, Irish whiskey, stout, and mead. The festival is Irishness writ as large as it can be writ. Come one, come all. 4 – 11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. 801 Carrie Furnace Blvd., Rankin. (M.V.)      

A FAIR IN THE PARK—September 6 -8, Mellon Park

Beautiful glass art are among the works that can be scene at The Fair in the Park.

4) The annual A Fair in the Park will happen again this year in Shadyside’s Mellon Park. Promoted as a contemporary fine crafts and arts show and sale, it includes art and craft demonstrations, performances, music, food, and children’s activities. The fair is presented by the Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh and Citiparks. Food trucks and local vendors will be on hand and will be announced soon. Fair hours are: Friday, 1 – 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fifth and Shady Aves., Shadyside/Point Breeze/Squirrel Hill. (R.H.)

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