Deutschtown Music Festival Kicks Off; Lone Bellow and Erin Rae Play Mr. Smalls; ‘Dirt Rag’ Dirt Fest at Bruceton Mills (Fri., 7/13/18)

1) The Deutschtown Music Festival helps to promote local music and a neighborhood hidden in plain sight. Also known as East Allegheny, Deutschtown is east of the Children’s Museum and Allegheny Commons Park. The neighborhood is home to some lively bars and restaurants; many will serve as venues as will seven outdoor stages. Now in its sixth year and once a Saturday-only event, the festival has spilled into Friday night. The lineup features over 200 Pittsburgh acts, including Murder for Girls, Slugss, Jim Donovan & Sun King Warriors, the Nox Boys, As Ladders, little good bad, and Ferdinand the Bull. Bluegrass, punk, rap, rock, and other genres are represented. Some venues, like Penn Brewery, are outside Deutschtown. For a complete list of venues and acts, check out the festival’s website. Food trucks, art vendors, and a beer garden will be on site. 3–11:45 p.m. Fri., July 13, and 11 a.m.–1 a.m. Sat., July 14. Free. Deutschtown (East Allegheny), North Side. (CM)

2) Erin Rae’s sophomore album, Putting On Airs, addresses addiction, mental health, and sexuality. The single “June Bug” pairs Rae’s arresting imagery with slow, lush guitar and piano, conjuring a sleepy summer evening in Nashville, where Rae is based. However, she recorded Putting On Airs in Appleton, Wisc., at a former Franciscan monastery. Indeed, the outro of “June Bug” conjures a church procession. The album follows her debut, 2015’s Soon Enough. Rae has also collaborated with fellow Nashville singer-songwriter Margo Price, whom she supported this spring along with the Mountain Goats.

Rae will be supporting The Lone Bellow for their concert at Mr. Smalls Theatre. The indie-folk trio formed in Brooklyn, New York City, but like Rae, is now based in Nashville. 2015’s Then Came the Morning, the group’s second album, saw production by Aaron Dessner (of The National) and brass and string arrangements by Bryce Dessner (also of The National). A standout single from that LP is “Fake Roses.” The Lone Bellow also shared the bill with Cold War Kids for the Feed More Festival at Stage AE in 2016. The band is now touring in support of 2017’s Walk into a Storm, its third record. 8 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (CM)

Dirt Rag Dirt Fest — July 13-15, in Bruceton Mills, WV

Dirt Rag Dirt Fest: The dirt starts here.

3) The hilly terrain of Pittsburgh and surrounding areas is ideal for mountain biking. We are home to a premier publication in the field of off-road pedaling, Dirt Rag magazine. And this eminent scholarly journal is hosting a camp-out weekend called the Dirt Rag Dirt Fest. The event is notable in that it has no formal races. Rather, there are participatory group rides geared to all levels of skill and fitness, from easy casual jaunts to the ominously named Ride of Attrition. Other Dirt Fest activities include yoga, for centering oneself, first aid instruction, in case the center does not hold, music, waffles and beer (not necessarily at the same time), and gear (both new and swapped). Unicycles are available for those who wish to learn one-wheel riding and fat bikes are brought by many. July 13-15. Big Bear Lake Trail Center, 450 Big Bear Lake Rd., Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. (MV)

4) Jim Donovan & Sun King Warriors bring their lively brand of jam rock to the South Park Amphitheater as part of the Allegheny County Summer Concert series. Donovan and band have recently released a new album, We See Through It. They describe their new work, saying “It, illustrates the transformational power of music. Featuring ten songs that span genres and eras¸ the sound of the new album blends the vintage rock sound of Zeppelin with the alternative folk of Mumford & Sons propelled by barreling drums.” The band’s prior release was 2016’s Sun King Warriors. Pack a picnic and see Jim Donovan & Sun King Warriors in a sylvan setting. 7:30 p.m. The Hawkeyes open. 3700 Farmshow Drive, South Park Township.

Jim Donvan (jumping guitarist) & Sun King Warriors. Photo: Erica Dilcer.

The Jaguar pace car leads the pack to start the race with the 139 and 26 racers in the first row. Photo: Rick Handler.

5) Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix race cars and drivers will drive in parade formation through the Squirrel Hill business district tonight beginning approximately at 6:30 p.m. The drivers will park their racers on Forbes Avenue between Shady and Murray avenues. They will be parked there for two hours, making their return trip to the Vintage Grand Prix race paddock in Schenley Park at 8:30 p.m. For the exact route see the Forbes Avenue of Speed webpage.

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