Rascal Flatts in Concert at First Niagara; Pittsburgh Blues Fest Opens with Duke Robillard (Fri., 7/24/15)

1) It seems a bit like tempting fate to call your concert series the “Riot Tour,” but it probably won’t be an issue for country-pop trio Rascal Flatts, who are headlining a national tour for the 13th year in a row. The Ohio band are promoting Rewind, their ninth studio album, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts, and features singles “Rewind” and “Riot.” It’s been a good year for the three-piece, made up of vocalist Gary LeVox, bass and keyboard player Jay DeMarcus, and guitarist Joe Don Rooney. They come to Pittsburgh fresh from opening for the Rolling Stones in Indianapolis and playing the first-ever country residency at The Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. Rascal Flatts plays the First Niagara Pavilion with Scotty McCreery and RaeLynn. 7:30 p.m. 665 Pennsylvania 18, Burgettstown. (HM)

2) The late B.B. King called Duke Robillard “[o]ne of the great players.” If that somehow isn’t enough of an endorsement, The Blues Music Awards named him “Best Blues Guitarist” four different years. He’s also played with artists like Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and Dr. John. Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Robillard formed Roomful of Blues in 1967. Early gigs included sharing the stage and the studio with heroes Big Joe Turner and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson. After a dozen years with Roomful of Blues, he left to pursue a solo career, during which he collaborated with artists as diverse as rockabilly king Robert Gordon and jazz saxophonist Scott Hamilton.

At 66, he still plays as many as 250 dates a year and, somewhere in between, gives lessons through Sonic Junction, an online music education website. This year, one of his tour dates includes a stop at the Pittsburgh Blues Festival. Local music legends Norm Nardini and Billy Price will perform with Robillard. Now in its 20th year, the festival has raised 100,000 pounds of food and two million dollars for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Gates open 4 p.m. Robillard performs at 9 p.m. Friday is free admission with a bag of non-perishable grocery items to donate to the Food Bank thanks to Fox 53, Giant Eagle, and WDVE 102.5 FM. Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater, 200 Hartwood Acres, Hampton and Indiana townships.  (CM)

3) Our battlin’ Bucs take on the Washington Nationals tonight in a 7:05 p.m. game. It’s also Free Shirt Friday, with the first 20,000 fans receiving a Pirates T-shirt. Tailgate before the game at the Friday Night Block Party featuring live entertainment, food and beer options, games and more. You can even meet former Pirate Pitcher Jim Rooker. And did we mention beer? PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

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