Vans Warped Tour at First Niagara (CP’s Wed. 7/17/13)

1) Vans Warped Tour invades the First Niagara Pavilion, uniting a variety of popular genres for an all-day meeting of musical minds. This year’s lineup boasts over 40 bands, including The Black Dahlia Murder, Bring Me the Horizon, Mac Lethal, and Motion City Soundtrack.

Since its inception in 1994, the “Warped Tour” has established itself as an annual haven for extreme sports fans and music lovers alike. Thanks to its consistently strong lineups and dedicated fan base, it now stands as the longest running festival/tour in the United States. Festivities begin early and last well into the night, so bring your walking shoes and come prepared for an all-day throw down. 11 a.m. 665 Route 18, Burgettstown.

2) The Pittsburgh Riverhounds defend Highmark Stadium against Orlando City’s Lions in United Soccer League’s professional action. Losers of two straight games, the Riverhounds will need to rebound and impose their will early if they hope to topple the league-leading Lions.

Sporting a 5-6-6 record, the Riverhounds will break even at .500 with a win tonight, putting them in position to make a late-season run at the USL Pro Championship. 7 p.m. 510 W. Station Square Dr., South Side.

3) Smooth grooves of melodic jazz will permeate the air at the South Park skating rink, as RML Jazz performs as part of the 2013 Allegheny County Summer Concert Series. Known for their expert musicianship and professional comportment, RML Jazz traverses an eclectic continuum of traditional jazz, funk, be-bop, standards, and swing.

Their repertoire includes classics like “Comin’ Home Baby,” “Memphis Underground,” “Take Five,” and “Fly Me to The Moon.” 7:30 p.m. Corrigan Dr., South Park.

4) Clifford the Big Red Dog will roam the halls at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh this afternoon, affording his fans the unique opportunity to chat and meet in person. A children’s favorite since 1963, Clifford the Big Red Dog became the official mascot of Scholastic Books through his universal appeal and friendly demeanor.

Clifford has inspired the creation of over 70 books, six video games, and a PBS television series which ran from 2000-2003. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. 10 Children’s Way, North Side.

5) Drusky Entertainment presents Hillbilly Herald with special guests Crobot at Hard Rock Café Pittsburgh. Born from the latex-laden, hairspray-fueled styles of the ’80s, Hillbilly Herald creates a wall of reverberation with massive power chords, driving drum beats, and commanding vocals courtesy of lead singer Jimmy Herald. Rising to fame through its rowdy live show and no-nonsense approach, Hillbilly Herald has opened for national acts, including Steel Panther and Slash of Guns N’ Roses’ fame.

In a similar vein, Crobot provides audiences with a dirty, grungy rock sound which calls to mind bands like Clutch, Led Zeppelin, and Queens of the Stone Age. With this one-two combination of tasty rock ‘n’ roll grooves, Hard Rock Café is sure to please the Pittsburgh crowd looking for a mid-week release. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. 230 W. Station Square Dr., South Side.