Winter Jam 2015 Tonight at Consol; Stage AE Hosts Melanie Martinez (CPs Sat., 1/31/15)

1) Once a single concert in ’95, now the largest Christian music tour in the country, Winter Jam 2015 Tour Spectacular stops at Consol Energy Center tonight. Celebrating its 20th year, the tour features numerous Christian rock and hip hop artists, including Jeremy Camp, Francesca Battistelli, Building 429, for KING & COUNTRY, and Family Force 5. Evangelist Tony Nolan also will speak. Skillet, the rockers who are this year’s headliners, come fresh from a European tour. They gained platinum success when their ’09 single “Monster” became a radio and YouTube hit. NewSong, Winter Jam’s founders, continue to host. They have had 20 number one Christian radio singles and have been making music since ’81. Holt International, a non-profit international adoption agency, presents this year’s tour. 6 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

2Melanie Martinez was only 17 when she auditioned on season three of NBC’s “The Voice.” Martinez played an acoustic version of Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” complete with kick-tambourine. That goosebump-inducing performance got three judges to hit the “I Want You” button. She went with Adam Levine, singing covers of artists ranging from Ray Charles to The White Stripes, and making it all the way to the top six before being eliminated. Despite the loss, she found post-talent show success. Her debut EP, Dollhouse, plays like Siouxsie and the Banshees meets Goodnight Moon. (Check out “Carousel.”) She brings her bubble gum goth to The Club at Stage AE tonight. The Heirs open. Doors open 7 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore.

3) The Pitt Panthers basketball team is a young squad still trying to find its groove. It won’t get any easier today when the Panthers face a group of angry Hibernians, a.k.a. the top-ten-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Jump ball is at noon. Petersen Events Center, 3719 Terrace St., Oakland.

 

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Rick Handler

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