Concert Guide August 2026: Bruno Mars, The Black Keys, Weird Al, Kesha, Richard Marx, Todd Rundgren, and Courtney Barnett

The Pittsburgh concert scene this month starts out kinda weird; however that’s only because it kicks off with Weird Al at Star Lake. Things quickly snap back with Fat Joe and Pretty Ricky, among others, playing the Tacos and Tequila Festival at EQT Park. That first weekend keeps running at top speed with The Black Keys at Stage AE and Richard Marx playing The Palace. The month takes a little breather until the following weekend when Parker McCollum; Rock, Reggae, and Relief; and The Iron City Country Music Throwdown with Chris Higbee play our fair city. Australian Courtney Barnett is in concert at the Roxian and hitmaker Todd Rundgren is at Stage AE. New Rock Hall inductee Billy Idol is at Star Lake. TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue play a triple bill there. Bruno Mars brings his smooth self to Acrisure Stadium, Star Lake hosts Kesha. The frighters, Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson are also at the lake (Camp Silver Lake?).

The Concert Guide features (in chronological order) Spotlight Picks, Other Shows of Interest, and Big Shows on the Horizon. Get out and see what pleases you, whether it’s one of our concert picks or something entirely different. Mike Vargo (M.V.) also contributed to this guide.

Spotlight Picks

Saturday, August 1

Parody has been called a lesser art form, but that was before Weird Al came along. His “Foil” is much more than a sendup of Lorde’s “Royals.” It’s a fascinating neo-absurdist journey in itself, an appraisal that applies equally to classics like “White and Nerdy,” “Amish Paradise,” and many others. Weird Al has parodied a Nobel Prize winner and done it with lyrics in which every line is a palindrome. Altogether, his body of work could rightfully be called an alternate history of modern rock, pop, and rap. It helps that Weird Alfred Yankovic has serious musical chops. He can really sing, across a spectrum of styles, and he plays a mean polka accordion. He is also a convincing actor—maybe not on the level of Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed him in the 2022 mock biopic Weird—though he’s plenty good enough to sell the various roles he assumes in his songs. In recent years Al hasn’t turned out new parody hits at the pace he once did, but neither is he merely beating the horse he rode in on. He’s been writing original material, voicing animated characters, tinkering with the Broadway-musical format (including through some interactions with his friend Lin-Manuel Miranda), and honing his live touring show. Weird Al and company visit The Pavilion at Star Lake, with guest artist Puddles Pity Party. 8 p.m. 665 PA Rte. 18, Burgettstown. (M.V.) 

How about this for a fun event: Tacos, Tequila, and some of the top throwback rappers in the game? That’s exactly what’s happening at EQT Park in Washington. Hip-hoppers on the bill are Fat Joe, Pretty Ricky, Ginuwine, Too Short, Frankie J, Bubba Sparxxx, Yung Joc, Murphy Lee, Mims, and DJ Ashton Martin. Fat Joe rose out of New York City and was part of the Diggin’ in the Crates Crew before starting his solo career. Fat Joe’s latest studio album is 2024’s The World Changed on Me. Pretty Ricky is a hip-hop group named after a character on the TV show “Martin.” Their city of origin is Miami and they too have had a highly successful recording career. Other fun activities at the Tacos and Tequila Festival include craft margaritas, a tequila shot bar, locally crafted tacos, lucha libre wrestling, art installations, and even a Chihuahua beauty pageant. One Washington Federal Way. (R.H.)

Sunday, August 2

I first became aware of The Black Keys some years back when I was driving my car and had the radio turned on, when I heard one of the crunchiest blues/rock songs I’ve ever heard. The song had killer guitar and drum work done in a tight, straight ahead, take no prisoners approach. The vocals sounded as if they were done by an old blues singer. I was loving the song and thinking to myself, “who the hell is this?” I pride myself on knowing a fair amount about music, but this song had me stumped. After hearing the song again a week later I did a search for it. The song was “Your Touch” by a group called The Black Keys. What was even more impressive was they were two young guys, Dan Auerbach (guitarist and lead singer) and Patrick Carney (drummer, vocals) from Akron, Ohio, who had produced such a rich blues/rock song. Well, The Black Keys have grown even bigger over the subsequent years. They have 14 studio albums under their belt now and have gained fame as one of the best rock bands in the U.S. Their latest album, Peaches!, was released May 1. The album reached No. 16 on the Billboard US Top Rock & Alternative Albums. And as an extra special combo, The Black Keys have been coordinating with the Georgia Peach Truck company to have peaches for sale around some of their tour dates including Pittsburgh. Catch The Black Keys on their Peaches ‘n Kream tour at Stage AE. Special guest is Eddie 9V. Doors open at 6 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (R.H.)

Richard Marx will bring his roster of classic rock hits to Greensburg’s Palace Theater including “Satisfied” and “Don’t Mean Nothing.” The music video for “Don’t Mean Nothing” starred his first wife, Cynthia Rhodes. Marx has been married since 2015 to former model and MTV host Daisy Fuentes. His 14th studio album, released this July, After Hours, has Marx singing seven jazz standards and six related songs. The LP debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums chart marking the first time he has charted in jazz music. Marx has also collaborated with Pittsburgh country music artist Justin Fabus in recent years on the song, “Somebody Like You.” 7 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St. (R.H.) 

Saturday, August 8

Parker McCollum is a fast-rising, award-winning kind of man. In 2022 the singer-songwriter was named New Male Artist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, and recently his 2025 self-titled album took the ACM Award for Album of the Year. McCollum has genuine country roots. A native of Conroe, Texas, he worked on cattle ranches in his youth. He called his 2015 debut album The Limestone Kid in reference to Limestone County, where a good bit of that ranching took place. Those who care about genres will note that McCollum’s music isn’t exactly nothin’ but country; it has definite strains of Americana and even the blues. (McCollum plays harmonica as well as guitar. And, reflecting his neotraditional tendencies, sometimes he whistles.) Pittsburgh-area fans can catch Parker McCollum at The Pavilion at Star Lake. Gabby Barrett and Kassi Ashton are the guest acts. One dollar of each ticket purchase goes to McCollum’s charity, The Ruger Fund, which supports a variety of nonprofits in Texas, and if you haven’t heard of Ruger, he is the artist’s chocolate Labrador Retriever. 7:30 p.m. 665 PA Rte. 18, Burgettstown. (M.V.)

“Hey mon, come on down to the Market Square area cause we be jammin’ for Rock Reggae and Relief 2026.“ This year’s lineup includes UB40, The Elovaters, Tribal Seeds, The Hip Abduction, G. Love & Special Sauce, The Expendables,  Surfer Girl, Fubar, and Emily Brimlow. Rock Reggae & Relief is a charity reggae festival that brings people together in love and unity and raises money for our neighbors, this year focusing on Café Momentum. Connected to the festival is Chill Ville which is described as having Rock Reggae & Relief’s local street festival vibes with music, murals, art, creatives, and local flavor. Free admission to Chill Ville for ticket holders. The event is produced in association with the the Piatt Family Foundation. So have a blast and help out our neighbors. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. Downtown. (R.H.)

There’s always a lot of happenings at Pittsburgh Brewing’s HQ in Creighton. This month they will be having the Iron City Country Music Throwdown Festival with headliner Chris Higbee. One of Pittsburgh’s top country music performers, Higbee was one of the lead vocalists and fiddle player for The Povertyneck Hillbillies. Also on the Throwdown bill are special guest performances by Josie Sal, Joe Patrick & Four on the Floor, and others; additional artists and entertainment will be announced. Enjoy a full day of hot country music, cold brews, riverfront views, food vendors, mechanical bull riding, and keg lassoing. There will also be prizes awarded in the best boot strutting and fanciest cowboy/cowgirl hat contests. Gates open at noon, music 1 p.m – 11 p.m. 150 Ferry St., Creighton. (R.H.)

Wednesday, August 12

Like Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain before her, Courtney Barnett plays a mean southpaw. Her pairing of deadpan lyrics with a deadpan vocal delivery is one of many things that set her apart. Barnett rose to international prominence with 2013’s The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas. Her brilliant debut LP, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, followed in 2015. Barnett also became known for collaborating with Kurt Vile, one of rock’s other great contemporaries, with whom she released 2017’s Lotta Sea Lice. Since then, the Australian artist has mainly gone solo—even performing at times without a backing band—as she continues to explore the frontiers of alt/indie rock. She’s now touring globally in support of her new album, Creature of Habit, which puts her on track for a visit to our town. Tickets have been going super-fast so move with appropriate dispatch to hear Courtney Barnett at the Roxian Theatre. Guest performer is the free-jazz artist Zoh Amba. Doors at 7 p.m., music 8 p.m. 425 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. (C.M., M.V.)

Friday, August 14

“Can We Still Be Friends,” “Hello It’s Me,” and “I Saw the Light” were three monster hits in the ’70s for the accomplished pop rocker Todd Rundgren. A musical composer, performer, and producer who plays many different instruments, Rundgren is a free spirit whose creativity is limitless and songs melodically beautiful. He’s produced top albums for many individuals and groups, including Hall & Oates, Cheap Trick, Patti Smith, and The Psychedelic Furs. Rundgren’s  latest release is 2022’s Space Force. It is the prolific Rundgren’s 27th solo album. He visits Stage AE on his Damned If I Do Tour. Doors open at 7 p.m., music 8 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (R.H.)

Thursday, August 20

“It’s a nice day for a white wedding” was a lyric from one of Billy Idol‘s biggest hits in the 1980s and it will also be a nice day on August 20 to attend Billy Idols’ Pittsburgh tour stop at the Pavilion at Star Lake. Idol (nee William Michael Albert Broad) is a native of Stanmore, London, England, and was part of the second British invasion of new wave artists. He got the name Idol because one of his teachers saw him as being idle. Other hits for the punk pop rocker include “Dancing with Myself,” “Rebel Yell,” and “Eyes Without a Face.” Idol was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. He is also a grandfather with two granddaughters, one named Poppy Rebel. Idol’s latest release is 2025’s Dream Into It. Devo, another group that had several big hits in the 1980s, opens. 7:30 p.m. 665 PA Rte. 18, Burgettstown. (R.H.)

Monday, August 24

If you are into girl groups—not the kind with women on guitars and drums, etc., but female vocal groups, in the tradition of The Supremes, except newer—then a chance is at hand to hear three distinguished acts on the same bill. TLC are a seminal R&B group. Their 1996 album Crazysexycool is a classic, having spawned the hits “Creep” and “Waterfalls.” TLC was tragically derailed for a long while after member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes died in a car crash while performing charity work in Honduras in 2002. The remaining duo eventually re-formed in 2015 and released a self-titled album in 2017; they’re still going strong today. Their co-headliners, Salt-N-Pepa, played a lead role in bringing hip hop into the realm of women’s vocal pop. In 2021 they received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and next time you’re in LA you may notice that Salt-n-Pepa has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But the women themselves can be seen here, along with the third group on the bill, En Vogue. These singers have their own distinctive mix, with some hip hop but generally a more classical sound. Songs like “Rocket” are from En Vogue’s latest album, 2018’s Electric Cafe. All three acts are part of the It’s Iconic Tour, which lands locally at The Pavilion at Star Lake. 7:30 p.m. 665 PA Rte. 18, Burgettstown. (M.V.)

Tuesday, August 25

Some things to know about Kesha: The popular rocker’s singing style alternates between warbling and rapping. She no longer styles herself Ke$ha, with a dollar sign. And Kesha’s long-running legal disputes with her allegedly abusive former producer are now well in the rearview mirror, after the parties settled out-of-court in 2023. Throughout the ordeal—and indeed, through her entire career—Kesha has become a symbol of embattled but resilient womanhood to many. She’s now also free of her previous recording contracts, under which she titled her fifth studio album Gag Order. Her sixth, simply titled “.” for Period, was recorded on her own label and dropped on July 4 (Independence Day!) last year.  This year, Kesha visits The Pavilion at Star Lake on her Freedom Tour, with guest artists Chromeo and Erika Jayne. 7 p.m. 665 Rte. 18, Burgettstown. (C.M., M.V.) 

Saturday, August 29

One of the nation’s hottest and most talented pop music artists, Bruno Mars, plays Acrisure Stadium. Mars has enjoyed success with hits like the Police-esque “Locked Out of Heaven” and the retro-funk “Treasure.” Born Peter Gene Hernandez in Honolulu, Hawaii, he got the nickname Bruno from his dad, who thought he resembled Pittsburgh-based wrestler Bruno Sammartino. Mars performed in his family’s band, The Love Notes, as a child. As an adult, he kicked around L.A. and found early success as a writer for musicians such as Adam Levine and Flo Rida. Mars is now a Grammy-award-winning (16 times) solo performer, who has had 10 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The Super Bowl 48 and 50 halftime shows saw appearances by him, the former as a headliner, the latter as a special guest with Coldplay. Mars’ latest album is this year’s The Romantic and he is traveling under The Romantic Tour banner. The Romantic, released this year, is Mars’ first solo album in over nine years. A top dance song from the album is “I Just Might.” Opening is Anderson .Paak as DJ Pee.Wee. 8 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. (C.M., R.H.)

You’ll be able to savor two shocking rock stars in a single spooky concert when the Zombie X Manson Tour descends upon our metropolis. Rob Zombie should feel right at home in Pittsburgh, as we are (thanks to George Romero) arguably the zombie capital of the world. The rocker born Robert Cummings legally changed his name in 1996 to make it clear he belongs to the Zombie clan. A very successful recording artist, he also has written and directed several horror films including the cult classic House of 1000 Corpses. However, this Zombie will not eat any brains, as he’s vegan and even rescues farm animals in need. Zombie’s latest album is this year’s The Great Satan. 

Meanwhile, the artist born Brian Warner is still Brian Warner, but he trademarked the name Marilyn Manson^TM as his musical identity. He’s been called the shockingest shock rocker ever. His 1996 album Antichrist Superstar drew bipartisan congressional ire and protests by religious groups. His concerts feature androgyny, hostility, and the pursuit of decadence. Manson has been accused more than once of—nope, we won’t go there, given our aversion to litigation. His new studio album, One Assassination Under God—Chapter 2 (drop date August 14), imparts hyper-Nietzschean philosophy in songs like “Front Toward Enemy.”  Revel in the ominous oeuvres of Zombie and Manson combined when they play The Pavilion at Star Lake, with guests The Hu and Orgy. 6:15 p.m. 665 PA Rte. 18, Burgettstown. (E.C., M.V.) 

Other Shows of Interest

Saturday, August 1
Everclear (Jergel’s Rhythm Grille)
The Clarks (Fayette County Fair)

Sunday, August 2
Ne-Yo and Akon (The Pavilion at Star Lake)

Tuesday, August 4
Digable Planets (Mr. Smalls Theatre)

Friday, August 7
Five Finger Death Punch (The Pavilion at Star Lake)
Chris Young (Timber Rock Amphitheater)
BoDeans (Oaks Theater) v

Saturday, August 8
Roger Humphries Presents a Jazz Celebration for Bill Strickland (City Winery)
Buzz Poets (Jergel’s Rhythm Grille)

Thursday, August 13
Zac Brown Band (PPG Paints Arena)
Three Dog Night (Timber Rock Amphitheater)

Friday, August 14
Goo Goo Dolls (The Pavilion at Star Lake)
St. Lucia (Mr. Smalls Theatre)
André Costello (The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls)
Billy Price (Cadence Clubhouse)

Sunday, August 16
Mountain Goats (Mr. Smalls Theatre)

Saturday, August 22
Dylan Scott (Timber Rock Amphitheater)

Tuesday, August 25
Ugly Kid Joe (Jergel’s Rhythm Grille)

Friday, August 28
Travis Tritt (Timber Rock Amphitheater)

Saturday, August 29
Morgan Wade (Mr. Smalls Theatre)

Sunday, August 30
Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers (Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle)
George Thorogood & The Destroyers (Palace Theatre)

Big Shows on the Horizon

September 8
Kacey Musgraves (PPG Paints Arena)

September 11
Ted Nugent (Timber Rock Amphitheater)

September 15
Breaking Benjamin (The Pavilion at Star Lake)

September 20
LeAnn Rimes (Palace Theatre)

September 22
Cheap Trick (Palace Theatre)

September 28
Pure Prairie League (Jergel’s Rhythm Grille)

September 29 and September 30
Olivia Rodrigo (PPG Paints Arena)

Rick Handler is the executive producer of Entertainment Central.

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