Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival Starts; Natasha Bedingfield Headlines Day One of Pride on the Shore (Fri., 5/31/24)

Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival — May 31 – June 9, multiple times and venues, Downtown.

1) The 10-day Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival is Pittsburgh’s largest and grandest summer celebration. The ever-popular Artist Market features handmade arts, crafts, and wearables on sale in over 150 booths. Performing arts are headlined by ten Mainstage Concerts in the Cultural District, at Ft. Duquesne Boulevard with acts including  Pokey LaFarge (May 31), Los Lonely Boys (June 1), Martha Redbone (June 2), Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (June 3),  Doom Flamingo (June 7), Sugarhill Gang & The Furious Five (June 8), and Ben Folds (June 9). A varied lineup of Pittsburgh-based talent will perform at two other stages in the Cultural District. Last but not least, a juried visual arts exhibition will be displayed at Space Gallery in the Cultural District. (M.V., R.H.)

Friday, May 31 and Sunday, June 2

2) Pride on the Shore, Pittsburgh’s annual LGBTQ+ music festival, opens Friday night, and some out-of-the-loop straight people may wonder why the headliner is English pop/rock singer Natasha Bedingfield, who happens to be overtly hetero. But Bedingfield loves performing at gay clubs and Pride events. She has said she’s learned a lot from her LGBTQ+ friends; feels they really understand her music, and her songs “Unwritten” and “Wild Horses” have become de facto coming-out anthems. Other acts on the opening-night bill: Actor/singer Keke Palmer visits on the heels of her long-awaited latest studio album, last year’s Big Boss; she’s also cast in an upcoming heist film called The Pickup, with Eddie Murphy. Singer/dancer JoJo Siwa, who recently shined as a guest judge on “Ru Paul’s Drag Race All Stars 8,” brings her glow to Pittsburgh fans. Hannah Rad—host of “The Hannah Rad Show” on Twitch—makes it a road show with an appearance here. And global DJ Kitty Glitter adds emphatic Australian drag beats to the festival. 7 p.m. at Stage AE, 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. 

Day two of Pride on the Shore happens Sunday, June 2 starting at 3 pm. Featured acts are the amazing Chappell Roan, the equally smashing Jess Glynne, the artist known as Slayyyter (with three y’s, thank you), and plenty more including local talent. Whether you’re buying a two-day ticket or just for opening night, reserve quickly. Pride on the Shore is a hot item. Enough said. (M.V.) 

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