Kansas and Jefferson Starship: Music on the Mountain at Timber Rock Amphitheater; First Day of Arts Festival on Walnut Street in Shadyside; Sq. Hill Night Market (Sat., 8/23/25)

1) Kansas and Jefferson Starship team up for a show at Timber Rock Amphitheater in Farmington. Prog-rock group Kansas is actually from Kansas, Topeka specifically. The group has a heartland rock sound that’s a sweet mix of vocal harmonies, keyboards, guitars, drums, and violin. Kansas didn’t get a really big taste of success until the albums Leftoverture (1976) and Point of Know Return (1977), with hit singles “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Point of Know Return,” and “Dust in the Wind.” Kansas has generated three multi-platinum albums. Their latest release is 2020’s The Absence of Presence. The band celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. Several members have left the band or have passed on. Two original members remain; the group is still very popular. Expect to hear top Kansas songs and deep cuts. See our review from their December 2024 concert at the Benedum Center. (R.H.)

Kansas, in the last show of the Another Fork in the Road Kansas 50th Anniversary Tour. (Photo: Courtesy of the artists)

1965 was the year rock turned seriously psychedelic. Among other things, three new groups emerged from the San Francisco area’s folk-rock scene sounding more like musicians from another planet: the Grateful Dead, Country Joe and the Fish (remember them?)—and Jefferson Airplane. Airplane’s co-founder, Paul Kantner, later started his successor band, Jefferson Starship, to play the music of Jefferson Airplane and more. Kantner died in 2016 at the age of 74, but the music goes on. David Freiberg (acoustic guitar and vocals) has played with the band intermittently since 1972 and is a rich source of wisdom and history for the other members. Starship’s female vocalist, Cathy Richardson, has a big voice that wakes the echoes. It’s impossible to replace Grace Slick, who is a painter now, but Richardson does a mighty fine job in her own right. Expect to hear Woodstock-era numbers like “Volunteers” and “White Rabbit” in a show that should be a trip. The group is celebrating their 50th anniversary on their Runaway Again World Tour. You can also catch the double bill of Kansas and Jefferson Starship August 22 at Wheeling’s Capitol Theatre. The Timber Rock Amphitheater show is at 7 p.m. 3360 National Pike, Farmington. (M.V., R.H.)

Cathy Richardson of Jefferson Starship performing at an event at Point State Park in 2013. (Photo by Martha Rial)

THE ART FESTIVAL ON WALNUT STREET— August 23 – 24, Shadyside.

August is a great month for strolling the tree-lined streets of Shadyside and enjoying the fine arts and crafts during the Art Festival on Walnut Street. (Photo: Rick Handler)

2) “Hip”—as in “Get hip,” rather than “Get a hip replacement”—is one of the oldest American slang terms still in wide use, and Shadyside’s Walnut Street is perhaps the longest-running hip district in Pittsburgh. Incredibly, it gets even hipper during the Art Festival on Walnut Street in late August. The Festival is popular, in part, because there’s so much art. The Walnut biz district is closed to motor vehicles and packed with booths where artists and craft people display paintings, prints, ceramics, handmade jewelry, and so forth ad infinitum. In addition: Some Walnut Street merchants bring out selected goods for sidewalk sales. Exotic food vendors descend. Established restaurants, coffee shops, and night spots operate in peak mode. And, music being the food of love and other good things, musicians play on. Official hours for the art and craft booths are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. August 23 and 24, but you can bet that on Saturday the 24th, merrymaking will continue into the night. Walnut St. between S. Aiken and Ivy Streets with further activities adjacent, Shadyside. (M.V.)

3) The Squirrel Hill Night Market returns to Murray Avenue. Food trucks, vendors, crafters, kids activities, neighborhood restaurants, live music, and more attractions will be on hand at this pop-up street festival on Murray Ave. 6-10 p.m. Free. Murray Avenue beginning at Forbes.

4) The Iron City Car Cruise powered by MAXmotive is happening today from 10 a.m. –4 p.m. This family-friendly event features hundreds of classic cars, live music, food trucks, and a new VIP Taproom experience. Live Music by Dancing Queen (ABBA tribute) and The Shiners. Pittsburgh Brewing Company, 150 Ferry St., Creighton.

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