Scott Tady: Monaca, Chippewa & Beaver Falls bring free outdoor concerts
I know what you need next Friday: Moe Taters and The Gravy Train.
That's the new Western swing and vintage country band kicking off the 2022 Monaca Friday Concert Series at George Washington Plaza in the heart of Monaca.
Moe Taters and The Gravy Train hit the stage at 6 sharp on June 10, led by Center Township vocalist Charlie Barath who vows to add " just the right amount of harmonica" (he's the most sought-after harmonica player in western Pennsylvania.) The award-winning Barath surrounds himself with a top-notch band of Pete Freeman on pedal steel, Donnie Bell on guitar and the rhythm section of “Taco” on bass and Bert Lerini on drums.
Expect cool cover songs with a handful of originals.
This free, monthly outdoor concert series, hosted by the Monaca Community Development Corp., presents a mix of blues, jazz, country, pop and rock by local and regional artists.
On July 8, “Best of Pittsburgh” vocalist Chantal Joseph and her band will perform popular jazz and R&B songs.
On Aug. 5, the stage belongs to Bobby Thompson and The Groove, the Beaver Valley blues-rock-soul-funk quartet known for its electrifying performances that make audiences dance. Bandmates Bobby Thompson (guitar and vocals), Rich Mannion (keys and vocals), Cody Fritzley (drums and vocals), and Rob Sinchak (bass) won the 2019 Western Pennsylvania Blues Challenge, and represented the left side of the state in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
The concert series will continue with artists-to-be-announced on Sept. 3 and Oct. 7.
The plaza, at 1003 Pennsylvania Ave., has some seating, though guests who are able to bring lawn chairs are encouraged to do so.
Ready to satisfy pre- or post-show food cravings are close to a dozen in-town eateries offering everything from sushi, burgers, barbecue, pizza, wings and Mexican-soul food fusion (MexiSoul Smokehouse & Taqueria's smoked mac 'n cheese is amazing.)
“We truly appreciate the opportunity we have to support musicians and community – and to provide free, public access to the enrichment and inspiration that come from live music," Monaca CDC president, Kelly Burgos Harper said.
For event updates, follow Monaca CDC on Facebook or visit monacacdc.org.
Chippewa-Beaver Falls concerts
Chippewa Park will host three free Friday night concerts this summer:
June 17: Beaver County Brass; July 15, Swingin’ BopCats Big Band; Aug. 19: Hopewell Community Big Band. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Rain dates are each that same weekend's Sunday, also at 7 p.m. The park is at 158 Klein St.
Neighboring Beaver Falls and its 37th Street Park Park also hosts three free Friday concerts:July 29: Burke’s Bavarian Brass; Aug. 5: Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble; Aug. 12: Swingin’ BopCats Big Band. Showtimes are 7 p.m., and in the event of rain, performances will takeplace inside Beaver County Christian School, 510 37th St., across from the park.
For any of these shows, bring blankets or lawn chairs for sitting. A county grant, allocated through Beaver County Tourism, pays half the cost for each show, with the sponsoring municipality financing theother half.
Pride & laughs
Arcade Comedy Theater kicks off its 9th annual Pride celebration with headlining performances June 10-11 by Jess Salomon, a nationally-touring comedian and podcaster most recently seen on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon."
Salomon specializes in thought-provoking satire and light whimsy. She’ll be joined by a line-up of local LGBTQIA+ plus comics, including a guest set by her wife Eman El-Husseini. Their duo show had been scheduled originally as part of Arcade’s 2020 theatrical season, which was canceled due to the pandemic.
“While the pandemic forced us to change our plans over the past two years, we didn’t want to let those artistic relationships fall away,” Mike Rubino, a Monaca native and director of programming for the downtown Pittsburgh improv and comedy theater, said. “Jess Salomon has a compelling and hilarious approach to comedy and we are so glad she was able to still be a keystone to our Pride programming.”
Showtime is 8 p.m. with tickets $20 ($15 for college students).
Arcade Comedy Theater's month-long programming includes brand new improv, stand-up, and variety shows produced by local and regional artists that identify as LGBTQIA+. All shows will require audiences to wear masks and show proof of vaccination.
More:Pittsburgh concert calendar adds Chris Rock, John Mulaney
More:Review: Pittsburgh fans go wild for Tame Impala
Tidbits
*Yes, that is an Iron City Beer can atop the TV in episode two of the brand-new "Stranger Things" season on Netflix. That scene is set in 1986 Indiana. A shout-out to sci-fi/"Stranger Things" super-fan Kevin Lupo of Midland for the heads up and a screen grab.
**Eric Clapton won't play PPG Paints Arena on Sept. 16 as originally planned. The guitar legend rerouted his tour, and according to his website now will be playing at TD Garden in Boston that same night.
Tickets had been scheduled to go on sale for the Pittsburgh concert next week.
***Rochester Township's Elizabeth Douglas has a painting called "Germination" featured in a new Carnegie Museum of Art exhibition "Future Vision." The Pittsburgh museum describes "Future Vision" as "an Afro-futuristic journey" featuring new work and perspectives. The exhibition runs through June 12 with more info at cmoa.org
****The film "Aliquippa PA: It's All About The People," is up for Best Documentary in the Pittsburgh Indie Film Festival. The 40-minute film gets its festival screening at 2:45 p.m. June 18 at the Parkway Theater and Film Lounge in McKees Rocks. United Kingdom-based director Peter Kinkead and co-producer Bernadette Callaghan of Aliquippa crafted the film, which examines Aliquippa's post-industrial perseverance.
More:Tady column: Beaver will rock; Aliquippa gets screen time
Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: Free concerts await in Monaca, Chippewa and Beaver Falls
