Spring is in the air and that means a slew of new live music shows. Here are five artists and bands to see this April and May at five different venues around town. Some of these shows may sell out, so get your tickets soon!
Bear’s Den
Bear’s Den is a mellow folk rock band from London, England. They’ll be touring to promote their new album that’s coming out in April, So that you might hear me. You may know of them from their catchy tune, “Agape,” which won Song of The Year in 2016 at the UK Americana Awards. Lead singer Andrew Davie’s dreamy voice will surely resound acoustically in Mr. Smalls Theatre, an old church in Millvale that was converted into a music venue.
Showtime: Wednesday, May 15th, 8:00PM, Mr. Smalls Theater
Cher
Do you believe in life after love? No matter what era of Cher you grew up with, you probably have a memory of this iconic singer. It may be as half of the television entertainment duo Sonny and Cher, or perhaps it’s for her acclaimed solo music career as “The Goddess of Pop.” Her tour, aptly named Here We Go Again, prominently features her twenty-sixth studio album, Dancing Queen, which covers ABBA songs. The album was released following her performance in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, so if you’re a fan of the musical or you’re just looking for a fun night out with plenty of sing-along and dance-worthy jams, you should see Cher at PPG Paints Arena.
Showtime: Thursday, April 18th, 7:30PM, PPG Paints Arena
Elle King
Shake the Spirit is an appropriate name for Elle King’s recent album and tour; this show will be sure to get you moving and dancing! Her sound is an ear-catching blend of soul, blues, and rock with more than a touch of country twang. “Shame,” a song that was inspired by the L.A. party scene, will bring down the house at Stage AE. This talented singer, who also happens to kill it on the guitar and the banjo, is definitely worth seeing while she’s in town.
Showtime: Saturday, April 27th, 7:00PM, Stage AE
Hozier
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Hozier hails from Dublin, Ireland. His Irish accent is of course charming, but his vocal harmonies with his touring band are even more so. His hit song “Take Me to Church” is a scorcher that shoots daggers at religious institutions that shame homosexuality, while “Nina Cried Power” praises the power of protest and features the legendary Mavis Staples. The album Wasteland, Baby!, which just dropped in March of 2019, will be the focus of his show at the Benedum, but you can be sure to hear some of his older songs too.
Showtime: Sunday, May 26th, 8:00PM, Benedum Center
PUP
Pittsburgh may not be known for its punk rock scene, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist! PUP is a lively punk band whose distinctive time signatures and guitar riffs might just have you jumping up and down by the end of the night. They originally hail from Canada and will be stopping through our fair city on their tour for their new album Morbid Stuff, so make sure to give them a warm welcome by attending their show! They’ll be playing at The Rex Theater in South Side, meaning you’ll get the chance to see them up close on stage in a smaller venue.
Showtime: Tuesday, April 30th, 2019, 8:00PM, The Rex Theater
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.