Credit: The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
PITTSBURGH (PTTP)- The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival returns Downtown for its 65th year. From May 31st to June 9th, you’ll be able to saunter through the Cultural District for a variety of arts attractions. This event features artist markets and live performances from 14 acts across 3 stages. This year’s headliner is Sugarhill Gang and the Furious Five, best known for their legendary 1979 hit, “Rapper’s Delight.”
There are many musical genres represented, from hip hop to synth-wave. Martha Redbone, who will perform on June 2nd, describes her sound as music gumbo: “…a celebration of the sounds of Appalachia and the foundation of all American roots music, like blues, folk, and gospel.” Some of her biggest musical inspirations are Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan, and other singers with powerful voices.
Sarah Aziz, the director of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, has led the festival since 2016 when she started as a programming manager. Aziz remarks: “[The Three Rivers Arts Festival] is something you grow up with; it’s so in the fiber of the city. It’s the unofficial kickoff of Summer… and such a fun way to show off the city.” The festival is free and open to the public and is expected to attract more than 300,000 guests.