LIGHTS SHINE LONGER

"Pittsburgh Festival of Lights!" -- the fabulous illumination of four Downtown buildings by French artist Lucette de Rugy and her organization Artlumiere -- has been extended to July 8.

Popular demand and support from the Colcom Foundation are responsible for giving visitors an extra week to enjoy the show.

The projections are turned on from approximately 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily. The buildings are: the Omni William Penn Hotel, 530 William Penn Place; Katz Plaza, corner of Penn Avenue and Seventh Street; Duquesne Light, 411 Seventh Ave., from Liberty; and the Highmark Building, corner of Stanwix Street and Penn Avenue.

-- Mary Thomas

TONIGHT

CLASSIC ROCK

The Post-Gazette Pavilion has some fun with geography tonight with one band named after a city, one after the whole country.

It's Chicago and America, two bands that have very little in common other than being radio sensations in the '70s.

This is the 40th anniversary of Chicago, and the jazzy band, which never seems to miss a summer in the sheds, has overhauled its set a bit, adding a few seldom-played gems like "Wishing You Were Here." Keyboardist Robert Lamm told the crowd at a recent Boston show, "We got sick of playing the same 20 songs every year."

You won't get horns with America, just pure-folk rock with jangling guitars and golden harmonies. The band, which can fill a set with hits like "A Horse With No Name," "Ventura Highway," "Sister Golden Hair" and "Tin Man," isn't resting on its laurels. Last year, the band released "Here & Now," with help from Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) and James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins). They're playing two new songs from the album on this tour.

The show is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $33 to $71. Call 412-323-1919.

-- Scott Mervis

HIGH FLIERS

The Peking Acrobats, the first and only group to have balanced six people on top of six stacked chairs at 21 feet without safety gear, will perform at Heinz Hall at 7:30 tonight.

	The Peking Acrobats take flight at Heinz Hall tonight at 7:30 p.m. Click photo for larger image.

The group has been featured on "The Wayne Brady Show," "That's Incredible" and ABC's "Wide World of Sports." Shaobo Qin, a member of the company, was also part of the "Ocean's 11," "Ocean's 12" and "Ocean's 12" movies.

The group will perform tricks such as chair balancing, wire-walking, trick-cycling, precision tumbling, somersaulting and gymnastics. Tickets cost $65, $39.50, $19.50. If you buy one adult ticket, you will get two free children's tickets.

-- Cody McDevitt

GOTTA GO

From Detroit, a town known for churning out garage-rockers, comes The Go, a band that once featured Jack White of White Stripes fame. The Go, which has toured with the Mooney Suzuki and Guided by Voices, is about to release "Howl on the Haunted Beat You Ride." First, they play the 31st Street Pub Thursday at 10 p.m. with Freer, The Resistors, and Meeting of Important People. Tickets are $8.

-- S.M.

ALL WEEKEND

Polka Fireworks will begin today and run through Tuesday at Seven Springs Mountain Resort with 29 bands performing, including Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones, The Povertyneck Hillbillies, Johnny Angel & the Halos, Eddie Biegaj & Crusade, Andy Fenus & The Trel-Tones, The Knewz, Stephanie and her Honky Band and Henny & the Versa J's.

From Saturday through Monday, there will be polka music workshops where people can bring along instruments and receive free instruction.

Mary Lou Kaye will give dance lessons on Friday through Monday. Pool parties will happen on Thursday through Sunday. The "Tour de Dance," Pennsylvania's state polka contest, will be on Sunday.

Golfers will get a midweek green fee of $35, plus tax, for Friday and Tuesday. In addition, there will be an 18-hole golf tournament, with foursomes playing in a scramble format, on Sunday at 10 a.m. The cost is $45, plus tax.

Adult tickets cost $16, senior tickets cost $15 and 12-and-under tickets cost $10.

-- C.M.

BUTLER FAIR

We know what the folks in Butler will be doing this weekend. It's Big Butler Fair time and that means demo derbies, concerts, farm animals and fun things to eat.

Some highlights:

Friday: The Clarks play Bike Night in the grandstand at 8 p.m. Ride your motorcycle onto the racetrack through the pit gate via the west gate of the fairgrounds, and your admission to the fairgrounds is free!!!

Saturday: It's CDL Trucker's Day with a "Show and Shine" contest in the afternoon, bobtail and tri-axle "Drag Racing" at mid-afternoon, and semi and tri-axle truck pulling in the evening.

Sunday: Combine and School Bus Demoliton Derby at 7 p.m.

Monday: Giant Car Demolition Derby at 7 p.m.

July 7: Freedom Fest Concert with Craig Morgan, PovertyNeck Hillbillies and more ($12).

Admission is $7; $5 before 4 p.m. Children under 2 free. All day ride band is $12; $10 before 4 p.m. Go to www.bigbutlerfair.com.

SATURDAY

HOMEGROWN HOO HA

The original idea was for The Clarks and Rusted Root to each get their own night at the Sandcastle amphitheatre.

But that place never opened, so the fans of those two bands will meet in one big Homegrown Hoo Ha Show at the Post-Gazette Pavilion, hosted by Donnie Iris.

"We actually went through all of the '90s without doing anything together," says Clarks singer Scott Blasey. "We did that Soldiers and Sailors show after 9/11. That was the first time we ever shared a bill with Root."

"I don't think the fans necessarily were on the same wavelength," says Clarks bassist Greg Joseph. "It's kind of cool to bring them together."

Along with Pittsburgh's two biggest bands, there will be a handful of others, including the alt-country of Good Brother Earl, the garage-rock of the Yards and the fusion of Jazzam.

Blasey, who is Western Pennsylvanian once again, having just moved from Dallas to Peters Township, says of this Homegrown show, "I think there will be a lot of cross-pollination, a lot of people playing with different bands. I think maybe Kelsey Friday of Brownie Mary will grace us with our presence."

Here is the lineup:

Mr. Small's Stage
4:05-4:35 p.m.: Bohemian Bottom Orchestra (Mr. Small's Stage)
4:45-5:15 p.m.: The Yards (Mr. Small's)
5:30-6:15 p.m.: Jazzam (Mr. Small's)

Pavilion Stage:
6:15-7 p.m.: The Bill Deasy Band
7-7:30 p.m.: Good Brother Earl
7:30-8:45 p.m. Rusted Root
9:15-10:45 p.m.: The Clarks
11 p.m.: Fireworks

Tickets are $20 to $47.50; $60 for a lawn 4-pack. Call 412-323-1919.

WHITE ROOM

"White Party" might be a provocative name for an event, but all it means is that they want people to wear white clothing to this Cystic Fibrosis fund-raiser Saturday at Spinning Plate Gallery, 5720 Friendship Ave.

DJ Dale Cooper will spin retro tunes. The Elise's Playground girls will do their exotic dance and Mara Rago will show her photographs. It runs from 8 p.m. to midnight. The $20 donation includes free beverages and snacks.

PUNK TRIBUTE

There's also a Punk Rock Benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Saturday night at the 31st Street Pub with Pittsburgh bands paying tribute to three old school punk rock bands.

Taking on Washington D.C. hardcore stalwarts Government Issue will be John Doran (Creeps at the Beach), Tim Williams (formerly of Davenport and Human Investment), with Intense Andy Perlman and Mike Ovens (Brain Handle). Also doing GI songs will be Karl Hendricks, Len Jarabeck (formerly of Heart of Darkness) and Jake Leger (Karl Hendricks Trio, Landing Strip, etc).

San Francisco art-punk band Flipper will be "carefully replicated" by Dan Allen (formerly of Thumper), Vince Curtis (formerly of Half Life), Dan Bidwa and Phil Pierre. Bob Speiler (Master Mechanic), Ted Tarka, Tim Behay and Brian Porter (Mud City Manglers) will become Cleveland's The Pagans.

There will also be deejays Mike punk rock collectibles in a silent auction.

The event was sparked by Doran, whose son was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when he was two weeks old.

Doors open at 9:30 p.m. and admission is $8.

-- S.M.

TREEHOUSE PARTY

The Creative TreeHouse, a new facility for Pittsburgh-area artists in Bellevue, celebrates its official opening with an open house Saturday at 6 p.m. with live painting, music, photography, poetry, podcasts, and a gallery show of current TreeHouse members' artwork.

Photographers John Bodnar, Jeff Zoet and Laura Petrilla will be shooting portraits and providing their subjects with e-mailed copies. Paintings and drawings will be created by Rich Rogowski and Jeremy Shank with art supplies donated by Pat Catan's. There will be music by Buddy Nutt, Some Other Band, and DJ analog a-go-go.

There will be free food and beverages. It's at on the second floor at 517 Lincoln Blvd. Go to www.CreativeTree-HousePgh.com for updates.

SUNDAY

MOVIES AND WAVES

Sandcastle begins is Dive-In Movies series Sunday at the Wave Pool. The movies start at dusk and are free with Sandcastle admission or membership. Here is the schedule:

• July 1: "Over the Hedge"
  
• July 8: "Curious George"
  
• July 15: "Happy Feet"
  
• July 22: "Barnyard"
  
• July 29: "RV"
  
• Aug. 5: "Flushed Away"
  
• Aug. 12: "Charlotte's Web"

NEED TO KNOW

Senses Fail and From Autumn to Ashes, a pair of heavy emo bands from Vagrant Records, pair up for a show at Diesel at 7 tonight.

Howard Stern sidekick Artie Lange brings a little comic raunch to the red velvet of Heinz Hall at 8 p.m. Friday.

Moms Rule, says Kennywood, so moms get in free today and Friday when accompanied by someone with a paid ticket.

Klezmer band Hot Matzohs revs up at Bach, Beethoven & Brunch at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Mellon Park.

"Ratatouille," an animated adventure about a rat who dreams of becoming a great chef, and Michael Moore's "Sicko" open in theaters tomorrow.

---

Correction/Clarification: (Published June 29, 2007) Klezmer band Hot Matzohs will start at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Bach, Beethoven & Brunch in Mellon Park, not 10 a.m. as incorrectly listed in this events report as published June 28, 2007.