E-Fest

In this issue, we celebrate the pastoral pleasures of the county fair, where time seems to stand still, and so do the cows.

In marked contrast is E-Fest, an Urban Street Festival in East Liberty unlike any other event you'll find in the summer. This one is coordinated by and reflects the tastes of seven high school students from the East End Cooperative Ministry.

The seventh annual event takes place Saturday and Sunday at Penn and Highland Avenues in East Liberty with exhibits by community artists, crafts from the Warhol and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, moonwalk and games for kids, food booths and a mix of jazz, gospel, hip-hop, reggae and break dancing.

One of the hot acts on the bill is Crave, a local R&B trio that has created a sensation by topping the WAMO charts not once but twice -- first with "7 & Up," then "Real Chik." The songs stem from Crave's full-length debut "Dem Boyz." Crave is followed on the Saturday bill by Hakim Rasheed, the WAMO Talent Show winner, and Liberation, a local hip-hop outfit.

On Saturday at 6:30 p.m., the East Liberty Mural Project, coordinated by Kyle Holbrook and Michael Amick, will be unveiled. Sunday has a looser gospel and reggae groove, with the big finale of old school and disco from House of Soul.

Here is the performance schedule:

SATURDAY
Noon: DJ Passion of the Crates
1 p.m.: Just Pushin Buttons Productions
2 p.m.: Steel City Slam Team
3 p.m.: Caution Crew (break dancing)
4 p.m.: Scribe (hip-hop)
5 p.m.: Crave (R&B)
6 p.m.: Hakim Rasheed (WAMO winner)
7 p.m.: Liberation (hip-hop)
8 p.m.: Kevin Howard Group (jazz)

SUNDAY
Noon: DJ Selecta
1 p.m.: John Barnes (acoustic)
2 p.m.: Hip-Hop Aerobics
3 p.m.: Nikki Smith (gospel)
4 p.m.: The Freedom Band (reggae)
5 p.m.: Christ Like (gospel)
6 p.m.: Kevin Howard Group
7 p.m.: House of Soul (Old School)

THURSDAY

Bill Deasy, one of Pittsburgh's favorite singer-songwriters, will release his new record, "Chasing Down a Spark" with a show at Dowe's on July 16. Before that, he plays a free one for the lunch crowd at noon in Mellon Square.

Jess Klein, a singer-songwriter from New York City, recently dropped her third record, "Strawberry Lover." The All Music Guide review noted: "With melodic accents that suggest she's been listening to a lot of classic R&B and '60s pop, Klein's tales of love both good and bad hit a fine grace note between passion and craft." She plays Club Cafe at 7 p.m. with Ana Egge, a singer with an unusually smoky voice and hypnotic style. Tickets are $14. Call 412-323-1919.

WEEKEND LONG

The classic cars in the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix hit Schenley Park next weekend, but first, there's a Kickoff Rally at 6 p.m. Friday at the Eat'n Park at the Waterfront that will include a picnic and mystery road rally through the streets of Pittsburgh (picnic is $15). On Saturday and Sunday, the cars head for the BeaverRun MotorSports Complex in Beaver Falls for races from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $12; 12 and under free. Go to www.pittsburghvintagegrandprix.com for more details.

It's just one big polka party around here in the summer, isn't it? Last week, Polka Fireworks. This week, Slovenefest, three days of food, music and culture of Slovenia at the SNPJ Recreation Center in Enon Valley. Visitors can enjoy all the polka and waltzes they can stand, along with retreats into the woods around the lake for a getaway hike. The Slovenefest lineup includes the Dick Tady Orchestra, the Jack Tady Orchestra, the Karl Lukitsch Orchestra, the Frank Stanger Orchestra and, getting creative with the name, the Frank Ziwich Sound Machine. Hours are noon to midnight Friday and Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 to $9; $23 for the three-day pass. For details and directions, go to www.snpjrec.com.

It doesn't have to be February to party in Punxsutawney. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Festival runs through Saturday with games and things for kids and a music lineup that includes Rick K and the Allnighters (7:30 and 9 tonight), Tom Watt/The Buffett Man (7 p.m. Friday) and Danny and the Juniors (7:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday). More details can be had by calling 1-800-752-PHIL or going to www.punxsutawneyphil.com.

FRIDAY

You get a quartet of superheroes for the price of one in "The Fantastic Four," the big-screen edition of the beloved Marvel comic series, just opening in theaters.

Shannon McNally, best known for the Triple A radio hit "Now That I Know," just issued "Geronimo," a rootsy follow-up to her debut record, "Jukebox Sparrows." She brings those new songs to Club Cafe at 7 p.m. with Tracy Bonham. Tickets are $12. 412-323-1919.

For something a bit more brassy, the River City Brass Band plays a free show at South Park at 8:15 p.m.

For a local rock flavor, Good Brother Earl and Kelsey Friday and the Rest of the Week Band play the Station Square Street Jam, in front of the Hard Rock Cafe, at 6:45 p.m.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Didn't get enough fireworks? Head for Downtown New Castle, site of the Fireworks Capital of America Fireworks Festival. On Friday, there is a Fireworks 5K at 7 p.m. and music by Last Call. On Saturday, there will be rides, games, arts and crafts projects for kids beginning at 1 p.m., plus a classic car display, dance performances, a brass band, an Idol competition and more Of course, fireworks both nights at 10:30 p.m. Go to www.VisitLawrenceCounty.com.

SATURDAY

If you're down and troubled -- or even if you're up and happy -- you've got a friend in James Taylor, who brings his soothing songs and gentle phrasing to the Post-Gazette Pavilion at 8 p.m. If you're watching him and wondering, "Does James Taylor like me?," the answer is yes. He told the PG recently: "I think basically what I would say is that I like my audience, you know? And I've come to realize over time that that's a rare and a positive thing, to like the people who come to your shows. Because some acts don't. Some acts don't want to see 'em; they just want to be shut out of it and get out of there. But my experience has generally been that they're just like me. And it makes me feel good to meet some of them occasionally." Tickets are $39.50 to $69.50. 412-323-1919.

Taylor has stood tall in front of the Pittsburgh Symphony, but on this night the PSO is playing a different kind of folk -- the Irish kind. The PSO welcomes Ireland's premiere musical ambassadors -- not U2, but The Chieftains -- to Heinz Hall for an 8 p.m. show. The program will include selections from The Chieftains' recent album, "Live In Dublin -- A Tribute to Derek Bell," honoring the group's long standing harpist and keyboardist, who died after recording the group's 2002 Grammy-nominated album, "Down The Old Plank Road." The Chieftains -- Paddy Moloney (Uilleann pipes, tin whistle), Matt Molloy (flute), Sean Keane (fiddle) and Kevin Conneff (bodhran, vocals) -- will be joined by Irish harpist Triona Marshall, singer-guitarist Clem O'Brien and the young Canadian acrobatic dancing team of brothers Jon and Nathan Pilatzke, along with Cara Butler and Donny Golden. Tickets are $29.50 to $90. Call 412-392-4900.

The news from the front wasn't good for Gen. Edward Braddock on this day 250 years ago. He marched 2,000 British and colonial troops across 110 miles of frontier, only to be surprised by the French and the Indians, who served them with one of the worst defeats in British history. The Battle of the Monongahela is commemorated with a scholarly symposium from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Carnegie Library in Braddock. Speakers include Paul E. Kopperman (author of "Braddock of the Monongahela"), Martin West (director of Fort Ligonier), Burt Kummerow (president of Historyworks, Inc.) and Walter Powell (scholar and president of Braddock's Road Preservation Association). From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be an exhibit in the library with approximately 250 artifacts and 45 paintings and manuscripts. And from noon to 5 p.m., there will be re-enactors representing both sides at four sites in Braddock, including the main battlefield, just two blocks from the library. It's free. Call 412-351-5357.

Eric Mintel, a pianist inspired by Dave Brubeck, has performed at the White House and Kennedy Center. His next gig is Boyce Park Ski Slopes for the Monroeville Jazz Festival, where he brings his quartet on a bill with the Carnegie Mellon Jazz Group and Donna Bailey, a Pittsburgh singer who cites Sarah Vaughn, Julie London and Ella Fitzgerald as influences. It runs from 6 to 10 p.m., and it's free. Call 412-372-4332.

Wanda Jackson, the First Lady of Rockabilly and Elvis' former squeeze, heats up Club Cafe at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $22. 412-323-1919.

The summertime blues hit McKeesport Riverfront Park with music by Springhill (7 p.m.), the Mystic Knights (7:30 p.m.) and Jill West and the Blues Attack (9:30 p.m.). It's free.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

United States Air Force Thunderbirds show off their military might, without the bombs, at Wings Over Pittsburgh 2005, the annual air show at the 911th Airlift Wing, Route 60, Moon. It takes off both days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features the Thunderbirds, along with F-18 Tactical Demonstration, F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team, USSOCOM Parachute Team, T-6 East Coast Demonstration Team and much more. Admission and parking are free. For details, go to www.wingsoverpittsburgh.com or call 412-474-8501.

SUNDAY

Any chance that Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire will run out of hits? None. Together, they have more than 50 Top 40 hits, 35 of those coming from the jazzy white boys from the Windy City. They first teamed up together last year, and the chemistry was obviously right for another summer run. Expect three hours of music, with separate sets and two jam sessions. If you can't make the show -- or even if you can -- check them out on the recently released DVD, "Live at the Greek Theatre." The Post-Gazette Pavilion show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $23.50 to $75. 412-323-1919.

Cedric the Entertainer, recently seen driving the bus in "The Honeymooners," steps off the big screen and onto the Heinz Hall stage for an evening of stand-up comedy at 7:30 p.m.

Koko Taylor, the Queen of Chicago Blues, brings The Blues Machine and a little "Wang Dang Doodle" to Hartwood Acres for a free show at 8 p.m.

First Published: July 7, 2005, 4:00 a.m.