The Pittsburgh concert scene is heating up in April, with at least 10 sold-out shows already.
The calendar includes one of the biggest current stars in classical music, a rising pop music star and one of country’s biggest names. Here’s a look at the most notable concerts slated for the area in April:
Top shows
April 4: Andrea Bocelli with the Pittsburgh Opera at PPG Paints Arena
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will start his North American spring tour in Pittsburgh. He’ll be joined by his 12-year-old daughter, Virginia, with whom he recorded a new single, “Dare To Be,” for the movie “Cabrini.”
“Music has always been my therapy, a way to give lightness to life — I believe it has true therapeutic powers,” he said. “Art is a gift from the heavens capable of lifting the spirit and propagating the good in this world. Good music can educate us, express peace and brotherhood, and open our hearts and minds.”
Read more: Andrea Bocelli interview: Famed Italian tenor on singing with his children, performing and faith
April 5: Chappell Roan at Stage AE
Fresh off a run opening on Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts world tour, Chappell Roan will head to Pittsburgh for a sold-out show at Stage AE.
Roan is riding high off the success of her album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess,” including a Tiny Desk Concert with NPR. The drag-inspired pop star — called the “queer pop icon of tomorrow” by the Associated Press — has just started work on a new album.
“I’m just not going to put pressure on myself to try to match that energy, because that’s where you get in a trap where you’re like, ‘How do I recreate this?’” she told Rolling Stone. “You have to write 80 bad songs and then you can get 15 good ones.”
Read more: Chappell Roan’s campy, glittery music is the future of pop
April 27: Tim McGraw, Carly Pearce, Abby Anderson at PPG Paints Arena
Country music superstar Tim McGraw’s Standing Room Only tour will hit Pittsburgh at the end of the month.
McGraw, with three Grammys and 25 No. 1 singles, is touring in support of his latest album, “Standing Room Only,” which released in September.
“Throughout my career, my records have gravitated toward those kinds of songs. Stories about life. We all fail,” he told USA Today last year. “We all have our terrible moments. And we’re going to have moments and we’re going to do the wrong thing, say the wrong thing, be politically incorrect from time to time. But all you can do is get up the next morning and try to do the next best thing. I’m always looking for songs that are life-affirming because they’re therapeutic to me and remind me of how much of a better person I need to be.”
Read more: Tim McGraw is firm in his beliefs and love of his family: ‘I stand for what I stand for’
Sold out shows
April 2: The Driver Era, Vale at Roxian Theatre
The Driver Era, an alt pop band consisting of actor Ross Lynch (“Austin & Ally”) and his brother brothers Ross, released a new song, “Get Off My Phone,” earlier this year.
April 7: Buddy Guy, King Solomon Hicks at the Palace Theatre
Blues legend Buddy Guy, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is saying goodbye to extensive touring with his Damn Right Farewell tour.
April 7: Five For Fighting with String Quartet at City Winery Pittsburgh
John Ondrasik — the singer known as Five For Fighting — gained fame with his song “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” and has been releasing songs that tackle geopolitical issues, like “OK,” which addressed Hamas’ attack on Israel in October.
April 8: Mannequin Pussy, Soul Glo at Thunderbird Music Hall
Mannequin Pussy, a punk band out of Philadelphia, are touring in support of their “I Got Heaven” album, which just dropped on March 1.
April 12: Suzanne Vega at City Winery Pittsburgh
Folk-tinged singer Suzanne Vega rose to fame in the late 1980s with “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner.”
April 20: Benjamin Tod & Lost Dog Street Band, Resonant Rogues at Thunderbird Music Hall
The Tennessee alt-country band has a new album, “Survived,” that will release on April 26 and includes the single, “Brighter Shade.”
April 21: Carbon Leaf at City Winery Pittsburgh
The indie-folk rockers out of Virginia, with a history spanning more than 30 years, have a new album reportedly set for release later this year.
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April 28: Toto at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
The classic rockers known for “Africa” and “Rosanna” are celebrating their 50th anniversary with their “Dogz of Oz” tour.
April 29: Bonnie Raitt at Heinz Hall
With a show postponed from May 2023, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer most recently released “Just Like That…” in 2022, with the title track winning a Grammy last year.
Other notable shows
April 2: Daisy the Great at Preserving Underground
April 3: Bayside, Finch, Armor for Sleep, Winona Fighter at Roxian Theatre
April 4: Girlschool, Lillian Axe, Alcatrazz at Mr. Smalls Theatre
April 5: John Oates at the Palace Theatre
April 8: Artillery, Vapor at Preserving Underground
April 9: Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign Vultures 1 and 2 Listening Experience at PPG Paints Arena
April 9: The Brook & the Bluff, Hotel Fiction, The Roof at Roxian Theatre
April 9: Melvin Seals & JGB with John Kadlecik at Thunderbird Music Hall
April 11: Matthew Sweet at City Winery Pittsburgh
April 13: Real Estate, Marina Allen at Mr. Smalls Theatre
April 13: Little Anthony and the Music, The Lettermen, The Duprees, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, Jimmie Ross & the Jaggerz at Benedum Center
April 16: Saint Motel, Steinza at Roxian Theatre
April 16: Shawn Colvin, KT Tunstall at Byham Theater
April 17: The Skatalites at Jergel’s
April 19: Dylan Scott at Stage AE
April 24: Queensryche, Armored Saint at Roxian Theatre
April 26: Hippie Sabotage, Daisy Guttridge, Kembe X at Stage AE
Apri 26: Mya at August Wilson Cultural Center
April 27: BoyWithUke, hey, nothing at Stage AE
April 29: Todd Rundgren at Roxian Theatre
Mike Palm is a TribLive digital producer who also writes music reviews and features. A Westmoreland County native, he joined the Trib in 2001, where he spent years on the sports copy desk, including serving as night sports editor. He has been with the multimedia staff since 2013. He can be reached at mpalm@triblive.com.