Tickets still remain for "Joe Hisaishi Conducts the PSO," September 13 and 14.

Japanese conductor and composter Joe Hisaishi will conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) on September 13 and 14.

Globally renowned award-winning composer, musical director, conductor and pianist, Joe Hisaishi, make his long-awaited debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Hisaishi, who is best known for his epic concert works as well as enchanting film scores, takes to the podium to conduct his own compositions including a new concert version of music from the 2023 Golden-Globe winning Studio Ghibli Film, “The Boy and the Heron,” and the US Premiere of Hisaishi’s work, The End of the World. The PSO will be joined onstage by the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.

The suite The End of the World by Joe Hisaishi was inspired by his visit to New York in the fall of 2007. He began composing the work in 2008. The suite explores the theme of "anxiety and chaos" resulting from the collapse of world order and values caused by the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Joe Hisaishi says : “I am honored to join Pittsburgh Symphony this Fall for the first time. The centre of the concert, my End of the World Suite was written for the people of the USA and I’m excited to make the US premiere of this work in Pittsburgh alongside pieces that reflect on this mood as well as new music which I hope this audience will enjoy”

The performances will be September 13 at 7:30 pm and September 14 at 2:30 pm at Heinz Hall in downtown's Cultural District (map). Tickets are available online.

KPOP CLUB NIGHT with DJ Chen returns to Pittsburgh, October 3.

KPOP CLUB NIGHT with DJ Chen will return to Pittsburgh on October 3.

Come and get it! Get ready for Round 2 in PGH at AVALON SOCIAL!! Join mixmaster DJ CHEN and the world-famous Kpop Club Night crew on October 3rd to sing and dance our hearts out!

This is a 21+ event. 
Doors open 10pm, curfew 2:00 am.
Physical government issued ID required. 
No Refunds. Tickets are transferrable.

Early bird tickets are now available through August 15, with other sales beginning August 16. Avalon Social is a club located at 1601 E. Carson St. in the South Side (map) in what was most recently Foxtail.

KPop Demon Hunters A Sing-Along Event in Pittsburgh, August 23.

The feature-length film KPop Demon Hunters A Sing-Along Event will play in the Pittsburgh area on August 23.

When they aren't selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat. Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet -- an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise.

The 95-minute film plays locally at the Cinemark theater in Monroeville, and tickets are available online.

Pittsburgh Taiko Beginner Workshop, August 10.

Pittsburgh Taiko is offering several beginner workshops this late-summer and fall, the first being Sunday, August 10.

Try taiko drumming with Pittsburgh Taiko!

Pittsburgh Taiko is offering several beginner workshops this fall. They’re designed for people who just want to give taiko a try, or folks who might be interested in joining our performing group. 

No experience is necessary! 

Taiko combines energetic hits with calm focus, balances group unity with individual expression, and requires both power and subtlety.  

Each workshop is a 3-hour introduction to taiko, including some taiko history and culture and focusing on hands-on basics. You’ll learn how to stand, how to hit, and some simple patterns that come together to make a percussion melody.  

Workshops are from 11 am to 2 pm at our studio in Bellevue. The workshops are designed for adults and older kids (high school or older). 

Our studio is a masked space, and unfortunately it is not accessible to folks who can't climb stairs.

Please read the information at pittsburghtaiko.com/classes before registering.

Sessions are $40 for the general public and $30 for JASP members and students. Registration may be completed online. The studio is located at 2 N. Balph Ave., second floor in Bellevue (map).

Concert #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in AMSTERDAM: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh-area theaters, August 9.

The upcoming concert #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in AMSTERDAM: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on August 9.

Starting in Goyang, and continuing through Japan, North America, and Europe, Jin embarks on a journey to connect with his beloved ARMY through his very first solo fan concert tour. Experience Jin’s one-of-a-kind music and performances from his August 9 show in AMSTERDAM - featuring tracks from his second solo album, “Echo”, along with his debut solo album, “Happy” - broadcast live on the big screen!

It plays locally at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson at 1:45 pm and 5:30 pm, and tickets are available online.

Guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto in Pittsburgh, October 3.

Guitarist and composer Hiroya Tsukamoto will perform at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh on October 3.

Hiroya Tsukamoto (https://hiroyatsukamoto.com/) is a one-of-a-kind composer, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Kyoto, Japan. He began playing the five-string banjo when he was thirteen, and took up the guitar shortly after.

In 2000, Hiroya received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and came to the United States. He formed his own group in Boston “INTEROCEANICO (inter-oceanic)” which consists of unique musicians from different continents including Latin Grammy Colombian singer Marta Gomez. The group released three acclaimed records (“The Other Side of the World”, “Confluencia” and “Where the River Shines”). Hiroya has released five solo albums.

Hiroya has been leading concerts internationally including several appearances at Blue Note(NYC), United Nations and Japanese National Television(NHK). Hiroya is a two time 2nd place winner of International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2018 and 2022.

“…chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!” -Jazz Review.com

“The fingerpicking is delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed” -Acoustic Guitar Magazine

More detail will be available at uusongspace.com as the date nears.

Ticket information will follow. The First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh is located at 605 Morewood Ave. in Shadyside (map).

BTS ARMY: Forever We Are Young in Pittsburgh-area theaters, from July 30.

The 2025 documentary BTS ARMY: Forever We Are Young, following fans of Korean group BTS, will play in the Pittsburgh area from July 30.

From Seoul to Los Angeles, Texas to Mexico City, BTS ARMY is everywhere. FOREVER WE ARE YOUNG dives into the passionate fandom that catapulted 21st century pop icons BTS into a global household name. We meet fans at a BTS-focused ReactorCon in Lewisville, Texas, a dance instructor in Seoul who only teaches BTS choreography, and fans who’ve been organizing since 2013 to help BTS dominate the charts. Defying stereotypes of pop fans as screaming teen girls, ARMY is an intergenerational, culturally savvy, and socially active movement that is as diverse as the world itself. The film captures the powerful spirit of activism and collectivity that make ARMY a symbol of hope and unity in our ever-fractured world.

It is scheduled to play locally at the Cinemark theaers in McCandless and Monaca and tickets are available online.

Concert #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in AMSTERDAM: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh-area theaters, August 9.

The upcoming concert #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in AMSTERDAM: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on August 9.

Starting in Goyang, and continuing through Japan, North America, and Europe, Jin embarks on a journey to connect with his beloved ARMY through his very first solo fan concert tour. Experience Jin’s one-of-a-kind music and performances from his August 9 show in AMSTERDAM - featuring tracks from his second solo album, “Echo”, along with his debut solo album, “Happy” - broadcast live on the big screen!

It plays locally at the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and McCandless at 1:45 pm and 5:30 pm, and tickets are available online.

Jay Som performing in Pittsburgh, December 12.

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jay Som will perform in Pittsburgh on December 12.

WHERE, YOU ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY ASKING, HAS JAY SOM BEEN? …six years ago, in 2019, Melina Duterte released Anak Ko, the expansive third album from the project that had quickly grown far beyond its so-called bedroom pop origins into something resembling an actual band. But when a shuttered touring industry scrapped Jay Som’s ambitious 2020 plans, Duterte realized she had long needed a reset from the road after several years of constant pivots between touring and writing. She decided to splurge on herself and her lifelong interest in recording, funneling her government stimulus check into a piece of dream gear—a vintage Neve console. She committed herself to manuals and online tutorials. Five years later, a Grammy for her work on The Record by boygenius, the band she subsequently joined as a touring member. Yes, Jay Som itself has been on a bit of a break; Duterte, however, has perhaps been busier than ever.

When Duterte reckoned the time had come to revisit Jay Som, she did not pretend to be hidebound by the project’s past. Instead, she let the half-decade of life she’d lived and work she’d done since releasing Anak Ko filter not only into her songs but also her process. But she also opened up her music to herself and her memories, writing songs that revisited the sounds of her youth with the benefit of her experiences as a musician, producer, and performer. She was neither shy about her influences nor limited about where they might lead her. And so no previous Jay Som album sounds quite like the new Belong, a gripping 11-song set about self-definition and, well, belonging, that floats between supercharged power-pop hits and hazy ballads, between electronic curiosities and lighters-up anthems. It is a map of the first 31 years of Duterte’s life, all leading to the present that is Belong.

Jay Som will perform at Spirit Lounge, 242 51st St in Lawrenceville (map). TIckets for the 21+ show are now available online.

BTS ARMY: Forever We Are Young in Pittsburgh-area theaters, from July 30.

The 2025 documentary BTS ARMY: Forever We Are Young, following fans of Korean group BTS, will play in the Pittsburgh area from July 30.

From Seoul to Los Angeles, Texas to Mexico City, BTS ARMY is everywhere. FOREVER WE ARE YOUNG dives into the passionate fandom that catapulted 21st century pop icons BTS into a global household name. We meet fans at a BTS-focused ReactorCon in Lewisville, Texas, a dance instructor in Seoul who only teaches BTS choreography, and fans who’ve been organizing since 2013 to help BTS dominate the charts. Defying stereotypes of pop fans as screaming teen girls, ARMY is an intergenerational, culturally savvy, and socially active movement that is as diverse as the world itself. The film captures the powerful spirit of activism and collectivity that make ARMY a symbol of hope and unity in our ever-fractured world.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theaers in McCandless and Monaca and tickets are available online.

Shai FM, Lexcd, DJ Furniture Present: Reconstructed, July 17 at Carnegie Museum of Art.

Shai FM, Lexcd, DJ Furniture Present: Reconstructed on July 17 at the Carnegie Museum of Art, part of the museum's summer Inside Out series.

An evening of playful experimentation in dance music, featuring three artists working to build meaning in the post-genre labyrinths of modern dance music. They will explore bridges between techno, bass music, club music, and unclassifiable sound.

Eats and drinks: Hibachi Lou and Café Carnegie Treats

The event starts at 5:00 pm and is free in the Sculpture Court, though museum admission is not included. The Carnegie Museum of Art is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland (map), accessible by a number of city buses.

Powerful Youth (POW) concert in Pittsburgh, and concerts all throughout North America, cancelled due to visa process and unforeseen complications.

Due to visa and travel complications stemming from Donald Trump's government, promotors have cancelled Powerful Youth's US tour this summer, which included a stop in Pittsburgh on August 20. A post on social media today: 

To all fans and supporters,

We are heartbroken to announce that the upcoming POW tour set to take place this summer 2025 will no longer be moving forward.

Due to unforeseen complications & delays in the visa process, the POW tour must be canceled. We are very disappointed and will work hard to reschedule once the issue has been resolved. 

Countless hours of planning and excitement have gone into making this tour a reality. We know fans across North America were really looking forward to seeing POW perform live for the first time.

We're honored to have helped bring this tour to life, and it's devastating to see it be put on hold. 

Please know the decision to cancel this tour was not taken lightly. Every possible route has been explored with hopes of saving the tour, but ultimately the timing and circumstances made it impossible.

All tickets purchased will be fully refunded.

We remain committed to working with the POW team to bring them to North America in the future once all travel matters are resolved.

We appreciate your understanding, your support, and we look forward to sharing better news in the future.

Additional date for concert film Ado SPECIAL LIVE "Shinzou" in Cinemas, in Pittsburgh, May 28 and May 31.

The Ado concert film SPECIAL LIVE "Shinzou" in Cinemas will play in Pittsburgh on May 28 and May 31, the latter a newly-added date.

In 2020, on the eve of her 18th birthday, Ado sent shockwaves through the music industry with the release of her debut song "Usseewa," a record-breaking hit that cemented her reputation as a revolutionary artist. She continued her rise with chart-topping tracks such as "Gira Gira" and "Odo." In 2022, she was chosen to perform a total of seven songs including the theme song for the renowned anime film "ONE PIECE FILM RED," further solidifying her status as a top-tier artist. Beyond anime, she has contributed theme songs to various films and TV dramas and in 2023, her song "Show" marked a two-year consecutive collaboration with Universal Studios Japan, proving her unwavering popularity. Ado has also actively pursued live performances, achieving a national arena tour in just two years with shows such as "Kigeki," "Campanella," "Shinkirou," "Mars," "Shinzou," and "Profile of Mona Lisa." Her success has extended beyond Japan, captivating audiences worldwide with her first-ever global tour, "Wish." Now, in celebration of her second world tour "Hibana," which marks the largest-scale global tour by a Japanese artist, the legendary solo live concert "Ado SPECIAL LIVE 2024 'Shinzou,'" which drew 140,000 attendees over two days and left audiences in awe, is set to hit select theaters as a theatrical release: "Ado SPECIAL LIVE 'Shinzou' in Cinema"! For the first time, a recording of Ado's solo live performance will be screened in theaters. The audio has been remastered for cinematic release, bringing a newly enhanced "Shinzou" to the big screen!

This concert film will not only be released in Japan but will also have a global theatrical release, bringing "Shinzou" to fans around the world who have been eagerly awaiting the "Hibana" tour! The concert's immersive atmosphere will be recreated through a large-scale cinematic experience with 5.1ch surround sound, while the Dolby Atmos® edition will provide an unparalleled, deeply immersive audio experience. Experience this 140-minute spectacle of world-class performances in the ultimate audiovisual environment.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh, May 31 and June 1.

The concert film j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh on May 31 and June 1.

Following its February kickoff in Seoul and spanning across North America and Asia, j-hope’s first solo world tour has captivated audiences with 31 concerts in 15 regions. Now, the grand finale of ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ will be broadcast live in cinemas worldwide! Witness the powerful moment of j-hope sharing his hopes, wishes, and dreams with audiences through his debut solo tour. Don’t miss this long-awaited opportunity to see ‘j-hope on stage’! Experience his electrifying performances, including title tracks from his solo albums - MORE,’ ‘Arson,’ and ‘NEURON (with Gaeko, yoonmirae)’ - as well as recent releases unveiled during the tour like ‘Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)’ and ‘MONA LISA’! Broadcast live exclusively in cinemas worldwide - experience j-hope’s inspiring solo performances on the big screen.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theater in Robinson and tickets are available online.

Korean boy band POW in Pittsburgh area, August 20.

The Korean boy band POW (파우) is scheduled to perform in the Pittsburgh area on August 20. Tickets for the show at The Oaks Theater in Oakmont will go on sale May 30.

Pittsburgh! K-pop boy group POW are coming on their debut tour 2025 POW TOUR: POWERFUL YOUTH IN NORTH AMERICA! See them live this summer at The Oaks Theater! 

POW (파우) is a 5 member boy group consisting of Jungbin, Yorch, Hyunbin, Dongyeon, and Hong.

Tickets for 2025 POW TOUR: POWERFUL YOUTH IN NORTH AMERICA will go on sale Friday May 30 at 10:00AM CST.

General Admission: $50 - This is a first come first serve ticket to see POW on their debut tour.



Concert film Ado SPECIAL LIVE "Shinzou" in Cinemas in Pittsburgh, May 28.

The Ado concert film SPECIAL LIVE "Shinzou" in Cinemas will play in Pittsburgh on May 28.

In 2020, on the eve of her 18th birthday, Ado sent shockwaves through the music industry with the release of her debut song "Usseewa," a record-breaking hit that cemented her reputation as a revolutionary artist. She continued her rise with chart-topping tracks such as "Gira Gira" and "Odo." In 2022, she was chosen to perform a total of seven songs including the theme song for the renowned anime film "ONE PIECE FILM RED," further solidifying her status as a top-tier artist. Beyond anime, she has contributed theme songs to various films and TV dramas and in 2023, her song "Show" marked a two-year consecutive collaboration with Universal Studios Japan, proving her unwavering popularity. Ado has also actively pursued live performances, achieving a national arena tour in just two years with shows such as "Kigeki," "Campanella," "Shinkirou," "Mars," "Shinzou," and "Profile of Mona Lisa." Her success has extended beyond Japan, captivating audiences worldwide with her first-ever global tour, "Wish." Now, in celebration of her second world tour "Hibana," which marks the largest-scale global tour by a Japanese artist, the legendary solo live concert "Ado SPECIAL LIVE 2024 'Shinzou,'" which drew 140,000 attendees over two days and left audiences in awe, is set to hit select theaters as a theatrical release: "Ado SPECIAL LIVE 'Shinzou' in Cinema"! For the first time, a recording of Ado's solo live performance will be screened in theaters. The audio has been remastered for cinematic release, bringing a newly enhanced "Shinzou" to the big screen!

This concert film will not only be released in Japan but will also have a global theatrical release, bringing "Shinzou" to fans around the world who have been eagerly awaiting the "Hibana" tour! The concert's immersive atmosphere will be recreated through a large-scale cinematic experience with 5.1ch surround sound, while the Dolby Atmos® edition will provide an unparalleled, deeply immersive audio experience. Experience this 140-minute spectacle of world-class performances in the ultimate audiovisual environment.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront at 7:00 pm and tickets are available online.

keshi's July 23 show in Pittsburgh cancelled.

Vietnamese-American singer-songwriter keshi's July 23 show at Stage AE has recently been cancelled due to low ticket sales.

There’s a few shows that’ll be coming down (detroit, columbus, pittsburgh, philadelphia, denver, & phoenix) because we weren’t able to sell enough tickets. As much as I wanted to play for y’all we weren’t able to make it happen this time around, but I’ll do my best to come back for you in the future. You’ll be automatically refunded within 30 days.

j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh, May 31.

The concert film j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh on May 31.

Following its February kickoff in Seoul and spanning across North America and Asia, j-hope’s first solo world tour has captivated audiences with 31 concerts in 15 regions. Now, the grand finale of ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ will be broadcast live in cinemas worldwide! Witness the powerful moment of j-hope sharing his hopes, wishes, and dreams with audiences through his debut solo tour. Don’t miss this long-awaited opportunity to see ‘j-hope on stage’! Experience his electrifying performances, including title tracks from his solo albums - MORE,’ ‘Arson,’ and ‘NEURON (with Gaeko, yoonmirae)’ - as well as recent releases unveiled during the tour like ‘Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)’ and ‘MONA LISA’! Broadcast live exclusively in cinemas worldwide - experience j-hope’s inspiring solo performances on the big screen.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson, with more theaters likely to be announced later; tickets are not yet available.

Concert film ATEEZ WORLD TOUR [TOWARDS THE LIGHT : WILL TO POWER] IN CINEMAS in Pittsburgh, from May 14.

The concert film ATEEZ WORLD TOUR [TOWARDS THE LIGHT : WILL TO POWER] IN CINEMAS will play in Pittsburgh from May 14 through 18.

Kicking off in Seoul in January 2024, ATEEZ’s monumental world tour, TOWARDS THE LIGHT : WILL TO POWER, ignited Japan, North America, Europe, and beyond with unstoppable energy. Now, its breathtaking opening chapter returns, reborn on the big screen. From powerful performances of signature hits like "WONDERLAND (Symphony No.9 “From The Wonderland”)”, "Crazy Form", "Say My Name", and "Guerrilla" to mesmerizing unit and solo stages showcasing each member’s unique color, ATEEZ’s overwhelming energy takes over SCREENX, 4DX, and ULTRA 4DX where available. The voyage towards the light sets sail once again! ATEEZ WORLD TOUR [TOWARDS THE LIGHT : WILL TO POWER] IN CINEMAS

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

Japanese band Shonen Knife returns to Pittsburgh area, September 28.

Japanese pop punk band Shonen Knife will return to the Pittsburgh area on September 28 when they play Preserving Underground in New Kensington (map) as part of their 2025 US Tour. Tickets for the all-ages show are now available online. Shonen Knife formed in 1981 and have, thankfully, played in Pittsburgh every few years when they tour the country, and were last here in 2019.