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Listen Now to WYEP’s Pittsburgh Performance Project audio profile of Shadow Lounge


Shadow Lounge   www.shadowlounge.net


Shadow Lounge Couches
Concertgoers relax at the Shadow Lounge.
Image courtesy Laura Petrilla / Nakturnal

"Some of the most interesting moments are probably the deadest and the loneliest moments, you’re sitting here by yourself, trying to stay awake, falling asleep on the couch, no one’s coming in ... But you get back on your feet and keep pushing." – Justin Strong, owner, Shadow Lounge

There’s a lot of pressure when it feels as if an entire community hangs their hopes on one business venture.

Shadow Lounge Map

When Shadow Lounge opened in 2000 in East Liberty, expectations for the venue were high but guarded. Once a thriving retail district, East Liberty had fallen victim to “urban renewal” mistakes of the 1960s that snuffed out many businesses. Shadow Lounge was one of the few new upstarts that looked to buck the trend and bring new life to the area.

And it did. Part of the venue’s appeal is the diversity of its offerings: owner Justin Strong has drawn audiences in with a mix of hip hop, jazz, electronic, and spoken word performances, as well as a dozen other genres that suit the venue’s eclectic atmosphere. As new retail (and concerns over gentrification) springs up around Shadow Lounge, the venue remains true to its underdog roots with an unpredictable mix of acts.

Though the path to success hasn’t been easy, Shadow Lounge has survived with surprising tenacity, exhilerating live shows and a fiercely supportive neighboring community.