WYEP’s Summer Music Festival takes place on June 21 featuring Sammy Rae & The Friends, DEHD, Fantastic Cat, Jack Swing, and Colatura.
Our signature outdoor concert returns for its 26th installment. The day is fun for the whole family — so pack a picnic basket, grab those blankets and lawn chairs, and meet us on the lawn at Schenley Plaza for a day full of free live music starting at 4 p.m. There will be free rides on the PNC Carousel until 9 p.m. The festival will be taking place rain or shine.
Our Performers
Sammy Rae & The Friends
For as much as Sammy Rae & The Friends may be a band, this collective of dreamers and artists considers themselves a family first. That all-for-one and one-for-all camaraderie ignites their unforgettable and can’t-miss live shows, which serve as a catharsis for both the musicians and their fervent audience. Fronted by singer/songwriter Sammy Rae, and honed through years of touring, the group is capable of flourishing in any spotlight thanks to its signature blend of palpable chemistry, deft virtuosity, and vocal fireworks. More info here.
Dehd
After hitting a stride with their 2020 breakout record Flower of Devotion, followed by their radiant Fat Possum debut Blue Skies in 2022, Dehd hit the road with a van full of recording equipment. They headed to the off-grid Earthship of bass guitarist and vocalist, Emily Kempf in New Mexico where they chopped wood to keep warm and worked for as long as the solar panels held a charge. They then traveled north to a borrowed cabin surrounded by the chilly waters of the Puget Sound, where the hours were marked only by the movement of the tide.
On the way back to Chicago for their final writing session at the warehouse they’ve called home for over a decade, Balla (guitar, vocals) and McGrady (drums) became stranded for days in rural Montana after hitting a deer and abandoning their van. This tireless sense of adventure, both internal and external, has become a trademark of Dehd over the years. “Eating, sleeping, breathing — our only purpose was to write,” Kempf recalled. And it seems in this place of quiet focus Dehd have achieved their most honest and vulnerable writing yet.
Fantastic Cat
Hailed by Rolling Stone as "the-supergroup-you-need-to-know," Fantastic Cat released their irrefutably titled debut, "The Very Best Of Fantastic Cat," to widespread acclaim in 2022. The collection earned the vocal-trading, instrument-swapping collective their national TV debut, sold out headline dates around the US and Europe, a performance at the Sundance Film Festival, and a song in the Paramount+ series "Tulsa King." In 2023, the velvet-suited four-piece teamed up with all-star producer Butch Walker for a 50th anniversary take on “Band On The Run,” which prompted Paul McCartney (Wings, The Beatles) to question his entire life's work. More info here.
Jack Swing
Jack Swing is a rock band born and bred in Pittsburgh, Pa. The band combines a multitude of styles to create a sound unique to Jack Swing. With inspirations spanning from rock, soul, funk, indie, and psych rock the band has cultivated a powerful and once-in-a-generation experience that will stand the test of time. The band consists of core members Isaiah Ross (Vox, guitar, bass), Rowdy Kanarek (Vox guitar, bass), and Alex Nelson (drums). More info here.
Colatura
Colatura crafts a sound that is sometimes dreamy, sometimes heavy, with fuzzy guitars, catchy melodies, and emotionally charged storytelling. A staple of the Brooklyn music scene, the band relocated to Pittsburgh in 2024 and splits time between the two cities. Their music has earned praise from outlets such as Brooklyn Vegan, Under The Radar, Consequence, Austin Town Hall, and Atwood, and has been featured on Spotify’s All New Rock playlist and as the cover of Pandora’s AMP: Fresh Cuts station. More info here.
Thanks to the generous sponsors of WYEP's Summer Music Festival:
FAQ
Where is the 2025 WYEP Summer Music Festival?
Since 2008, Schenley Plaza, a green oasis in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, has been the home of The WYEP Summer Music Festival. It is located at 4100 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260.
When is the 2025 WYEP Summer Music Festival?
Our one-day music festival takes place on June 21, 2025. The music starts at 4 p.m. Here is the approximate start time for each performer:
4:00 - Colatura
5:15 - Jack Swing
6:35 - Fantastic Cat
7:55 - Dehd
9:15 - Sammy Rae & The Friends
Is this festival free?
Yes, it’s free and open to the public!
Where do I park my car?
There is limited metered parking on streets near Schenley Plaza as well as street parking in nearby Schenley Park. There is paid parking in the lot behind the Carnegie Museums/Library and the underground garage near Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall.
I’m riding my bike to the festival. Will there be a place to park it?
Yes! Our friends at BikePGH will be returning this year to operate the FREE Bike Valet. It will be open from 3 p.m. to 30 minutes after Sammy Rae & The Friends’ performance, and it will be located across Schenley Drive Extension and right behind Dippy the Dinosaur. Locks aren’t required because the bike valet will be staffed by BikePGH.
https://www.wyep.org/wyeps-live-music-fund
A blanket, lawn chairs, water, and good vibes. Sunscreen is recommended, as there is limited shade on Schenley Plaza's Emerald Lawn.
Where can I find the bathrooms?
In addition to the permanent facilities in the park, we will have accessible port-a-johns and hand-washing stations for your convenience.
Will there be food available?
The Porch at Schenley offers seated dining and takeout is available through kiosks featuring Asia Tea House, K Station, and Omar's Halal Grill. More info and menus available here.
Support The Festival
You listen to WYEP to discover new music, hear old favorites, and learn about upcoming concerts and events in Pittsburgh. And all of it — every note, every performance, every program — is made possible by and dependent on the contributions of generous independent music fans in our community – our members! Support from our members is crucial in bringing you events like the WYEP Summer Music Festival and keeping them free for all to enjoy.
Be part of our eclectic community of music lovers; become a WYEP member today. Your support will help to keep the music playing, the programs you love on-air, and the concerts coming. Support The WYEP Summer Music Festival Today!
If your business would like to support WYEP and the 2025 WYEP Summer Music Festival: Become a Sponsor of WYEP!