Ya Gotta Regatta!

The Delaneys

Chris Pastoirus, the Director of Viral Communications with the 2012 EQT-Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta, dropped us a note to help spread the word about this year's show. The annual happening brings 600,000 visitors to the Point and town to party around the showcase river racing contests. This year, there will be plenty of bands jamming to add to the action.

In celebration of its 35th year, the Regatta will run from June 30th to July 4th. For this anniversary, the event also returns to its old musical roots. They're particularly pumped about tribute acts Abbamania and Beach Party Boys, but have a boatload of local and national bands making music, too.

The shows start Saturday, June 30th, at 4PM on the Point State Park (PSP) lawn when the US Marine Corp Drum and Bugle Corp strut their stuff.

Sunday, July 1st, will feature "Dancing Queen" Abbamania on the PSP Main Stage at 8PM. The opening acts will be country rockers John Kiger and the Kiger Band at 12:45PM followed by local rockers Bishop Clay at 2PM

Monday, July 2nd, will start with rock 'n' roll locals The Delaneys at noon on the PSP Main Stage. Country singer Jamie Bruno will appear at 2:15 PM. The main act will be The Ernie Fields Show Band, an oldies group famous for doing the original "Some Kind of Wonderful," who will begin at 8PM.

On Tuesday, July 3rd, Springsteen tribute band Asbury Fever and Jimmy Buffet tribute gang Parrotbeach will perform at the Rivers Casino Amphitheater at 7PM. For those enamored of the California surf sound, Beach Party Boys will sing at the PSP Main Stage at 8PM. That card will open at noon with country band North of Mason Dixon (NOMaD). Jamie Bruno will be the afternoon show at 2:50PM and then indy rockers Music From Another Room play at 4:30PM.

On Wednesday, July 4th, America will be at the Rivers Casino Amphitheater at 8PM with their "Horse of No Name." Playing opposite them will be the Air National Guard Band at the PSP Main Stage at 8:15PM. Bishop Clay will be the first group at 6PM.

There will also be dance ensembles prancing around, so it will be a great long weekend of contemporary performing arts to go with powerboat displays.

The last bands of the night will be followed by a laser show at 9:30PM, except on the Fourth when the EQT "Flashes of Freedom" Fireworks Fantasia will blast away with the rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air. Admission, as always, is free. Hey, ya gotta regatta!

NOMaD - "American Boy"