Upcoming Events
Some Local Venues that Host Creative Music
Bantha Tea Bar
Roboto Project
The Maple Leaf
Perogi Palace
About This Calendar
This calendar compiles creative music events around Pittsburgh. We list show announcements that happen every other Monday at the Open Improvisation Lab. Always check the more comprehensive Arcane City Calendar (linked on the right)
Want us to list your event? Contact us here.
Mai Khoi and the Dissidents at City of Asylum
Pittsburgh’s resident pop star and powerhouse Mai Khôi is leaving the city and starting her next chapter in Philadelphia—but not without a rockin’ farewell show. The alumna City of Asylum Artist-in-Residence returns with her group, the Dissidents.
Mai Khôi & the Dissidents was originally formed in 2016 with Vietnamese musicians, but the group was forced to disband due to government pressure. Khôi herself fled to the US in 2019, where she has lived in exile ever since. In 2021, she re-formed Mai Khôi & the Dissidents with American musicians, alongside pianist and composer Mark Micchelli. The new band features prominent members of Pittsburgh’s jazz, experimental music, and activist communities. For this performance, Mark and Khôi have composed and arranged a powerful style of music that reflects the turmoil of the world and the hope that continues to shine.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see Mai and Mark in their farewell show and give them a warm sendoff!
Featured Musicians:
Mai Khôi: vocals
Jeff Siegfried: saxophone
Mark Micchelli: keyboards
Eli Namay: bass
PJ Roduta: drums
About the Artist:
Award-winning singer, composer, and activist Mai Khôi rose to stardom in 2010 after winning the Vietnam Television Song and Album of the Year awards. As a pop star, Khôi released seven albums in genres of Vietnamese pop and dance, and performed on national television. In 2016, her conscience was stirred after witnessing protests around the Formosa Ha Tin Steel discharge of chemical waste off the coast. Protestors were in the streets demanding transparency from the government. Instead they were subjected to mass arrests and police violence, which Khôi saw with her own eyes. After this, growing uncomfortable submitting her work to government censors but finding community with a small group of activists, Khôi nominated herself to run in the National Assembly elections on a pro-democracy platform. But her activism came at a high price: she had her concerts raided, was evicted from multiple residences, and was detained and interrogated by the police. In recognition of her work at the intersection of art and activism, Khôi was awarded the 2018 Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent and the 2022 Four Freedoms Award for Freedom of Speech. Khôi has continued her activism, finding that music and performance give her the courage to continue speaking out. She was also a City of Asylum Artist-in-Residence from 2020 to 2022.
About Your Visit:
The in-house restaurant, Cucina Alfabeto, is open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Please visit OpenTable or call 412-435-1111 to make a reservation.
Reiki + Drone (First Light Reiki, and How Things Are) Session One
You're invited to join us for a sensory experience of Reiki and drone music. First Light Reiki's Lauren/Lo Nakamura @firstlightreiki and the duo How Things Are Navushouse to present an afternoon of healing, tranquil contemplation, and heady sound.
There are two sessions: 3:30 and 5pm. You may attend both. We ask for a sliding scale donation of $10-20 for one session or $20-40 for both sessions.
To reserve your spot, please send your donation to @firstlightreiki on Venmo — include your email address and time(s) you’re planning on attending. If you do not have Venmo, message lauren.firstlight@gmail.com to reserve your spot; we will accept cash at the event.
Looking forward to seeing you!
Reiki + Drone (First Light Reiki, and How Things Are) Session Two
You're invited to join us for a sensory experience of Reiki and drone music. First Light Reiki's Lauren/Lo Nakamura @firstlightreiki and the duo How Things Are Navushouse to present an afternoon of healing, tranquil contemplation, and heady sound.
There are two sessions: 3:30 and 5pm. You may attend both. We ask for a sliding scale donation of $10-20 for one session or $20-40 for both sessions.
To reserve your spot, please send your donation to @firstlightreiki on Venmo — include your email address and time(s) you’re planning on attending. If you do not have Venmo, message lauren.firstlight@gmail.com to reserve your spot; we will accept cash at the event.
Looking forward to seeing you!
First Friday Open Improvisation ft. Jason, Eli, Khoi, Mark
Come make noise with us on First Friday! We're running an open improvisation jam at Telephone (5120 Penn Ave) on July 3rd, 7pm-10pm.
This time, we'll open up with a performance by beloved local musicians Eli Namay, Jason Washington Jr., Mai Khoi, and Mark Micchelli.
Snacks and drinks will be provided. Feel free to bring an instrument or sound-making apparatus, or just bring yourself or use something we have here. This is a free event, but we'll have a donation jar if you want to help us keep doing things like this.
Essential Pittsburgh: 1970s PFMI
The perfect opportunity to share these films didn't come along, so we had to create it. A 1970s group show is the whirlwind finale of this season of Essential Pittsburgh!
Pittsburgh Filmmakers (PFMI) emerged in 1971 as an equipment share, an exhibition space, a hub, and a school for budding filmmakers. A huge amount of creativity burst forth from PFMI, unleashing a whole new wave of filmmaking in Pittsburgh, and attracting established filmmakers from around the world.
Every film in this show is connected to that scene, and never before shown by us. In under two hours we'll see pieces by:
Tippi Comden • Sally Dixon • Paul Glabicki • Victor Grauer • Roger Jacoby • Dave Lee • Leonard Lies • Janis Crystal Lipzin • Lynn Squilla • Harriet Stein • Dane Todd • Leo Vale • Natalka Voslakov
ESSENTIAL PITTSBURGH: 1970s PFMI is Friday, June 26th at 8:00pm at @theglitterboxtheater. $12 or free for Pittsburgh Sound + Image members! Tickets in bio.
Mohamad Hamad Benefit Show
A benefit fundraiser for Mohamad Hamad
4427 Howley St
Suggested Donation $10-20 NOTAFLOF
Experimental Guitar Night at Bellefield Hall
Wed June 24. 7 pm. All ages welcome. $10 at the door (cash only please). Bellefield Hall Room 205, 315 S Bellefield Ave., Oakland
Drinks (pop, water, tea) available.
You may have been in this room in the past to see experimental music performances, but it's the first time for XGN in Oakland.
And our co-director Erik does double duty tonight with two duos!
Julian Dunn
https://soundcloud.com/jsdunn
Ed Tarzia & Giraws
(guitar and synthesizer duo)
Jason Belcher duo with Erik Cirelli
https://jasonbelcher.bandcamp.com/
David Leicht (of Pairdown & Oregon Trails) duo with Erik Cirelli
https://www.instagram.com/d_leicht_/
https://oregontrails.bandcamp.com/
https://pairdown.bandcamp.com/
Son Rompre Pera, Brassica and the Wild Sprouts
🎶Next Sunday we kick off our free international concert series, Summer Sounds!
🎶¡El próximo domingo arrancamos nuestra serie de conciertos internacionales gratuita, Summer Sounds!
June Headliner: SON ROMPE PERA
Hailing from the outskirts of Mexico City, the Gama brothers shatter preconceived notions of what a marimba-centered band can be, blending deep-rooted family tradition with punk rebellion in a genre all their own: Cumbia Punk.
Artista principal de junio: SON ROMPE PERA
Desde las afueras de la Ciudad de México, los hermanos Gama rompen con todo lo que creías saber sobre una banda centrada en la marimba, fusionando la profunda tradición familiar con la rebeldía punk en un género completamente propio: la Cumbia Punk.
June 21st - Doors at 6pm, Music at 7pm - 4601 Lytle St. PGH 15207
Join us for an evening of dancing, amazing music, food trucks, vendors, breweries, games, and more!
¡Únete a nosotros para una noche de baile, música increíble, food trucks, vendedores, cervecerías, juegos y mucho más!
Free, family friendly, and open to all!
Free street and lot parking available. Hazelwood Green is also accessible by PRT.
We have limited chairs available, so be sure to bring your own chair or blanket.
¡Gratis, apto para toda la familia y abierto a todos!
Hay estacionamiento gratuito en la calle y en lotes cercanos. Hazelwood Green también es accesible mediante el PRT.
Contamos con sillas limitadas, así que asegúrate de traer tu propia silla o manta.
5d
Tough Pill #59
06/18/2026
doors 7:30 / show 8
The Government Center, 715 East St
$10-15 suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds!
Tough Pill is a creative music and performance series held primarily at The Government Center in Pittsburgh. Tough Pill seeks to create space for practitioners while also expanding the scope of the experimental art audience. It's not always this, but it's always good... so always come!
June 18th Lineup:
Patrick Breiner / Vicky Davide / eli namay
(improvised woodwinds & bass set from the Tough Pill organizers)
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Silenus & St. Christopher (tape zones)
IG: @silenus.st.christopher
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Edwin Everhardt (From Pgh Labor Choir and a very cool cultural and linguistic anthropologist: participatory anarchist & labor tunes)
https://edwineverhart.bandcamp.com/
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kenZ, I4A, Jb (vibezzzz)
https://kenz.bandcamp.com/track/tough-pill-33-ft-i4a
IG: ozzy.ozzy.ozzy
7D / The Playful Bunch (PHL) / Vesuvian (PHL) / Tuxis Giant (NYC)
7D / The Playful Bunch (PHL) / Vesuvian (PHL) / Tuxis Giant (NYC)
6/16
7:00PM start til 10:00PM
Skyzone 2 (in the backyard)
Bring cash for the performers
Email errantbookingspgh@gmail.com for more information
Swampwalk / Millie Dread / Haikunika (Spain)
Haikunika - synthpop from the south of Spain (aka Agent Triplex of Operation Re-Information) with special guests Millie Dread and Swampwalk
6/17
7pm
Poetry Lounge, 313 North Ave
21+
Tickets: $12 advance at Jerry’s Records, The Government Center, and Caliban
$12 plus service charge at Humanitix online
$15 at the door
Neighorhood Assembly Meeting
Polish Hill Lawrenceville Millvale South Hills Neighborhood Assembly Meeting at Eleventh Hour Brewing
3711 Charlotte St
AGENDA:
All-Assembly Recap
May Block Party Recap
Assembly-wide updates
website
mutual aid
Sunday Salon
How to meet regularly
Foundation Series #28 - Aaron Perles, Madison Seaver, & Abby Morgan
Foundation Improvised Music Series #28
Aaron Perles, Madison Seaver, & Abby Morgan
7:30p at Bantha Tea Bar 5002 Penn Ave.
Plastic Wildflowers / Bat St. Chip / Some Pepper / Dylan Zeh + Derek Bendel + Eli Weidman + trē
Incurably Optimistic!
6/14
6:30pm start til 10:00pm
$10
Plastic Wildflowers
Bat St. Chip
Some Pepper
Dylan Zeh + Derek Bendel + Eli Weidman + trē
Email errantbookingspgh@gmail.com for more information
Second Saturdays: Business Jazz
The Space Upstairs | SECOND SATURDAYS
doors open 8pm
performances 9pm-11pm
$15
JUNE 13 BUSINESS JAZZ
The music ensemble BUSINESS JAZZ presents an evening of durational musical performances with long-format improvisations by THE PILLOW PROJECT movement artists.
Established in 2007, SECOND SATURDAYS have been the signature jazz-happenings at The Space Upstairs, becoming a beloved staple of the local arts scene. This unique venue is not just a space; it is an immersive cool and separate world, lit by hanging light bulbs, vintage couches, coffee tables, deconstructed instruments, chalked poetry and wall of books to invite spontaneous inquiry, creativity and contemplation. The improvisational postmodern-jazz dance performances by The Pillow Project are captured in vivid splashes of light, as the synergy between sound and movement turns the space into a living canvas of artistic expression.
Ellen Gozion // Wake Robin at Acoustic Music Works
An Evening of Music and Crankies with Ellen Gozion and Wake Robin
Pittsburgh Grindcore Night w/ Morgue Breath, Retorsion, Thlurm Barbaro, Moisty, Mandatory Abortion, Underneath
ASM Booking presents a 7-band grindcore extravaganza at The Mr. Roboto Project featuring touring acts from California, Hungary, and Indiana.
ASM Booking presents Pittsburgh Grindcore Night on June 8th, 2026 at The Mr. Roboto Project in Pittsburgh, PA. Doors open at 5 PM. Seven bands for $15 at the door.
Lineup includes:
- Morgue Breath (on tour from California)
- Retorsion (on tour from Hungary)
- Thlurm Barbaro (on tour from Indiana)
- Moisty
- Mandatory Abortion
- Underneath
A night of heavy grindcore, death metal, and powerviolence with national and international touring acts alongside local Pittsburgh bands. $15 gets you all 7 bands.
Mase / I4A / Eliza Niemi
6/7
doors 7p, show 8
Pierogi Palace
Eliza Niemi + band
I4A
Mase Phillips
Ditto Crush, Frogonbough, Chameleon Treat, Col Modell
Ditto Crush celebrates their "Limon Skyullz" album release at Telephone Bar (5120 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh PA) on June 6th. Doors open at 7:30 PM, music starts at 8 PM. Performers include Ditto Crush, Frogonbough, and Chameleon Treat, plus a reading from Cole Modell. Cover is $10-15. Everyone is welcome.
Tape Loops.
Machines.
Spit.
Electrics.
Poems.
Art.
Growth.
Using lots of tapes and pedals to bring out an ambient and experimental way of thinking.
Think of an aid to help you also create.
Take for a walk. Listen while cooking. Blast while painting
https://dittocrush.bandcamp.com/
Dittocrush (album release), frogonbough, Chameleon Treat, with Cole Modell
Dittocrush (album release for Limon Skyullz), frogonbough, Chameleon Treat, with reading from Cole Modell
6/6
doors 7:30p, music 8
telephone, 5120 Penn Ave
$10-15 everyone welcome
Pallbearer w/ Blood Vulture, Mires
Pallbearer performs Foundations of Burden in full on June 3 at Spirit Hall in Pittsburgh, PA.
With special guests Blood Vulture and Mires
A night of heavy, atmospheric doom metal from one of the genre’s leading bands.
https://pallbearer.bandcamp.com/
Electronic Playground
Pittsburgh Modular presents Electronic Playground — a free evening of live electronic music and hands-on synthesizer exploration at The Pitch on Butler in Pittsburgh, PA. Join fellow electronic music enthusiasts for live performances, modular synthesizer demonstrations, and an open playground environment where attendees can interact with synthesizers and electronic instruments. This is a welcoming, all-ages event for anyone curious about electronic music, sound synthesis, and modular gear. Pittsburgh Modular is a Pittsburgh-based synthesizer company known for their modular synthesis equipment and community events. You can learn more about Pittsburgh Modular at pittsburghmodular.com.
Pipo Romero with Danny Rec and Daryl Shawn
Pipo Romero (guitar blending flamenco, folks, contemporary acoustic sounds) with Danny Rec and Daryl Shawn
6/3
2 showtimes!
7pm with Danny Rec
9pm with Daryl Shawn
$25/30
all ages welcome
tix: AMW, Jerry’s, Caliban, Vinyl Remains, Pleasant Dreams, Government Center (no service charge - cash only) and Humanitix online (minimal service charge)
Zone Farmer / Infant (Detroit) / LexCD
Infant (Detroit) / Zone Farmer / LexCD
5/31
7:00-11:00PM
$10-15 Notaflof
318 Harmar
Please be respectful
Do not park near the venue
Ableton Deep Dive with Steve Knots
Ableton Deep Dive with Steve Knots
Sun May 31, 2026 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM ED
PearlArts Movement and Sound, 818 Braddock Ave, 15104
Register Here Sliding scale $15-27 plus processing fee or show up & pay in cash
Improvise and Create with Ableton Live | Beginner to intermediate | Learn to use session view, tweak effects racks, have tons of fun, and make songs.
Some are Bunnies
Some Are Bunnies / Dull Dirty Danger / Dusty Maroon
Three bands from Pittsburgh's improvised music community will generate a variety of sounds.
Saturday, May 30th at the Pierogie Palace in Friendship
Doors at 7pm, Music at 8pm
$10-$15 suggested donation, NOTAFLOF