6 Must-See Artists at Thrival Music Festival

By: Tamar Faber (@Tamar07) –

The Thrival Innovation + Music Festival is coming to Pittsburgh September 25-26, and as Thrival celebrates its third birthday, festivalgoers will take part in the things that has made Thrival stand-out music festival: “innovation-focused programs that feature thought leaders, cutting edge technology, new, ideas, forward thinking approached to 21^st century challenges” and of course, a weekend-long concert showcasing some of the country’s most forward-thinking and cutting edge artists.

Here are some of the artists that can be seen throughout the weekend.

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Kevin Garrett
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Kevin Garrett, although he lives in Brooklyn, is a Pittsburgh native. The 23-year-old singer combines his lyricism with a contemporary feel to his music. Even when he covers blues artists like Sam Cooke, it feels brand new. Jay-Z and others have already taken notice and Garrett has landed a RocNation publishing deal. He has spent the year touring around the United States and his stop at Thrival will definitely be one to see.

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Adia Victoria
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This South Carolina native mixes Blues and Country with a Gothic vibe; it is as if Johnny Cash was casted in The Craft. Her influences range from Lauryn Hill to Nirvana to Hank Williams to the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina and her genre-bending sounds make it clear that she fits in perfectly at Thrival.

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The Commonheart
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Clinton Clegg and his band of Commonhearts will surely make their voice heard this weekend. Not only are they staples in the Pittsburgh music scene, but they also create a unique sound for music lovers. They know exactly who they are and what their sound is. That confidence comes through in their “rock riffs, gritty vocals and screaming organ” which pays homage to the past but remains fresh and exciting.

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Viceroy
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Who says summer is over? Well, don’t look at Viceroy who believes it is “summertime, all the time.” This producer/ DJ embodies the summer and makes listeners feel like we all have convertibles and endless leisure time to drive to the beach.  His “unique brand of lush, tropi-cool house disco” comes in all forms, from remixes of R Kelly’s “Ignition (Remix)” (remixing the remix = mind blown), Ginuwine and Maroon 5 to originals such as “Back at the Start” (1.81 million listens on SoundCloud!). Keep the summer going as long as possible with what is sure to be a great set!

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Tairey
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Another Pittsburgh native on the bill! The rapper, producer and all around lover of art is bringing his talents to the stage in his hometown.  Check him out as he continues to build his brand and get his name out there. With his most recent full-length album Atmos out, we can see he has some great ideas for the future of rap music, mixing rap, electro and rock music. Make sure to get in the know along with Wale and others, who are already looking his way.

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Wale
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Wale is headlining the festival on Friday (September 25). Despite his most recent album being called The Album About Nothing, Wale has a lot to offer, especially live. He can be found sampling Janet Jackson for the dance record “The Girls on Drugs” (sure to be a festival hit) or revealing his insecurities on “The Matrimony,” and, as one of Jerry Seinfeld’s favourite rappers, expect a mix of emotion, lyricism, musicality and stage presence that will definitely engage you.

Thrival Festival is taking place in 6 different neighbourhoods around Pittsbrugh, with the music portion taking place in Hazelwood on September 25 and 26. Tickets on sale here.