Their weekly gig at the Elks Club on Cedar Avenue, which is actually disguised as a rehearsal, often brings in a crowd of more than 100. Shortly before 8 p.m. on a recent Wednesday night, the Elks Lodge 339 in Pittsburghs North Side underwent its weekly rebirth. Frank Rossi was inducted into the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame on May 24, 2001. The only difference is that instead of starting later in the evening (where we'd visit after an hour at Banjo Night), the show is a bit earlier- typically 6:30 to 9 pm.*. Filmed in Pittsburgh: What Will You Recognize in the Mayor of Kingstown? Pittsburgh, for the last 60 years, has been reinventing itself in light of the decline of the steel industry, said John Hepp, a historian and professor at Wilkes University. The Pittsburgh Banjo Club, a Northside tradition welcoming a younger fanbase. Thankfully, nearby brewery Allegheny City swooped in, built a beer garden right on East Ohio Street just around the corner from the taproom, and invited the band to be regulars on most Wednesday nights as well. __ Founded on December 15, 1988, by Frank Rossi, the Pittsburgh Banjo Club is dedicated to keeping the music of the Golden Age of the Banjo alive (1920-1930). In many ways, its a city that encompasses the American story.. I also discovered my new favorite song at the banjo club Yes! We add new reviews on this site weekly! What do you want to do first? Address The completely volunteer based banjo club has been cranking out classic tunes since 1988. The Steel City was forced to seek alternatives and steer away from its reliance on big industry in order to survive. Most just pick it up. and drinking a beer with volunteer waiter and my new friend, Rich. Unfortunately, Park House Tavern closed at the end of 2020 (and as of publishing this article in August 2021, is set to re-open with new owners) which meant Shelf Life String Band needed a new home. There are typically about 20 members who show up each Wednesday, and they play from 8 to 11 p.m. Elks Lodge simply becomes a hubspot for a diverse group of people to enjoy one another and banjo music. Everyone gets along, talking and listening to the fantastic banjo players. For more information and/or reservations, call 412-321-1834. Pittsburgh PA (North Side). The mood is lively and entry at the door is free. The Pittsburgh Banjo Club. Box 101025 The James Street Caf was strictly an older crowd, mostly jazz fans, he added, alluding to where they used to play. The crowd was as diverse as it was eclecticall of them here to see the same Roaring 1920s-style banjo bandand it wasnt long before the generations merged together over drinks and a song. If you think you dont like banjo music, youre wrong, Sartoris says. (Photo/Henry Clay Webster). 2023 World of Discovery Media LLC. On my first visit, the special was chicken parmesan with fries for $7. Looking to go on a brewery crawl? Pittsburgh is a city with nine lives, having experienced more than one rebirth over the past century. Zip Code: 15237 The Pittsburgh Banjo Club operates as a non-profit and has donated over $120,000 to local charities over the past 26 years. Well what about plans for tomorrow? Besides the weekly rehearsals at the Elks Lodge, Azinger jams with men and women at the local retirement home. On Wednesday evenings, The Pittsburgh Banjo Club comes together at the Elks Lodge #339 on Cedar Avenue to practice their iconic four (and sometimes five) stringed instruments. New members are always welcome and banjo lessons are offered. I always tell them to come down here and sit with the kids that have the tattoos and the piercings in their nose, and you get to find out theyre nice kids. PITTSBURGH, PA- APRIL 10: Members of the Pittsburgh Banjo Club play outside of the PNC Park prior to opening day between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 10, 2006 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 271 McKinley St PITTSBURGH PA 15221 Allegheny; Well you still have time to decide Where are you staying? All rights reserved. Are you looking to promote your business or destination? It lacks the pretension other places have, and the beer is cheap, Duzant said, and that her interest in banjo night lies strongly in the atmosphere. Phone: (412) 321-3919 Recently, the group, consisting of 87 members but only ever fielding about 20 for a performance, has seen a new popularity among the younger arts crowd. The PBC is available for banquets, parties, grand openings, concerts, sing-alongs, conventions, fund raisers, political rallies, reunions and any other gathering where the happy sound of the banjo is needed. Its been around for 34 years, and it has become my new favorite evening excursion. In 1976, Frank Rossi joined an organization that had one goal: the preservation of America's instrument the banjo. If you time your visit appropriately to hit both, it ends up being a lovely night out with great beer, an array of musical styles, and an overall experience you just can't get anywhere else in the city. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Discover the Burgh follows Jeremy & Angies quest to do everything in Pittsburgh and southwest PA. Over the years this group has gathered somewhat of a cult-like following, and shortly after the beginning of their practice at 8 pm the lodge is always completely full of attendees of all ages listening to the music, dancing, singing along (lyrics are available by the entrance), drinking, and having a grand old time. Tracey Sartoris, a four-year Elk member, takes the food orders and sparks up lively conversations. Have you heard of the Pittsburgh Banjo Club? That was at Mad Anthony's in Ambridge, where the Sewickleyland Doctor's Band was playing in the early 1970s to a packed house. However, reservations are strongly . When bragging about the Northsides many cultural institutions to out-of-towners, many locals forget to mention one that has appeared on a weekly basis for more than twenty years. Check out the tour options from our friends at City Brew Tours! Open to the Public The Pittsburgh Banjo Club appears every Wednesday 8-11 p.m., Elks Lodge #339, 400 Cedar Avenue. Dickerson, the bands only black member, has been playing with the group for 15 years. Underneath the rhythm of the 15 or 20 banjos strumming, its difficult to pick up the one beginner just trying to keep up. Elks Lodge #339, 400 Cedar Avenue. Roberto Clemente: A Tribute to the Great One. SING-A -LONGS,CLAP-A-LONGS, GREATEST SINGERS IN PGH. Hordes of silver-haired retirement home residents began flooding through the doors, taking their seats at a series of long folding tables set up in rows. Every person I have met at the banjo club is welcoming and friendly. Its really a fun evening for anyone of any age.. The PBC program consists of sing-alongs, vocals, banjo solos, music from the 20s and 30s, polkas and Dixieland. Julianna Bagwell is the Managing Editor for LOCALpittsburgh as well as a freelance writer for various publications including Thrillist.com. Councilman gives update on city budgeting process Photo: Office of Councilman Wilson Hello! About 10 years ago we were looking for family-friendly entertainment in the city to take our kids to so they could see live music, the boys father, JT Chiodi, 48, said. There are only two original members left since it was founded in 1988, Azinger says. My wife, Peggy, and I came to banjo night 30 years ago, we lived in Bellevue, and we loved it. Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard. Pittsburgh Banjo Club/ FB Multiple local projects receive grant funding Photo: Office of Rep. Abney Hello to my Northside neighbors! March 29th - The Outlaws Live in Concert. Uploaded by Hot Food, Snacks and Beverages available. Join us on Monday, July 13th at 2 p.m. in the Sherwood Oaks Auditorium. So join over 200,000 monthly readers and come find out the best that Pittsburgh has to offer! The lodge offers cash-only cheap food and drink, such as fries, chicken planks, cheese sticks, nachos, onion rings and other bar food, including a weekly special. According to music director Norm Azinger, people of all ages come to sing, dance, hang out, drink, gossip and eat. Nationally, the PBC has performed at the Chautauqua Institute, Lake Chautauqua, NY; Festival for the Arts. PITTSBURGH'S PLACE TO BE ON WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR THE LAST 33 YEARSRELAX AND HAVE FUN 2021 28 Jul Admission: Free Location: ELKS #339 400 Cedar Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Time: 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM Email: eventsupport@spingo.com This event has already finished but is here for your information. The Jefferson Awards program is part of a national volunteer recognition program founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Only a handful have taken lessons. She began taking lessons on a classic style banjo, which has five strings, as opposed to the plectrum banjo, with four strings, she now plays. Adult Admission: FREEChild Admission: FREESenior Admission: FREE. The best part? No cover, 635 Smithfield Street The major mills that once lined the citys riverbanks and clouded its skyline have been replaced by glitzy high-rises and state-of-the-art baseball and football stadiums, but its native residents proudly tout their roots as a hard-working, blue-collar city. We Have No Bananas. This is one of the many singalongs. If you do consider this side of the city, it is likely about the concert venue Stage AE or even one of the stadiums when big named musicians come to town. The PBC is available for banquets, parties, grand openings, concerts, sing-alongs, conventions, fund raisers, political rallies, reunions and any other gathering where the happy sound of the banjo is needed. Wednesday evenings from 8-11 p.m. at the Allegheny Elks Lodge. A strange scene can be found on Wednesdays at the Elks Lodge: tattooed and pierced youngsters join with their nursing home elders for drinks, merriment, and some damn good banjo music. Erie, PA; Fretted Instrument Guild of America Conventions in New Orleans, Nashua, NH., Ft. Mitchell, KY., and Raleigh, NC. In Deutschtown, for example, the music scene thrives on Wednesdays thanks to the Pittsburgh Banjo Club's free practice at the Elks Lodge and the Shelf Life String Band playing at Allegheny City Brewing in the summer months. The Pittsburgh Banjo Club has been playing free public concerts on Wednesday nights in Deutschtown so long that without many of its members hailing from this side of town, many think of them as a Northside band. The swell of trumpets and banjos fill the North Side Elks Club every Wednesday night from 8-10pm. The PBC meets every Wednesday, 8 p.m., at the Elks Lodge#339, 400 Cedar Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. (412-321-1834). You really have to experience this one for yourselves to appreciate it all, but Banjo Night is one of those events that is so distinctly Pittsburgh. However, as the market for steel declined during the 1970s and 1980s, the city witnessed an exodus, with nearly half of its residents migrating elsewhere in search of better opportunities. They sing and dance for spectators at first, but eventually go on to play duets of banjo songs written nearly a century before they were born. Seasoned bad members, like Dickerson, then play the corresponding string melody by plucking individual notes. ? These practice sessions are open to the general public. Pittsburgh Banjo Club Identity & Community Listen: At Banjo Night, Some Old-Fashioned Fun With 'America's Instrument' August 14, 2013 The Pittsburgh Banjo Club has been playing. The club has donated over $140,000 to local Pittsburgh area charities. There are typically about 20 members who show up each Wednesday, and they play from 8 to 11 p.m. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. But rather than having these practice sessions be private, they open them up to the public, free of charge, from 8 to 11 pm on Wednesday nights! Steel production made way for the demand for coal, expanding Pittsburghs offerings through World War I. Otherwise, don't be surprised if it is standing room only! As the beer garden is outdoors and the brewery is rather small, at this time we're unsure on plans during inclement weather or outside of the summer months- so we recommend re-confirming that the band will still be playing prior to visiting. No cover charge Over 40 banjo players, along with accompanying tubas and horns, take the floor for a wild rumpus of folksy fun every Wednesday night at the Northside Elks Lodge. Frank Rossi, left, leads members of the Pittsburg Banjo Club in a ragtime tune. The mood is lively and entry at the door is free. At her core, she is an extreme foodie and dog enthusiast. When you think of Pittsburgh's music scene, your first thought is likelynotabout the North Side. Rossi estimated the average age of the crowd at the Elks Club at 65, but more and more of the college-aged crowd is filtering in. Not bothered by hanging out with folks their grandparents age, most of these twenty-somethings say theyre intrigued by the old-fashioned vibe. Peppis Review The Roethlisburger is a Must Try Sandwich, Siempre Algo Review Chef-Driven Dining Comes to the North Side, Taking a Trip Back in Time at the Photo Antiquities Museum. Elks Lodge #339 is located at 400 Cedar Avenueand hosts the Pittsburgh Banjo Club every Wednesday from 8pm to 11pm. Disclaimer: Our site uses demographic data, email opt-ins, display advertising, and affiliate links. We Have No Bananas and drinking a beer with volunteer waiter and my new friend, Rich. Their goal is to revive the 4-string banjo (as opposed to the bluegrass 5-string) and turn younger generations on to the instrument. Their weekly gig at the Elks Club on Cedar Avenue, which is actually disguised as a rehearsal, often brings in a crowd of more than 100. Since the teacher I was taking lessons from was a club member, I tended to go [to banjo night]. But the North Side has far more than just these if you're looking to take in a live performance. ), For visitors looking to take in a game while in town, theres plenty to choose from. As the group is available to be hired for events and parties, you can imagine that they have to have regular practices to stay on top of their craft. (412) 429-3101. Allegheny City Brewing is located at 507 Foreland Street and as of 2021 regularly hosts Shelf Life String Band on Wednesday; however, this one may not be as consistent as the banjo club so we recommend re-confirming the schedule prior to visiting the brewery for music. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) . Well you still have time to decide Where are you staying? Yes, You Can Still Snag a Home in Lawrenceville for a Decent Price, Collier's Weekly: The Rise of the Activity Bar, 5 Generation Bakers Brings Jenny Lee Swirl Bread to the Masses, Let Yourself Go: Lessons I Learned As a Middle Aged Parent, $1.8 Million Grant Aims To Prevent Violence Among Pittsburgh-Area Youth, How This Duo is Turning Old Buildings in Pittsburgh Into New Foodie Experiences, Our Pittsburgher of the Year: Rich Fitzgerald. Reading the reviews and checking on their website, I made reservations by calling and leaving a message at the number provided on Monday afternoon. Staff is personable and remember every child's name, Order Your Holiday Gifts Today! Similar to many of her fellow band mates, she only began playing banjo in her 40s. The happiest sound in the world is a banjo and the Pittsburgh Banjo Club provides miles of smiles! The Rust Belt city underwent its industrial boom during the Civil War when its steel mills helped produce weapons. 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