2024 | Music + Nightlife | Pittsburgh

Best Of PGH

  • Best Of PGH 2024: Music + Nightlife

    Best Bar to Day Drink
    Trace Brewing
    4312 Main St., Bloomfield.
    tracebloomfield.com
    2nd: Fat Head's
    3rd: Roland's

    Best Bar to Drink Alone
    Kelly’s
    6012 Centre Ave., East Liberty.
    kellysbarlounge.com
    2nd: The Smiling Moose (South Side)
    3rd: Dee’s Cafe

    Best Bar to PreGame Before The Game
    Southern Tier
    316 N. Shore Dr., North Shore.
    pittsburgh.stbcbeer.com
    2nd: Primanti Brothers
    3rd: D’s Six Pax and Dogs

    Best Bartender
    Chris at Arsenal in Dormont
    2905 W. Liberty Ave., Dormont.
    arsenalciderhouse.com/dormont
    2nd: Kaitlynn at Smokey’s Tavern
    3rd: Garth at Bierport

    Best Blues Artist/Group
    Blues Attack
    bluesattackpgh.com
    2nd: Pierce Dipner Band
    3rd: Weird Paul Rock Band

    Best Bouncer
    Brandi at Bottlerocket Social Hall
    1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown.
    bottlerocketpgh.com
    2nd: Kitty Valentine at Blue Moon & 5801
    3rd: Pete at The Smiling Moose (South Side)

    click to enlarge Best Of PGH 2024: Music + Nightlife
    CP Photo Colin Williams
    Best Club: Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville

    Best Club
    Spirit
    242 51st St., Lawrenceville.
    spiritpgh.com
    2nd: Jergel's
    3rd: Belvedere’s Ultra-Dive

    Best Club DJ
    DJ Jimmy
    instagram.com/dj_jimmy412
    2nd: Adam at Pittsburgh Emo Night
    3rd: NOCASINO

    Best Country Artist/Group
    Morgan Gruber
    itsmorgangruber.com
    2nd: The Shiners
    3rd: Honky Tonk Heroes

    Best Cover Artist/Group
    Dancing Queen
    dancingqueen911.com
    2nd: The Pyramid Incident
    3rd: Franchise Band

    Best Dive Bar
    Bottlerocket Social Hall
    1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown.
    bottlerocketpgh.com
    2nd: Bob’s Garage
    3rd: Gooski's

    Best Electronic Artist/Group
    Dichro
    dichro.bandcamp.com
    2nd: Weird Paul
    3rd: Chris Maze

    Best Haunted Attraction
    Hundred Acres Manor
    One Hundred Acres Dr., Broughton.
    hundredacresmanor.com
    2nd: ScareHouse
    3rd: Jekyl & Hyde

    Best Jazz Artist/Group
    Mary Ann Mangini
    dancingqueen911.com
    2nd: Phat Man Dee
    3rd: Roger Humphries and RH Factor

    Best LGBTQ Bar
    Blue Moon
    5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville.
    bluemoononbutler.com
    2nd: 5801
    3rd: Harold’s Haunt

    Best Local Album of the Year
    Dream The Heavy - Into The Unknown
    dreamtheheavy.com
    2nd: Jarrod Barry - I Just Want To Be
    3rd:  Heading North - We’re So Back

    Best Metal Artist/Group
    Modern Fossils
    blackettmusic.com/m/modern-fossils
    2nd: Drown the Deep
    3rd: Amoeba Knievel

    Best Music Fest
    Millvale Music Festival
    millvalemusic.org
    2nd: Three Rivers Music and Arts Festival
    3rd: Pride on the Shore

    Best Music Venue (City)
    Stage AE
    400 N. Shore Dr., North Shore.
    stageae.com
    2nd: Thunderbird Café & Music Hall
    3rd: City Winery

    Best Music Venue (Suburbs)
    Mr. Smalls Theatre
    400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale.
    mrsmalls.com
    2nd: The Roxian
    3rd: Jergel's Rhythm and Grill

    Best New Bar
    The Poetry Lounge
    313 North Ave., Millvale.
    poetrymillvale.com
    2nd: Grist House Beer Crib
    3rd: Space Bar

    click to enlarge Best Of PGH 2024: Music + Nightlife
    Photo: Courtesy of Paul Bossung
    Best Place to Celebrate Your Divorce: Fuck Yeah, Dinosaurs! concert

    Best Place to Celebrate Your Divorce
    Fuck Yeah, Dinosaurs! concert
    dinopunks.com

    You’re finally out! The papers are signed. That good-for-nothing is gone, and you’re single and ready to mingle. But how do you even date in 2024? Where do the single people go, especially the ones who like dinosaurs?

    Then you see the flyer: Fuck Yeah, Dinosaurs! will be performing later at your local venue. Cover paid, you join the crowd as the dinopunks scream into the mic about dinos eating yinzers at the Bloomfield Pool. Soon, you’re jumping up and down, swapping a sloppy kiss with a fellow dinophile, and toasting your newfound freedom. Who said divorce has to suck? Fuck that marriage. Fuck Yeah, Dinosaurs!
    -Colin Williams

    2nd: Anywhere your ex isn't!
    3rd: Belvedere's Ultra-Dive


    Best Place to Karaoke
    Bob’s Garage
    1372 Freeport Rd., Blawnox.
    instagram.com/pghbobsgarage
    2nd: Jekyl & Hyde with DJ Paris Not France
    3rd: Froggy’s Bar


    Best Pop Artist/Group
    Pop Baby
    popbabymusic.com
    2nd: Lindsay Liebro
    3rd: Amoeba Knievel


    click to enlarge Best Of PGH 2024: Music + Nightlife
    Best Punk Artist/Group: Fuck yeah, dinosaurs!
    Best Punk Artist/Group
    fuck yeah, dinosaurs!
    dinopunks.com
    2nd: The Cheats
    3rd: Bastard Bearded Irishmen



    Best R&B Artist/Group
    Chantal Joseph
    chantaljmusic.com
    2nd: Nied’s Hotel Band
    3rd: Elmoz Fire


    Best Radio Personality or Duo (DJ)
    Mikey and Big Bob
    961kiss.iheart.com
    2nd: Bubba Show
    3rd: John Ballistic’s Underground Jukebox


    Best Radio Station
    91.3 WYEP
    wyep.org
    2nd: WDVE
    3rd: Star 100.7



    Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist/Group
    Lil Lenny
    facebook.com/Lil.Lenny412

    Pittsburgh’s rap scene has taken body blows in recent years, with Jimmy Wopo and Mac Miller cut down in their prime. But artists keep percolating up through the underground anyway with fresh sounds, proof that the Steel City’s hip-hop bench is deep. Lil Lenny, who’s been honing his craft since at least 2013, has come off that bench with a spate of recent EPs and shows backed by a funk band with a full horn section. With a sharp delivery, clean production, and a mix of chill but envelope-pushing songs, Lil Lenny is one of the artists who proves the heart of hip-hop still beats loud in the ’Burgh.
    -Colin Williams

    2nd: Moemaw Naedon
    3rd: DJ KyD Kahlil

    Best Rock Artist/Group
    Johnny Angel and the Halos
    facebook.com/JAandtheHalos
    2nd: JOURNEY THRU THE AGES
    3rd: One Eye Daddys

    Best Sports Bar
    Ruggers Pub
    40 South 22nd St., South Side.
    ruggerspub.com
    2nd: Squirrel Hill Sports Bar
    3rd: Mike’s Beer Bar

    Best Of PGH 2024: Music + Nightlife
    CP Photo: Jared Wickerham
    Best Strip Club: Cheerleaders

    Best Strip Club
    Cheerleaders
    3100 Liberty Ave., Lawrenceville.
    cheerleaderspittsburgh.com
    2nd: Lucky’s (Real Luck Cafe)
    3rd: Rick’s Cabaret

    Best Trivia Night
    Trivia Jockeys at 5801
    5801 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside.
    5801pgh.com
    2nd: World Famous Trivia at Bottlerocket
    3rd: Parkway Theater & Film Lounge

    Best World or International Music Artist/Group
    The Polkamaniacs
    zomboco.com/the-polkamaniacs
    2nd: Bealtaine
    3rd: Timbeleza