Femme Pop: Vivian Girls Rock The Warhol

Summer Wrap-up: the Warhol Live outdoor stage will soon be awash with Wall of Sound melodies.

Fans of girl group pop—from the 1960s-era queens (and Queens born!) of the genre, The Shangri-Las to England's 1980s Primitives—won't want to miss Thursday's Vivian Girls concert at The Andy Warhol Museum.

Lifting its moniker, from an epic, posthumously discovered 15,145-page work by Chicago-based outsider artist Henry Darger, the much buzzed about Vivian Girls have wowed crowds at South by Southwest, and have shared the stage with Sonic Youth, Japanther, Crystal Stilts, and Woods. With Cassie Ramone tackling guitar and vocals, and Kickball Katy and Ali Koehler sharing drum, bass and vocal duties, these music world newbies have quickly garnered an avid fan base in and outside of NYC.

Equal parts power pop, Brit pop and post-punk, the Brooklyn-based trio—which channels everyone from Portland's Wipers to Glasgow's Shop Assistants—are sure to light up the museum's outdoor stage, where their signature blend of three-part harmonies and washed-out guitar chords will merge with late-summer cricket churps and traffic sounds. Freshly signed to In The Red Records, the Girls have released a new single and re-released previous LPs on the Los Angeles-based label.

Tickets are $12. To purchase tickets, call 412-237-8300 or go here.

Blue Mango debuts with Moonshine and Skytoffee

This weekend marks the much-anticipated premiere of Blue Mango—Pittsburgh's first color-blind theatre company—at The New Hazlett Theater.

Founded by a global group of theater-lovers, the 15-member collective was created with the central mission of making Pittsburgh's rich theatrical scene more accessible and available to the region's diverse population of performers. Under the direction of executive director Sandhya Krishnan, the homegrown group will present international scripts not typically performed locally, promote multi-ethnic casting, and bring a broad representation of Pittsburgh's ethnic diversity to the city's stages.

The company's debut production, Moonshine and SkyToffee, is an adaptation of two "quirky, funny and adorable love stories" written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. Set in southern India and penned by Basheer during the 1940s, the comedy weaves tales of several pairs of charming characters, including a young hard-working man who pines for his landlord's unemployed daughter, teashop owner Zainaba, endearing pickpocket Mandan Muthapa, and the one-eyed Ottakannan Pokker. Get set for unexpected plot twists, sharp wit, humorous scenarios, and lovable characters in a play that enjoyed some 200 sold-out shows in India. Directed by Krishnan, the pilot production features five actors from three different ethnic backgrounds, including Sam Nicotero, Arvind Suresh, Jackie Omotalade, Christopher Cussat, and Monica Jogi.

All roles in Blue Mango productions are cast with no regard to color, country or accent. This spring, Blue Mango will offer free acting workshops and conduct outreach to student groups, ethnic organizations, regional associations, and community centers. Blue Mango's first three-day workshop is set for January 2010. For tickets, call 1-888-71-TICKETS or go here.

Rock Troubadour: Justin Townes Earle performs at Diesel

Outlaw country: he's the son of acclaimed rebel rocker Steve Earle and his namesake is legendary singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. He recently wrapped up sessions for NPR's "World Cafe" and WNYC's "Soundcheck." He's received top marks from Rolling Stone and Esquire magazines, and has appeared at The Grand Ole Opry. Now, countrified roots rocker Justin Townes Earle is making a stop at Diesel as part of his national "Big Surprise Tour." For the Pittsburgh leg of the tour, which he's dubbed "an old fashioned revue," Townes Earle will be performing with special opening act, T. Mitchell Bell.

Born in Nashville in 1982, Justin Townes Earle has released three albums on Chicago-based independent label, Bloodshot Records. His latest is Midnight at the Movies, for which Townes Earle has crafted a new retro-Gothic looking video. Standout tracks include "The Good Life," a song that showcases old-school country pedal steel guitar runs, lush backing vocals, lilting violin accompaniment, and the singer's signature croon and introspective lyrics. In addition to traditional country and bluegrass, the promising singer-songwriter is clearly at home straddling a range of musical genres, such as Americana, indie pop and roots rock.

Now Brooklyn based, the Americana Music Award nominee has appeared at major music festivals around the country, such as Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, South by Southwest and Bonnaroo. This fall, Townes Earle will hit the road back on tour with much buzzed-about singer-songwriter Jessica Lea Mayfield and the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. Tickets are $14 in advance or $16 on the day of show.

HOTHOUSE: Sprout Fund heats up Bakery Square

If it's the end of summer, it's time for HOTHOUSE. And if it's time for HOTHOUSE, it's time for one fabulous party.

Aptly named for an indoor environment where plants are cultivated—and a riff on its name—The Sprout Fund's always anticipated party-for-a-purpose is both a "live annual report" and a showcase of some of the region's most innovative arts and community initiatives. Rewriting the book on the benefit, the seventh annual bash takes on perhaps its most ambitious development in transition to date: the massive and much-anticipated Bakery Square project nearing completion along Penn Ave. in East Liberty.

Transforming the soon-to-be 393,000-square-foot destination, HOTHOUSE's ever-ambitious "event architects" will unveil a pulsing tableau of artful ideas and civic engagement, including interactive programming by 30 Sprout-supported projects and tasty bites from Pittsburgh's fave food vendors. Last summer, a record crowd of 2,400 people helped raise raise some $130,000 for The Sprout Fund.

This summer's installment, planned for more than 44,000 square feet of Bakery Square, will provide party-goers with the first look at one of the city's largest mixed-use developments. The site will be animated by virtuoso soloists, madcap carnival escapades, dance-worthy DJs, and classic cabaret. Epic instrumentalist duo Zombi will headline the outdoor stage, while genre-bending Pittsburgh ex-pat DJs Apt One and Skinny Friedman (a.k.a. Philadelphyinz) will keep things groovy and sweaty. Attendees will step into world-class dance environments created by Humanaut and experience rhythmic romance with Flamenco Pittsburgh.

New this year will be original silent auction pieces created by local artists and inspired by the work of Joseph Cornell, whose boxed assemblages or "cabinets of curiosities" inspired the party's theme. Wanna be a VIP? For $150, you'll attend the pre-party, nab a Sprout goodie bag and enjoy valet parking. Still standing at midnight? Don't stop 'til you get enough! After HOTHOUSE, head to Shadow Lounge for VIPERS SOUL CLUB's "Back to (Old) School" dance party. Get your HOTHOUSE tickets here.

Bed Bash: Pittsburgh Hostel Project Takes Root

Bed, bath and beyond: Looking for a place to send those out-of-town college pals and friends visiting from outside the U.S. who are used to bunking in hostels and pensiones? Been bummed since the abrupt shuttering of Pittsburgh's hostel in 2003? Have we got a fundraiser for you!

Now that Pittsburgh has been called a top travel destination by The New York Times, Rand McNally, National Geographic, and USA Today, the time has come to resurrect the city's defunct hostel. In 2001, some 4,000 visitors stayed at the Pittsburgh International Hostel in Allentown. Just two years later, the facility closed its doors, and now a homegrown group of ambitious citizens called The Pittsburgh Hostel Project thinks it's high time to remedy this situation.

Designed to be far more than a place to rest your weary head, a hostel would serve as a central base from which visitors could explore the region's world-class destinations. Promoting economic development, regional tourism and quality of life, the facility would provide budget-minded travelers with high-quality short-term accommodations. The community-oriented hostel model is unique because it fosters interaction between guests, who hail from all corners of the globe and reflect diverse cultures. Amenities would include dorm-style and private rooms, group activities, and kitchen, dining and common areas. Project organizers are currently looking at locations Downtown, in Oakland and in the Strip District.

Dubbed "Sleeping With Strangers: An Economic Stimulator," Saturday's benefit at Viaduct Studio boasts support from 40 local businesses and organizations, and will feature music by Ishtar, Devilish Merry, Molly-in-the-Crowd and The Mighty Viaducts. The party-for-a-purpose will also include free bites and beer, family-friendly games, a raffle, and "surprise celebrity guests." Donations ($5-$50) will be accepted at the door. The first 500 guests win a free gift! Viaduct Studio is conveniently located at 622 Second Ave. in DULBO (read: Downtown Under the Liberty Bridge Overpass).

Spaced Out Sound: Zombi Returns to the Burgh

Space is the Place: fans of prog rock and synth-based sounds won't want to miss Zombi's much-anticipated re-entry into Pittsburgh's live music cosmos. Playing its first Stateside shows since 2007, the duo will headline The Sprout Fund's HOTHOUSE benefit on Saturday, and will rock out at the Rex on Sunday.

Founded in Pittsburgh, the duo is known for crafting compositions and concept albums that feature multi-layered sound loops. Zombi co-founder Steve Moore is known for his work with Pittsburgh-based metal/no-wave band, the Microwaves, while his duo-mate Anthony Paterra is a former member of local band The 1985. Both multi-instrumentalists, Moore and Paterra create the duo's signature sound mainly using electric bass, drums and a bevy of analog synthesizers. Utilizing an economy of scale, the duo has been credited with reinventing "the architecture of progressive rock and dynamic instrumentals—carving a niche in underground music distinctly their own," and with creating a sound that's "epic in concept and artistic approach."

Zombi fans will be thrilled to learn that the band has made its brand new album, Spirit Animal, available online. The expansive cinematic work finds the duo mining the territory of horror film soundtracks, 1970s-era progressive rock, poly-rhythmic structures, and layered loops. Prior Zombi releases include several albums for Relapse Records, which has offices in Philadelphia and The Netherlands, as well as a split LP with Maserati out on Brooklyn's Temporary Residence. The group has toured with acclaimed Pittsburgh band Don Caballero, as well as with like-minded groups like Isis, These Arms Are Snakes and Trans Am. Be sure to get to the Rex early to catch opening acts German Shepherd and Shambolish.