Local and regional musical acts of all genres, followed by national headlining acts.
- Mainstage: the largest free music concert in the region, hosting three nights of world-class musical acts and local opening acts.
- District Stages: three different stages showcasing musical and performing art from the region’s most talented entertainers.
Along with featuring music throughout the entire weekend, CelebrateErie showcases five event districts, each representing a different part of what makes Erie unique.
Friday, August 14
Arrested Development
Pioneers of Conscious Hip-Hop
Emerging as true trailblazers in the hip-hop scene since 1991, Arrested Development stands as a cultural beacon of consciousness and empowerment worldwide. Their innovative blend of eclectic African sounds and vibrant clothing has created a distinctive rhythm and style, setting them apart from the conventional images often associated with hip-hop culture.
Known for their unwavering support of significant movements and organizations such as the National Coalition for the Homeless and the African National Congress (ANC), Arrested Development has consistently championed vital causes.
With a remarkable discography and numerous world tours, the group has redefined hip-hop culture. Their acclaimed album “3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of…” garnered them two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Best Rap Single for “Tennessee,” along with accolades from MTV, a Soul Train Music Award, and the NAACP Image Award. Recognized as Band of the Year by Rolling Stone in 1992, they also earned a spot on VH-1’s list of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. Their iconic track “Tennessee” has even been honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Sharing stages with influential figures like Nelson Mandela, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Barack Obama, they embody the essence of legendary status.
Continuing their legacy, Arrested Development is dedicated to creating music steeped in self-reflection and revolution. Their double album, ‘Bullets in the Chamber’, features collaborations with hip-hop icons such as Chuck D, Sky Zoo, Canibus, Diana King, Ras Kass, O’hene Savant, Twan Mack, MRK SX, Do it All Dupree, Grandmaster Caz, Sol Messiah, and Sa-Roc, with special appearances by Montsho Eshe and Rasa Don.
Their latest project, “Adult Contemporary Hip-Hop,” executively produced by Speech for Vagabond Productions and Configa for Configaration Records, showcases their innovative spirit. With singles “All I See Is Melanin” and “Pack It Out,” released on July 4th, the band delivers unmatched lyricism, soulful storytelling, and profound awareness, exemplifying the unique artistry that only Arrested Development can provide.
Saturday, August 15
Plain White T’s
Since emerging in 1997, Chicago quartet Plain White T’s have remained visible and viable. They have consistently delivered unforgettable pop rock anthems that take up real estate in your brain for months at a time. They have amassed over 2.7 billion total global streams, earned two Grammy nominations, and collected several Platinum-plus and Gold certifications across their impressive catalog. Their signature single “Hey There Delilah” went quadruple-platinum, topped the Billboard Hot 100, and earned the pair of aforementioned GRAMMY® nominations in 2008 — for “Song of the Year” and “Best Pop
Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.” They have made their pop culture mark by appearing on highly visible shows such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Sesame
Street, iCarly, 90210, Beavis & Butthead, and Frankenweenie, all the while nabbing press accolades from TIME, Billboard, ESPN, Rolling Stone, AV Club, MTV, MSNBC, and more.
Plain White T’s have proven to be a reliable musical force, as well as a career band that shows no signs of stopping or slowing down. Their self-titled album was released in late
2023.
Sunday, August 16
Al Jardine & the Pet Sounds Band
Alan (aka “Al”) Jardine, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, is best known for being one of the founding members of the California-based group The Beach Boys. Al was born in Lima, Ohio, on September 3, 1942 and met Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and David Marks after his family moved to Hawthorne, California. They formed The Beach Boys and with their perfect harmonies and original tunes about surfing, beaches, hot rods and California girls, became the rock ‘n’ roll voice of the West Coast.
Al, an accomplished musician on a variety of stringed instruments, played rhythm guitar (and bass on early recordings) and sang the lead on the No. 1 hit “Help Me Rhonda.” He also wrote or co-wrote a good number of songs, most notably on the albums Holland, Carl and the Passions–So Tough, Surf’s Up, and Sunflower. Al continued to tour with The Beach Boys throughout the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and left the band after Carl Wilson’s passing in 1998.
In 2001, Al released his first album, Live in Las Vegas, featuring sons Matt and Adam Jardine, along with Carnie and Wendy Wilson (Brian Wilson’s daughters, also in Wilson Phillips) and then his own solo album in 2010, A Postcard From California, which featured guest appearances from Neil Young, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Steve Miller, Glen Campbell, Gerry Beckley & Dewey Bunnell (America), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Alec Baldwin, plus all the remaining Beach Boys, including the late Carl Wilson. The album featured new versions of classic Beach Boys songs “Help Me, Rhonda” and “California Saga” in addition to environmentally-themed tracks like “Don’t Fight The Sea” and “Looking Down The Coast.” In 2001, Al was also awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy as a member of The Beach Boys.
In 2012, Al joined Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and David Marks for a new Beach Boys album, That’s Why God Made the Radio and The Beach Boys went on a 50th anniversary reunion tour. In 2016 and continuing through 2018, Al joined Brian Wilson for a 50th anniversary world tour of The Beach Boys’ timeless masterpiece Pet Sounds. The album features such classics as “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “God Only Knows” and “Sloop John B,” a song Al learned from The Kingston Trio and then introduced to Brian with a new chord arrangement to fit The Beach Boys vocal style. It became a huge international hit and helped propel Pet Sounds into the top of the charts.
In 2018, Al began playing solo shows on a tour featuring songs and stories from his early days to his most recent solo album A Postcard from California. Al, along with his son Matt Jardine, deliver an intimate show full of hits and rarities combined with never-before-heard stories (and rare pictures and videos) from Al’s amazing career. With rave reviews from fans and critics, it was truly a show not to be missed. Also in 2018, Al’s album, A Postcard from California, was released on limited edition translucent blue vinyl at select record stores on Record Store Day Black Friday and sold out almost immediately and in 2022, the album received worldwide distribution on CD and all major digital platforms via Universal Music. Al was also inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame Class of 2019, having spent a number of years of his childhood in Rochester, NY before his family moved out west.
For the first half of the 2020’s, Al has continuously toured with Brian Wilson and his amazing band as well as on his own with his Endless Summer Band featuring his son Matt. In 2025, Al announced that he would reassemble Brian Wilson’s band as the Pet Sounds Band and perform a series of shows that would include songs from The Beach Boys mid-to-late 70’s catalog of albums including 15 Big Ones, The Beach Boys Love You and the M.I.U. album. Al also just released a new EP called Islands In The Sun featuring four new tracks including the title track (which Al has described as the follow-up to “Kokomo”) and a song called “My Plane Leaves Tomorrow (Au Revoir)” featuring a guest lead vocal from Neil Young and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on trumpet performing “Taps.”
