Scott Tady: Ambridge winery books bands; Hat Trick ceases; Morgan Gruber headlines Munhall

Scott Tady, Beaver County Times
·4 min read
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Three weeks after its grand opening, Harkins Mill Wines has booked a bunch of musical performances at its cozy Ambridge winery.

While sipping a Chardonnay, sangria or Sangiovese, wine enthusiasts can enjoy live, local music.

The schedule:

Nov. 25: Meet Virginia, sounds of the season.

Dec. 1: Doug Edgell.

Dec. 2: Davis, Gray Band (acoustic duo).

Dec. 3: Yukon John, classic rock

Dec. 9: Eddie Erwin, Ambridge's former "American Idol" Gold Ticket winner.

Dec. 15: Jesse James Armijo, one-man band.

Dec. 16: Blues Attack.

Impressive picks.

Blues Attack is one of the Pittsburgh area's most distinguished blues bands, and I always recommend Erwin when bar owners ask me for a tip on local entertainers.

Ambridge High grad Eddie Erwin competing in the 2020 version of ABC's "American Idol."
Ambridge High grad Eddie Erwin competing in the 2020 version of ABC's "American Idol."

Edgell, of Oakmont, will be making his Beaver County debut. The multi-genre singer-guitarist's cover choices range from Frank Sinatra to The Lumineers, and Maroon 5 to Chris Stapleton.

Blues Attack will perform at Harkins Mill Winery in Ambridge.
Blues Attack will perform at Harkins Mill Winery in Ambridge.

Hat Trick breaks up

After six years of steady gigs in the Beaver Valley, Hat Trick calls it quits with one final show Dec. 2 at Kendrew's Lounge in Aliquippa. All past and present members will take the stage. Showtime is 7 p.m.

Bassist-founder-vocalist Ray Fernandez will focus on his other rock band, SlapShot.

Hat Trick vocalist Dena Miller and her hubby drummer, Jimi Miller, will forge on, too, with their other band, Free Fall, while also supporting Dena's new single and video, "Mysterious Origin," which was profiled on Canada's "That Wanda Ryan Show" podcast/YouTube series and featured on Roku's "Music from the 412."

Their band Hat Trick has booked its farewell show, but Dena and Jimi Miller will forge on with new musical pursuits, such as supporting Dena's single "Mysterious Origins."
Their band Hat Trick has booked its farewell show, but Dena and Jimi Miller will forge on with new musical pursuits, such as supporting Dena's single "Mysterious Origins."

Very Yinzer Christmas

Pittsburgh music luminaries like Scott Blasey, Joe Grushecky, Hermie Granati, Jeff Jimerson, Gene the Werewolf, Nied’s Hotel Band and Miss Freddye will shine in the second annual A Very Yinzer Christmas on Dec. 11, at the Benedum Center.

"The talent across the region is incredible and spans over generations," the concert's creator, Joe Wodarek of country band The Stickers, said. "I just want to celebrate all the talent we have here, while doing something meaningful for a special charity."

Scenes from last year's first Very Yinzer Christmas at the Benedum Center.
Scenes from last year's first Very Yinzer Christmas at the Benedum Center.

Proceeds benefit Band Together Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that enables people on the autism spectrum to create music.

Tickets are $40 at yinzerchristmas.com or at trustarts.org.

More: Hermie Granati, Bailey Taylor, Rick Witkowski, Joe Munroe star in Hopewell holiday show

Scenes from last year's first Very Yinzer Christmas at the Benedum Center.
Scenes from last year's first Very Yinzer Christmas at the Benedum Center.

Moon band goes AI for video

Let history show Chip & The Charge Ups were the first Pittsburgh area band to incorporate full-on artificial intelligence (AI) into a music video.

Sprucing up a music video for their 2019 holiday single “Black and Gold Christmas,” the Moon Township rockers relied on AI-generated artwork of Pittsburgh imagery, including a Mount Washington incline, the Ice Rink at PPG Plaza, a Stanley Cup carrying Pittsburgh Penguin riding a reindeer (because, why not?) and Fred Rodgers.

Check out the festive video at youtube.com/@thechargeups.

Chip and The Charge Ups spruced up their black-and-gold Christmas song with an AI-driven music video.
Chip and The Charge Ups spruced up their black-and-gold Christmas song with an AI-driven music video.

Chip & The Charge Ups could teach a community college course on Band Marketing 101.

From creatively embracing visual arts, to writing skillful press releases, to crafting catchy songs like "That Ain't Punk" and “Paying Back the Devil,” a song in WDVE-FM regular rotation for much of 2023, Chip & The Charge Ups have a leg up on the competition.

That's helped the band earn gigs opening for national acts Dirty Honey, Dee Snider and Nita Strauss.

Chip and The Charge Ups (from left) Maleena Dominick, Chip Dominick and Nolan Allen, have a new album earning acclaim.
Chip and The Charge Ups (from left) Maleena Dominick, Chip Dominick and Nolan Allen, have a new album earning acclaim.

More: Kurt Angle film recommended

Tidbits

*Riverside High grad/"American Idol" finalist Morgan Gruber headlines Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall on Dec. 8. Her 'Tis the Season holiday show also features Jon Fish and SpinCycle. Tickets are $25 at librarymusichall.com

More: Get your 'Summer of '69' in Pittsburgh, as Bryan Adams sets PPG Paints Arena concert date

**Pop singer Mark Milovats performs his annual Pittsburgh area Christmas show Nov. 27 at the Byham Theater. "Utterly amazed that I am in my 26th year of my Christmas Show," Milovats says via email. "I am so grateful and blessed for all of the support of everyone".  Tickets are at $44 to $56 at trustarts.org.

Mark Milovats, with an assist from the Pirate Parrot, entertains at one of the pop singer's annual Christmas concerts.
Mark Milovats, with an assist from the Pirate Parrot, entertains at one of the pop singer's annual Christmas concerts.

More: Donnie Iris says he feels great; announces March show in Moon

***Recovered from serious injuries sustained in a snowplow accident, Jeremy Renner is ready to film season three of his "Mayor of Kingstown" series in the Pittsburgh area. The Paramount+. thriller seeks paid extras for January and February filming. Extras will portray law enforcement professionals, prisoners, diner customers, nightclub partiers and residents of the show's fictional Michigan setting. Apply at movieextraspittsburgh.com.

Morgan Gruber's first single, "Whatever Gets You Through It," is playing on local country radio stations.
Morgan Gruber's first single, "Whatever Gets You Through It," is playing on local country radio stations.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: Beaver Valley musical artists Morgan Gruber & Eddie Erwin have shows.