What Is the Music Crawl?
VisitPittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership are turning the night before the draft into a city-wide music event. It's called the PicksBURGH Music Crawl, and it hits 13 venues across Downtown, the Strip District, South Side, North Side, and Lawrenceville.
Everything starts at Market Square at 4:45 PM with a ribbon cutting for the newly renovated space, followed by live performances. From there, you pick your path across 13 venues with genres spanning hip-hop, jazz, reggae, metal, EDM, classical, and more.
Every venue has commemorative PicksBURGH guitar picks. Collect them all if you're into that sort of thing.
Market Square Kickoff (4:45-7:00 PM)
The crawl starts at Market Square with a ribbon cutting followed by three performances. This is the gathering point before everyone fans out across the city.
4:45-5:00 PM: DJ Arie Cole
Sets the vibe before the ribbon cutting
5:00-5:45 PM: NASH-V.ILL
Live performance right after the grand reopening
6:00-6:50 PM: Big Jus & Steeltown Horns
Full band set to close out the Market Square stage
6:50-7:00 PM: DJ Arie Cole
Closing set at Market Square
All 13 Venues
Here's every venue on the crawl with times, genres, and which ones are free. Sorted roughly by start time so you can plan your route.
Heinz Hall Garden & Open House
FREEDowntown · 4:00-9:00 PM · Classical / Live Performances
Open house at Pittsburgh's iconic concert hall. Live classical performances in the garden. Walk through the building if you've never been inside.
The Original Pittsburgh Winery
FREEStrip District · 5:00-7:30 PM · Pop / Rock Covers
Live cover band at Pittsburgh's first urban winery. Wine, snacks, and an early evening vibe before the later shows kick off.
August Wilson African American Cultural Center
Downtown · 5:30-8:00 PM · R&B / Funk / Jazz
Named after Pittsburgh's own August Wilson. Expect a soulful, classy set in one of Downtown's best cultural venues.
Howl at the Moon
Downtown · Doors 6:00 PM, Show 7:00 PM · Pop / Party Hits
Dueling piano bar with high-energy pop covers. This place gets loud and fun fast.
Con Alma
Downtown · 7:00-10:00 PM · International Jazz
Intimate jazz club. If you want something more refined than a bar crawl, this is your stop.
The Government Center
North Side · 7:00 PM · Indie / Punk / Metal
For the heavier side of Pittsburgh's music scene. Walking distance from the draft venues on the North Shore.
White Rabbit at One Oxford Centre
FREEDowntown · Doors 7:00 PM, Show 8:00 PM · Live Party Concert
Free show in the heart of Downtown. Good spot to catch a set without committing to a cover charge.
Elks Lodge #339
FREENorth Side · Doors 7:15 PM, Show 8:00 PM · Banjo Night
Yes, banjo night. At an Elks Lodge. On the North Side. This is the most Pittsburgh thing on the entire list.
Park House
FREENorth Side · 8:00-11:00 PM · Soul / Blues / Americana
Cozy North Side bar with soul, blues, and Americana. Free show. Close to the draft venues.
Club Cafe
South Side · Doors 7:00 PM, Show 8:00 PM · Reggae
Legendary South Side listening room. Reggae night is a nice change of pace from the football energy.
Thunderbird Cafe
Lawrenceville · Doors 7:00 PM, Show 8:00 PM · Jam Band / Tribute
Lawrenceville staple for live music. Jam band and tribute acts. Grab dinner on Butler Street before the show.
Spirit Hall
Lawrenceville · Doors 7:00 PM, Show 8:00 PM · Metal
If Lawrenceville metal is your thing, Spirit Hall delivers. Not for the faint of heart.
Enclave
South Side · 10:30 PM-2:00 AM · EDM / DJ
Late-night EDM on the South Side. This is where you end up if you're still going at midnight.
How to Do the Crawl
You're not going to hit all 13 venues in one night. Pick 3-4 based on your music taste and build a route. Here are some suggestions.
The Downtown Loop (walkable)
Market Square (4:45) → Heinz Hall (5:00) → August Wilson Center (5:30) → Con Alma (7:00) → White Rabbit (8:00). All within a 10-minute walk of each other.
The North Side Route (near draft venues)
Market Square (4:45) → The Government Center (7:00) → Elks Lodge (8:00) → Park House (8:00). All on the North Side within walking distance of Acrisure Stadium.
The Late Night Route
Market Square (4:45) → Thunderbird Cafe in Lawrenceville (8:00) → Enclave on the South Side (10:30). You'll need a rideshare between neighborhoods.
Transit Tips for the Crawl
- The T is free April 23-25 but not on Wednesday April 22. Regular PRT fares apply.
- Downtown and North Side venues are all walkable from each other.
- Lawrenceville and South Side require a rideshare or bus from Downtown.
- If you're staying on the North Shore for the draft, stick to Downtown + North Side venues.
Music Crawl FAQ
What is the PicksBURGH Music Crawl?
It's a city-wide music event on Wednesday, April 22, the night before the 2026 NFL Draft. 13 venues across multiple Pittsburgh neighborhoods host live music from 4:45 PM to 2 AM. It's organized by VisitPittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. Some venues are free, some charge a cover.
Is the PicksBURGH Music Crawl free?
Some venues are free: Park House, Elks Lodge #339, The Original Pittsburgh Winery, White Rabbit at One Oxford Centre, and Heinz Hall Garden. Others charge a cover fee. Check each venue's listing for details.
Do I need tickets for the Music Crawl?
Most venues are walk-up. Some ticketed venues may sell out. Check individual venue pages for ticket info. Market Square is open to everyone with no tickets needed.
Where does the PicksBURGH Music Crawl start?
It kicks off at Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh at 4:45 PM with DJ Arie Cole, followed by NASH-V.ILL and Big Jus & Steeltown Horns. From there, the crawl spreads across 13 venues in Downtown, the Strip District, South Side, North Side, and Lawrenceville.
Plan the Rest of Your Draft Week
The Music Crawl is just Wednesday night. Here's everything else happening.