Virtual Concert To Aid Struggling Pittsburgh-Area Music Venue

BLAWNOX, PA — A virtual concert is being organized to benefit Moondog's Pub, an iconic southwestern Pennsylvania bar known for booking well-known local and national blues acts. Moondog's has been shuttered since the start of the coronavirus outbreak last year.

Details on when the concert will occur and what performers will be playing in it are expected to be announced shortly.

Additionally, donations to aid the bar are being accepted through PayPal.

Moondog’s was founded in 1990 by Ron Esser, who formerly managed the long-defunct Graffiti in Oakland. Esser, honored in 2005 with the National Blues Foundation's Keeping the Blues Alive award, also has supported blues artists as a founder and booker of the annual Pittsburgh Blues Festival benefitting the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Esser also has financed blues recordings on his Moondog Records label.

According to the bar's website, among the national acts that have played at Moondog's are Susan

Tedeschi, Keb’ Mo’, Derek Trucks, Koko Taylor, Luther Allison,Junior Wells, Jimmy Vaughn, Tommy Castro, the Nighthawks, Jimmy Thackery, MariaMuldaur, Pat Travers, Candy Kane, Ana Popovic, former Beatle Pete Best,Johnny “Clyde” Copeland, Walter Trout, Tinsley Ellis, Shemekia Copela, Lil Ed and the Imperialsnd and Long John Hunter.

Alder Band, Patty Spadero, the SPUDS, Nieds Hotel Band, Good Brother Earl and Bill Deasy.