Block22 plans concert for community at 4th and Broadway 

Block22, a collaboration between Pittsburg State University and the City of Pittsburg, is partnering with four of its tenant businesses and a local non-profit music promoter to host a block party style concert from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 9. 

Free and open to the community, it will feature acclaimed singer-songwriter John Calvin Abney, who this year has toured the nation in support of his highly anticipated new album, “Tourist.” Among his stops: The Ryman in Nashville, Tennessee, where he supported the band Hanson to a sold-out crowd. 

“John is well known in the folk-Americana world, has toured heavily across the country, and has played at our Olive Street House concerts before,” said Rob Poole, owner of Olive Street Presents, who is bringing Abney to Pittsburg. 

Abney will be set up at the entrance to the Evergy Courtyard at Block22, between the Opera House Hotel and the National Bank Building, facing Broadway.  

The section of Broadway between Fourth and Fifth Street will be blocked off from traffic from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Organizers encourage attendees to bring their lawn chairs to set up in that space and enjoy the free concert. 

Sponsored by Block22, Olive Street Presents, Brick + Mortar Social House, Root Coffeehouse & Creperie, TOAST, and Pippie Mae’s, the event will feature a common consumption ordinance so that attendees can drink alcoholic beverages at the concert that were purchased at Brick + Mortar Social House and TOAST. Both restaurants will offer food specials that can be carried out to eat at the concert.  

Root Coffeehouse & Creperie will serve non-alcoholic beverages and grab-and-go food items that can be consumed at the concert. Pippie Mae’s, which just opened Aug. 2, will be open to shoppers until 8 p.m.