Josh Blakesley: FEST PGH 2026

For a fun day the whole family can enjoy while growing in faith, check out the FestPGH music and arts festival on Saturday, September 19, 2026, in F.N.B. Stadium (formerly Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh’s South Shore). The alternative rock band Switchfoot headlines many performers, including Jervis Campbell, Arcadian Wild, Josh Blakesley and The Scally Brothers. FestPGH offers family activities for all ages, games, art, and opportunities for service. Bishop Eckman will celebrate Mass. The event is free but requires an RSVP and digital ticket. Booking: info@joshblakesleymusic.com Tour Manager: stompbox59@aol.com Josh Blakesley has acknowledged a simple calling: To make music that moves people into prayer and action. Josh has been stirred by the rhythms, melodies and chord progressions of contemporary songs long before he was old enough to know what these words meant. As he learned about Mozart, Bach and others, he began to realize that contemporary music is very simply the music of the pepople. The overtures and opuses of the 1700s were the popular songs of that era. People identified with those songs in the same way that today's “hits” appeal to the masses of this generation. As a songwriter, specifically for liturgy in 2017, the question that provokes him is: How do I create a song that will honor traditions and music yet speak to the modern Church and lead them to worship? Josh collaborated with his guitar player, Grae McCullough, to write a new mass setting, paying homage to the hymns of the past and the culture of modern worship. “Every week we lead music for school and parish masses, so we knew we needed something that would resonate with all ages. We also wanted it to be joyful, approachable and easy to sing but still fresh, dynamic and expressive,” says Blakesley. On March 3, 2017 is the release of this long-awaited project called Mass of Restoration. It is available now anywhere music can be downloaded. For sheet music, please visit ocp.org Josh Blakes