By SARA BORRO
staff writer

Beginning on Sept. 20, Pittsburgh’s Thrival Innovation and Music Festival is set to commence. Thrival is an annually held, week-long festival in Pittsburgh.
The festival is an initiative of Thrill Mill Inc., which is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization dedicated to serving and helping entrepreneurs in their early stages of business.
The festival will feature multiple days of immersive and innovation-focused programming, workshops and speakers, followed by a two-day outdoor music festival to wrap up the week.
This year’s guest keynote speakers are Dr. Bennett Omalu, Eugene Robinson and Meghan McCain.
Omalu will be speaking on the subject of the 2015 film “Concussion.”
This will be a unique and special experience for Pittsburgh natives, due to the fact the film takes place in Pittsburgh and centers around Omalu’s extensive study of the negative effects concussions have on the brains of football payers, primarily those who play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Eugene Robinson is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and Meghan McCain is a political commentator, both of whom will also be speaking on topics related to their field.
However, the most anticipated event in the Thrival event lineup is the closing, two-day music festival celebration.
This year’s impressive lineup of artists certainly rivals that of last year’s festival, which featured performers such as Manchester Orchestra, LIGHTS, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness and pop-punk royalty Panic! At The Disco.
This year the music festival is set to feature even bigger named artists such as CHVRCHES, Ty Dolla $ign, Metric, Daya and current Billboard No. 1 artist, The Chainsmokers.
The two-day schedule of set times was released last week and indicated that Scottish electro pop group CHVRCHES will co-headline Friday night with meteoric rising DJ duo, The Chainsmokers.
The Friday night stages will also hold Lettuce, Sir the Baptist, Meeting of Important People, Bastard Bearded Irishmen and Daya.
Having Daya perform during the festival will be a very special experience.
Not only is the 17-year-old, synthpop, solo act a Pittsburgh native, but she also has collaborated with The Chainsmokers, which is sure to create an electric and unforgettable musical experience for the concertgoers.
The festival will pick back up Saturday afternoon with Balloon Ride Fantasy followed throughout the afternoon by Beauty Slap, Chalk Dinosaur and The Cheat Codes.
Wu-Tang Clan member Cappadonna will have a unique collaboration performance with syndicate group Killarmy, Ezekiel XI and WuLords Saturday evening, followed by Hudson Mohawke, Wild Child and Rubblebucket.
The alt-indie lady group Metric will perform directly before the two headliners for Saturday, recent MTV Video Music Award-winner, Ty Dolla $ign, and Thievery Corporation.
The music festival will be held at Carrie Furnaces, a national historical site only minutes outside the city of Pittsburgh.
A 125-foot tall blast furnace will serve as a dramatic and one-of-a kind backdrop between the two stages.
The festival coordinators have decided, as they did last year, to have two stages to house performers. Having two stages creates a very effective way to efficiently get through each artist’s set without a lot of down time between sets. However, there will be staggered set times so attendees are able to see every artist’s full set.
Thrival’s CEO and Creative Director, Martin Potozcny, believes Thrival is expected to be, as it was last year, a very remarkable and unforgettable experience.
“Our goal is to tap into the deep emotional current that music evokes, and we have a unique opportunity to transport each and every individual to a world where all of their senses are engaged,” Potozcny said.
“Whether this is a concert goer’s first festival or 10th, at the forefront of our mind is creating an experience that inspires, surprises and engages — it will be a transformative experience that can only be described as the magic of being part of a growing international festival.”
Thrival is a one-of-a-kind festival that is dedicated to bettering a city so many hold close to their hearts. For those looking to be a part of the Thrival Innovational and Music Festival, tickets can be purchased at thrivalfestival.com/tickets.
SARA BORRO
[email protected]