Although it is only the 11th day of school, NASH students have already begun to reminisce about their favorite parts of last summer. For some it was a trip, for others it was seeing their friends, but a long-lasting highlight of many students’ summers was a concert. From country to rock, students traveled near and far to see some of their favorite artists live in concert. 

Hilary Duff

Although better known as Lizzie McGuire on Disney Channel, Hilary Duff began releasing her own music to become an even better known figure in pop culture.

NASH junior Mia Buffat drove four hours with her sisters to Cincinnati, Ohio to see Duff live. With siblings in their late 20s, Buffat said, “My sisters grew up watching Lizzie McGuire and they decided that it would be fun to give their little sister a taste of her charm.”

Buffet said that spending time with her sisters ,while listening to music they grew up with, was a heartwarming experience she would never forget. 

Megan Moroney

At PPG Paints Arena on June 16th, Megan Moroney performed on tour for her newest studio album, Cloud 9. The country singer has gone on three sold-out headline tours, coming to Pittsburgh twice. Junior Delaney Shanley attended the concert this past summer

“I went with two of my best friends and my mom in the pit,” Shanley said. “Screaming your favorite songs live is so therapeutic.” 

Shanley got barricade tickets, so Moroney came right up to her and her friends and sang with them.

“Nothing ever beats listening to your favorite artist live, and I’m so lucky I got to go,” she said. 

Benson Boone

But Shanley wasn’t the only NASH student who got to interact with their favorite singer this summer. Senior Molly Drozd saw Benson Boone live in July after buying her own ticket following a year-and-a-half wait to see him.

“I decided to try and wave to him because no one else was, and I figured it would be easier for him to see me that way, and it worked,” Drodz said. “He waved back to me, and I have video evidence of it!”

She also said that seeing Boone live with her sister was the best night of her life.

Zac Brown Band

A more recent concert occurred on August 13th, where another student got the opportunity to see live music at PPG Paints Arena. NASH junior Drew Cornelius was introduced to Zac Brown Band in 2024, when he saw them open for Kenny Chesney. This past summer, Cornelius decided to purchase tickets to their Love and Fear Tour in Pittsburgh.

“They ended with a cover of Free Bird, which was my favorite song they performed,” Cornelius said.

Tame Impala

Some students traveled further than just downtown Pittsburgh for a concert. Junior Wyatt Lowman traveled all the way to Charlotte, North Carolina–a 7-hour drive from Pittsburgh–to see Tame Impala.

“I wanted to go see him because it gave me the chance to go see my sister and I love his type of music so much,” said Lowman, who saw the singer on his Deadbeat tour, named after his fifth studio album release. 

Noah Kahan

Touring for his fourth studio album, The Great Divide, Noah Kahan had a show on the local calendar that was one of the most sought after this past June. Junior Greta Pokorny made sure she didn’t miss the show.

“My friend had an extra ticket,” she said,”and it was fun. [His band] really added to the songs.

A surprise song, “Downfall” performed with Natalie Rose, topped off one of the most popular concerts that students saw this summer.