PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK | HOZIER (LEFT) AND JASON MRAZ AND HIS SUPERBAND ARE SLATED TO HEADLINE THE NEW WONDERWORKS MUSIC FESTIVAL AT HARTWOOD ACRES MAY 27 AND 28.

Music lovers are in for a Wonder-ful time at Hartwood Acres this Memorial Day Weekend.

Elevation Festivals is introducing its fourth Midwest event, the two-day WonderWorks Music Festival, to the Greater Pittsburgh region May 27 and 28, with headliners Hozier on Saturday and Jason Mraz and His Superband on Sunday, along with other local and global acts.

“Pittsburgh is a great music town and it’s close to where we are in Cleveland,” says Denny Young, president and co-founder of the Elevation Group, parent company of Elevation Festivals. 

PHOTOS COURTESY: ELEVATION FESTIVALS

Young adds WonderWorks expands on their current summer concert series lineup — WonderStruck in Cleveland, the WonderBus Music & Arts Festival in Columbus, Ohio, and WonderRoad in Indianapolis.

“We’re excited to bring the festival to Hartwood Acres; it’s such a beautiful park. Audiences will find great food, artisan crafts and vendors and 25 to 30 bands performing across three stages at WonderWorks,” says Young, noting that the festival is for all ages.

Elevation started WonderBus in Columbus in 2019. Young notes the older WonderStruck in Cleveland didn’t start as a Wonder festival. 

It was previously known as LaureLive and held at Laurel School’s Butler campus. However, they had to switch locations during the pandemic and also had to change its name.

“We never intended to create a series of like-branded events,” he explains. “We started with WonderBus, and when we moved our Cleveland festival, one of us said, ‘What about WonderStruck?’ and the Wonder name stuck with us. This may sound cliché, but they really are wonderful festivals!”

Pittsburgh’s lineup

Young says the staff at Elevation Group are fans of the style of music played on WYEP (a variety of rock, alternative and pop). 

“That style has a big fan base and a loyal fan base,” Young adds. “If you like this style of music, we have put together a great lineup for you. And the fine music fans of Pittsburgh agree; Saturday’s single-day tickets are nearly sold out.”

Capacity for the festival is 12,500 a day.

Saturday’s lineup:

• Hozier
• The Head and the Heart
• Coin
• X Ambassadors
• Stephen Sanchez
• Andy Frasco and the UN
• The Blue Stones
• Smallpools
• Almost Monday
• Michigander
• Ruby Waters
• Abby Holliday
• Kahone Concept

Sunday’s lineup:

• Jason Mraz and His Superband
• Mt. Joy
• The Revivalists
• The Airborne Toxic Event
• Matt Maeson
• Wilderado
• The Aces
• Daisy the Great
• The Heavy Heavy
• Jess Williamson
• Ax and the Hatchetmen
• The Vindys
• The Roof

“Festivals are also about discovery; you might come to see one or two bands, and end up getting introduced to three or four more that you end up liking,” Young says. “That discovery is a very important part of the experience.”

For tickets and more information, visit the website.