|
 |
|
Philadelphia and the Countryside™ Calendar of Events
Music Festivals And Events In The Greater Philadelphia Region May Through September 2007
Press Release
PHILADELPHIA AND THE COUNTRYSIDE™ CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Music Festivals And Events In The Greater Philadelphia Region
May Through September 2007
MAY 2007
May 8-29, 2007
215HIPHOP.COM ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SERIES. 215hiphop.com celebrates its anniversary with a series of weekly events at the Bamboo Lounge. Every Tuesday in May, a different pair of DJs from the dynamic Skratch Makaniks crew spins tag-team style. (215) 636-0228, 215hiphop.com
Odunde Festival
Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC
ART AFTER 5. Every Friday night through June, the Philadelphia Museum of Art stays open late and treats patrons to a themed evening of food, drink and music. Highlights of these weekend starters include renowned jazz pianist Aaron Goldberg (May 11), Grammy Award-winning drummer and frequent Marsalis collaborator (Wynton and Branford); Jeff “Tain” Watts (May 25); and the Hoenig-Pilc Project (June 15). (215) 763-8100, www.philamuseum.org
May 11-June 29, 2007
ARS NOVA’S SPRING/SUMMER CONCERT SERIES. Over the course of the past seven years, local jazz aficionado Mark Christman has brought avant-garde and world jazz to the Philadelphia stage. Known as Ars Nova, the spring concert series boasts some major players, from saxophonist Tim Berne and bassist Michael Formanek to violinist Billy Bang and pianists Myra Melford and Vijay Iver. The particulars are numerous and detailed, and performances are held at a wide array of venues throughout the city. (215) 805-3376, www.arsnovaworkshop.com
May 24-27, 2007
BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL & SOUL PATROL CONVENTION. This three-day event showcases black culture, heritage and music events at Clark Park and the Enterprise Center. Scheduled events include a film festival, cabaret, awards presentation, concert, town hall panels, kid’s activities and more. Attendees will jam to 51 artists from the world of classic soul, neo-soul and jazz, including artists such as Chi-Lites, Mandrill, Melba Moore, Michael Henderson, Marlon Saunders/Jazzhole, Martha Redbone, Geri Allen and more. (609) 351-0154, www.soul-patrol.com
May 26-27, 2007
CAPTAIN MORGAN’S JAM ON THE RIVER. Now in its 22nd year, this annual Penn’s Landing Memorial Day weekend tradition continues to showcase big-name acts in an ideal riverfront festival setting. This year’s lineup features a trio of behemoths in the jam band circuit, including Dark Star Orchestra, Sound Tribe Sector 9 and local boys-done-good the Disco Biscuits. Reggae legends The Wailers will also perform, along with The Common. Following the daytime concerts, the fun rolls on through dark at the Electric Factory with headliners Sound Tribe Sector 9 and the Disco Biscuits. (215) 336-2000, www.jamontheriver.com
JUNE 2007
June 1-29, 2007
FRIDAY NIGHT GOSPEL CELEBRATION. Every Friday night in June, the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing is transformed into a bastion of jubilant worship as the sweet sounds of praise and thanksgiving fill the air. The series features some of the top locally and nationally recognized gospel choirs. Highlights of the series include the traditional stylings of Divine Praise Music Ministry (June 8), the contemporary gospel approach of J. Moss (June 29) and the wide array of styles employed by Philadelphia’s own Jameelia Drinks (June 22), who swings from heartfelt acoustic numbers to N’awlins-style gospel. DJ Praze of the Rugged Cross crew fills the warm-up slot every week. (215) 922-2FUN, www.pennslandingcorp.com
June 2, 2007
APPEL FARM ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL. The 2007 edition of this family favorite features a slew of young artists, including pedal steel maestro Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Philadelphia’s own Amos Lee, blues band North Mississippi Allstars and more. (800) 394-1211, www.appelfarm.org
June 3-September 16, 2007
PECO MULTICULTURAL SERIES. Throughout the summer, the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing plays host to 11 separate festivals, each celebrating the history and culture of a distinct ethnic group. Beginning with the Portuguese Heritage Festival (June 3) and stretching all the way to the Mexican Independence Day Festival (September 16), this series celebrates the diversity of heritages represented throughout the Philadelphia area and beyond. Ethnic music, food and crafts are highlights of all festivals. (215) 922-2FUN, www.pennslandingcorp.com
June 8-10, 2007
ODUNDE FESTIVAL. What began as a meager block party in 1975 with a $100 grant and a little help from the African-American community in South Philadelphia has blossomed into a street fair that encompasses much of the city’s Grays Ferry section and draws upwards of half a million people each year. The festival’s origins are rooted in Nigerian folklore and the event is designed to be a celebration and commemoration of the West African new year. In addition to a colorful parade and an eclectic mix of vendors, the festival is full of musical performances drawing from every sector of the African nations, the Caribbean and Brazil. (215) 732-8510, www.odundeinc.org
June 22-24, 2007
WEST OAK LANE JAZZ & ARTS FESTIVAL. The fourth annual edition of this free outdoor extravaganza boasts some of the biggest names in the jazz and funk world. Featuring mainstays like Roy Ayers, the Ohio Players and WAR, alongside relative newcomers Kevin Mahogany and Pieces of a Dream, the West Oak Lane lineup spans epochs and genres. A four-stage setup allows for simultaneous performances throughout the festival grounds and opens the slate for local favorites such as Bootsie Barnes, Jamaaladeen Tacuma and the legendary and otherworldly Sun Ra Arkestra. (800) 505-8385, www.westoaklanefestival.com
June 26-July 27, 2007
PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA AT THE MANN. Over the course of a single month, the Philadelphia Orchestra graces the stage at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts no fewer than nine times. During their extended run, the Orchestra, mainly led by conductor Rossen Milanov, with a few guest conductors sprinkled throughout the series, tackle the works of Beethoven (with fireworks), Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky (with more fireworks), to name just a few. Each performance features a special guest musician, including world famous violinist Itzhak Perlman. (215) 546-7900, www.manncenter.org
June 28-July 4, 2007
SUNOCO WELCOME AMERICA! This weeklong celebration of America’s independence features everything from daytime concerts in the Love Park, to twilight gospel and opera concerts, to a Philly Pops performance led by Peter Nero in the shadow of Independence Hall. The festivities on Saturday, June 30 are topped off with a massive fireworks display, following a show headlined by funk legend Chaka Khan. Everything culminates around dusk on the Fourth as Philly’s favorite sons, Hall & Oates take the stage in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and entertain the masses with selections from their hit-laden catalog of sweet pop. (215) 683-2200, www.americasbirthday.com
JULY 2007
July 6-27, 2007
BANK OF AMERICA SOUNDS OF R&B SERIES. Fridays in July are devoted to rhythm and blues at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing. Kicking off the series July 6 is Philadelphia native Jazmine Sullivan, performing with soul singer/songwriter Eric Roberson, followed by neo-soul artist Donnie on July 13. The latter two weeks of the month offer the real showstoppers. Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated heartthrob Musiq Soulchild takes the stage on July 20, followed by Black Lily’s own Kindred the Family Soul on July 27. Opener DJ Statik kicks off every week with his turntable trickery. (215) 922-2FUN, www.pennslandingcorp.com
July 15, July 17 and September 8, 2007
MANN FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA SHOWS. This summer’s concert schedule at The Mann Center features three unique performers accompanied by The Mann Festival Orchestra. The first pairing is that of indie rock faves The Decemberists backed up by the Orchestra on July 15. Just two nights later former American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken collaborates with the versatile Orchestra. The third leg of The Mann Festival Orchestra experiment takes place on September 8 with early punk rocker and new wave maven Elvis Costello. (215) 546-7900, www.manncenter.org
AUGUST 2007
August 3-31, 2007
SMOOTH JAZZ SUMMER NIGHTS. The Friday night concert series at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing rolls on through August with a sampling of top-notch contemporary jazz artists. Opening the series on August 3, saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa and guitarist Ken Navarro pump out soothing sounds. Saxophone masters Jeff Lorber and Steve Cole perform on August 10 and 17, respectively. Then, Chieli Minucci and Special EFX bring their unique jazz sounds to the stage August 24. Closing out the summer concert series in grand fashion, Bobby Caldwell and the Smooth Summer All-Star Band perform soul music. (215) 922-2FUN, www.pennslandingcorp.com
August 9, 2007
HIPPIEFEST. It’s 1960s throwback time at The Mann Center when The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie, The Zombies, Badfinger, Mountain and Country Joe McDonald take the stage. (215) 546-7900, www.manncenter.org
August 15-September 5, 2007
PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY’S RITTENHOUSE SQUARE CONCERTS IN THE PARK. A perennial favorite for city dwellers, this annual free concert series consistently stays ahead of the curve, providing an outlet for local cutting-edge artists and more established national acts. This year’s lineup runs the gamut from the cream of Philly’s hip hop crop BurnDown All-stars and Yah Mos Def (August 15) to local space rockers Asteroid #4 (September 5). The godfathers of Mexican surf rock, Los Straitjackets, team up with rockabilly royalty Big Sandy on August 29. The gem of the series, however, may be the August 22 performance of Pitchfork Darlings and local carnivalesque minstrels Man Man. (215) 563-7400, www.philadelphiaweekly.com
August 17-19, 2007
PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL. Still going strong after 45 years, the Folk Festival is an annual rite for thousands of music lovers and their families. A three-day jamboree complete with dance, craft displays and kids’ activities, the festival has developed into an event that’s about much more than just music. That said, the music still holds center stage. This year’s festival promises more than 55 hours of music from the likes of bluegrass legend Doc Watson, fingerpicking phenom Sam Bush, soulstress Mavis Staples, acclaimed newcomer Elvis Perkins and scores of additional artists. (215) 242-0150, www.folkfest.org
August 31-September 15, 2007
PHILADELPHIA LIVE ARTS FESTIVAL & PHILLY FRINGE. Philadelphia’s answer to Reading, England’s Fringe Festival, this annual roundup of bold and daring performance art, dance, theater and music has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception in 1997. Although the intended focus of the two-week festival is on performance art, the musical acts featured have grown in number and talent year after year. Past performers include the dreamy Elysian Fields, the profound Chocolate Genius and the raunchy Dirty Diamond, a Neil Diamond impersonator who substitutes filthy lyrics for Neil’s original heartfelt offerings. (215) 413-9006, www.livearts-fringe.org
Note to Editors: For photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit our Photo Gallery. On the pressroom, you can also subscribe to RSS feeds to receive updates on topics that are specifically of interest to you: What’s New, Dining, Events, Seasonal Travel, Hotel Packages and Tourism Research.
CONTACT:
Caroline Bean, GPTMC
(215) 599-7433, caroline@gptmc.com
_
Related RSS Feeds
| Topic |
XML Feeds |
What's New
This feed will be updated whenever any new content is added to Gophila.com’s Press Room. It includes all topics. |
 |
Events
Special exhibitions, shows, festivals, annual events and ongoing happenings
|
|
What is RSS?
|