Press Release

LIVE AND LOUD: PHILLY MUSIC NEVER SOUNDED SO GOOD
In Venues Large And Small, Musicians Of All Genres Entertain Audiences As Diverse As The Music

PHILADELPHIA, January 22, 2008 - With dozens of venues cultivating and showcasing live music throughout Philadelphia, it’s no wonder that Rolling Stone magazine’s 2007 Hot List calls the city a “hot scene” for music. It’s a city that has produced such artists as Chubby Checker, Hall & Oates and Patti LaBelle, and more recently, The Roots, Circa Survive, The Dead Milkmen, Will Smith, Eve and Pink. Here’s a look at where these musicians are getting their start or showing the world that they’ve made it:

Johnny Brenda's

Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC

 

• Hosting live jazz performances six nights a week, Chris’s Jazz Café offers drink specials, discounts (and some free shows) for college students and multiple sets a night, making it a great place to enjoy local and touring jazz musicians. All ages, 21+ to drink. 1421 Sansom Street, (215) 568-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com
• Home to jam bands, live jazz, weeknight happy hour and an extensive soul food menu, Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus is now a destination for foodies and jazz lovers alike thanks to a recent makeover. 21+. 847 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 922-1035, www.ortliebsjazzhaus.com
• A University City staple, the well-worn and well-known Natalie’s Lounge encourages talented musicians and singers, from amateur to pro, to sit in on weekly jam sessions, every Saturday night. Other nights, and after jam bands, featured artists take to the stage and play into the wee hours. 21+. 4003 Market Street, (215) 222-5162

• Church isn’t just a Sunday thing anymore. Courtesy of r5 Productions, the basement of the First Unitarian Church becomes a hot (literally) all-ages venue where local and touring bands playing indie rock, punk and independent hip-hop perform nightly. The venue is an actual religious sanctuary built in 1886, and the congregation is not affiliated with the concerts. Occasionally, r5 even rents out the chapel for more intimate, seated shows. 2125 Chestnut Street, www.r5productions.com
• Another r5 Productions favorite, the Starlight Ballroom (also known as Club Polaris) offers scenesters lots of space, comfortable—but limited—seating, a bar and a big stage to see touring and local indie bands. The Starlight’s an especially good venue for those who like to see their favorite bands up close. All ages, 21+ to drink. 460 N. 9^th Street, www.r5productions.com
• In the heart of University City lives The Rotunda, a smoke-free, drink-free, frills-free and admission-free (unless otherwise noted) space for world music, soul, hip-hop, punk and local acts. When bands aren’t playing, the socially conscious venue is used for movie screenings, yoga classes, theater projects and art exhibitions. All ages. 4014 Walnut Street, (215) 573-3234, www.therotunda.org

• There’s a little something musically for everybody at Fairmount’s North Star Bar, including indie, pop and rock. The mid-sized venue separates the concert hall from the bar area, giving concertgoers the opportunity to dance and have a good time and giving bar patrons the chance to drink and listen from afar. The setup also allows for some all-ages shows. 2639 Poplar Street, (215) 787-0488, www.northstarrocks.com
• Music lovers at The Fire, the snug venue and bar in Northern Liberties, can enjoy emerging indie rock bands, folk shows and hip-hop CD release parties here. Or, on Mondays, they can take to the stage themselves during free open-mic nights. 21+. 412 W. Girard Avenue, (267) 671-9298, www.iourecords.com/thefire
• Hipsters rejoice at Fishtown’s recently renovated hot spot, Johnny Brenda’s, where the stage is rarely empty and pints are filled with local beers. Past headliners include Do Make Say Think, Tokyo Police Club and Hail Social. To accompany their all-local beer list are local bands, opening up for larger, touring bands. 21+. 1201 N. Frankford Avenue, (215) 739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com
• What used to be a nightclub attached to a well-worn diner is now home to a thriving, dance party scene. Still known as Silk City, the diner, bar and lounge sends their DJs—who typically spin hip-hop, R&B, club music and 80s dance jams—home now and then to let live rock, psychedelic and cover bands play in the fancy new digs. What’s more, lounge-goers are just steps away from a comfortable, full-service diner churning out far-from-typical diner fare. Lounge/bar: 21+. 435 Spring Garden Street, (215) 592-8838, www.myspace.com/phillysilkcity
• Hip-shaking, head-banging fun is pretty much a guarantee at The Khyber, where live music enthusiasts can check out just about any kind of band—rock, pop, hip-hop and otherwise—every night of the week. Upstairs, DJs mix it up, and drinks are just plain cheap. 21+. 56 S. 2^nd Street, (215) 238-5888, www.thekhyber.com
• South Street is all about diversity, which is why Tritone fits right in. The bar calls itself “the most diverse music venue in Philly” and offers, among other acts, melodic rock shows (think World Blanket) and blues concerts (think Slo and Shakey). Mix all that up with acoustic open-mic nights and punk rock karaoke, and a pretty cool bar is born. 1508 South Street, (215) 545-0475, www.tritonebar.com

• The ever-versatile Trocadero Theatre in Chinatown gives fans the chance to attend shows both large and small. The main room accommodates 1,200 ticket holders (or 600, if the show’s seated), while the smaller room, located on the balcony, accommodates 250 members of the over-21 set for shows by international bands, hip-hop artists and indie rockers. 1003 Arch Street, (215) 922-LIVE, www.thetroc.com
• The smallest large venue in Philadelphia, the Fillmore at the TLA offers concertgoers a more personal environment in which to enjoy well-known metal (Ministry), hip-hop (Cypress Hill), ska (Big D and the Kids Table), punk (The Buzzcocks) and pop (The Starting Line) bands. The venue includes two bars, a snack stand and a 21+ balcony. 334 South Street, (215) 336-2000, www.livenation.com
• One of the larger venues in Philadelphia, the Electric Factory features national acts that draw crowds in the low thousands. Standing room at stage level is typically all-ages, while a balcony with unbeatable views and a full bar accommodates the 21+ crowd. Past headliners include Weezer, Ben Folds and Wu Tang Clan. 421 N. 7^th Street, (215) 336-2000, www.livenation.com
• World Cafe Live has created the perfect marriage of food, drinks and live music. Upstairs is a full service restaurant with live eclectic music on most nights and, on average, one free show (folk, soul, acoustic, pop) per week. Downstairs is a music hall (with a restaurant) that caters to a larger crowd and well-known bands. Age restrictions vary. 3025 Walnut Street, (215) 222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com

• Most recently made famous by American Idol auditions, the Wachovia Center, along with the Wachovia Spectrum, host big-name performers and accommodate sell-out crowds. Billy Joel, Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Madonna, Elton John, Led Zeppelin and Justin Timberlake have visited one or both of these arenas. 3601 S. Broad Street, (800) 298-4200, www.comcast-spectacor.com
• There’s always something to see at Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The Philadelphia Orchestra, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops®, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and world, jazz and contemporary artists pack the Avenue of the Arts venue’s calendar with a diverse lineup. 260 S. Broad Street, (215) 893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org

• The Susquehanna Bank Center, just a ferry ride away on the Camden waterfront, offers a laid-back atmosphere and a picturesque outdoor setting—perfect for Pearl Jam and Jimmy Buffet concerts. After dark, the lawn-dwellers enjoy a breathtaking view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. 1 Harbor Boulevard, Camden, NJ, (215) 336-2000, www.livenation.com
• Originally founded as the summer home of The Philadelphia Orchestra, the outdoor Mann Center for the Performing Arts is one of the largest venues of its kind in the nation. The open-air theater offers a range of arts programs, from orchestra to opera, dance to drumming and pop and jazz to rock and roll. 5201 Parkside Avenue, (215) 546-7900, www.manncenter.org
• Live Nation produces a series of outdoor concerts at the Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing. The great talent, warm air and relaxed vibe create a distinct musical experience for the crowd and the performers. Columbus Boulevard at Spring Garden Street, (215) 336-2000, www.pennslandingcorp.com

Note to Editors: For photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit our Photo Gallery.

CONTACT:

Caroline Bean, GPTMC
(215) 599-7433, caroline@gptmc.com

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