The popular Summer Nights at the Penn Museum concert series returns Wednesday, June 20, and we’re happy to announce the opening night special for our readers. The series features live music performances from some of Philadelphia’s best live bands—offering the sounds of Creole Zydeco, Latin Jazz, Middle Eastern folk, Pre-Revolutionary Cuba, and more. Concerts are held in the Penn Museum’s outdoor Stoner Courtyard every Wednesday night from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., will run through Sept. 5.

The opening night will feature the Middle Eastern-fusion sounds of Animus,the perfect group to kick off the concert season as the museum celebrates the opening of its new Middle East Galleries. Primarily an Eastern Mediterranean/Middle Eastern/Latin/American fusion ensemble, Animus also performs traditional Eastern Mediterranean/Middle Eastern music.  Continue Reading

West Philly Porchfest, an outdoor DIY music festival, is returning this Saturday (June 2) with dozens of free shows scheduled from 12 to 6 p.m. This year, musicians and groups representing various musical genres will be performing on porches in the area stretching from Market Street to Woodland Avenue and from 40th to 52nd Streets.

The festival organizers have created a useful map showing host porch locations and show times. All performances are divided into three groups. From 12 to 2 p.m., shows will be held on porches on and south of Baltimore Ave. From 2 to 4 p.m., most performances will be held north of Baltimore Ave. between 48th and 52nd Streets. And finally, from 4 to 6 p.m., check out performances north of Baltimore Ave. between 40th and 48th Streets. There are a few exceptions though (one show will be held near 58th and Osage), so make sure to go to the West Philly Porchfest website to check out the map.

This is the festival’s third year. Last year, 69 porches participated in the event.

Another great West Philly summer tradition, Jazz Heritage Series, will kick off this Thursday (May 24) at Malcolm X Park at 52nd and Pine. The series, presented by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and co-hosted by the Friends of Malcolm X Park and Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, will feature free live performances by well-known Philadelphia area musicians every other Thursday (weather permitted) at 7 p.m. through September 13. Here’s the full lineup:

May 24 – Keni Jackson, Experience
June 7 – Keyboardist Glenn Bryan & Friends
June 21 – The Budesa Brothers
July 5 – Drummer Carlos DeVaughn & The All-Stars
July 19 – Vocalist Shirley Lites
Aug. 2 – Bassist Tony (TNT) Jones & Beyond The Dream
Aug. 16 – The Barbara Walker Story
Aug. 30 – The Clef Club Student Ensemble
Sept. 13 – The Sam Reed Band

Just a reminder that Cedar Park Jazz series will also return this summer. The first performance is next Friday, June 1, at 6 p.m.

The Woodlands historic grounds is hosting the Spring edition of Go West! Craft Fest this Saturday (April 28), 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The popular West Philly festival and craft market will feature handmade items from about 100 local makers, plus live music, food trucks, children’s activities, and acrobatic performances.

This is a great opportunity to spend a nice spring day outdoors and also shop for unique Mother’s Day gifts. There will be a lot to choose from, including artisan jewelry, ceramics, home wares, clothing, cards, candles, soaps, scents, sweets, toys, tinctures, treasures, and works of art! You can check the vendor list before heading out to the Fest here.

Also check out the entertainment schedule:  Continue Reading

                       Photo by Rana Fayez

Do you have a porch? Do you love live music? Would you like to have live music on your porch? Then there’s some good news! The third annual West Philly Porchfest is happening June 2nd, 2018 and you can be part of it.

An outdoor music festival where the stages are neighborhood porches, Porchfest started in Ithaca, NY back in 2007. The concept spread across the country, and made it here to West Philly in 2016. The festival is volunteer-run and completely free, and you can sign up as a band, as a porch or just as a general volunteer.  Continue Reading

Jaleel Shaw’s Band performed at the 11th Annual Lancaster Ave Jazz & Arts Festival in July 2017. (Photo by Kevin Smith)

Come July, the Lancaster Avenue Jazz and Arts Festival, a great summer tradition in the Powelton neighborhood, will return to Saunders Park. The National Endowment for the Arts has recently announced that it will support this year’s festival with a Challenge America grant of $10,000.

The NEA has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of its first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. The Challenge America category features NEA support for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations – those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability, according to the announcement.  Continue Reading