Canadian haute rock band Young Empires has recently stopped by Sweetgreen at 40th & Walnut to present the restaurant’s first “Sweetlife” music session. The guys seemed to enjoy their short stay (and Sweetgreen salads). See snippets from their live set and a brief interview below.
Sweetgreen’s Sweetlife sessions were launched earlier this month and already featured two bands giving free performances. There will be some more great bands coming through West Philly soon. Keep an eye on our Events calendar for announcements.
Starting tonight, there will be a new opportunity to enjoy music and dancing from Africa and the African diaspora at Elena’s Soul Showcase Lounge & Cafe.
Every first Thursday of the month, Elena’s will host the “Sonic Diaspora Dance Party” featuring DJs Brotha Onaci (the People’s DJ Collective) and Champe’ (Lion’s Den Productions) spinning music from traditions as diverse as Afrobeat, Cumbia, Kuduro, Reggae, House, Afro-Latin, Dancehall, and Soca.
Opportunities can be rare to listen and dance to African inspired music, and for many who follow the genre, Onaci is a welcome addition to the West Philadelphia music scene. Having moved from Chicago to West Philadelphia in August 2011, Onaci has made his mark in Philadelphia by performing for Occupy Philadelphia and Sanctuary Holistic Arts, in addition to spending time with broadcasting staff at WPEB 88.1.
Tonight’s Sonic Diaspora is a special celebration of Bob Marley in honor of his birthday on February 6, and there will be Marley tunes every hour, in addition to the high energy dance beats.
Project Theater Project, a community-based company working on the local production of the School Edition of the musical RENT, set up an IndieGoGo fundraising page to help this project several weeks ago. So far they have raised only about a third of their goal and there is just a week left.
To help get a final push toward their goal the project has begun the 11520 Minutes campaign. The fundraising goal can be achieved if just about 180 people donate only $10. To donate please go here.
Twelve talented young people aged 16-23 have been cast for roles in this musical. This is a rare opportunity for high school aged teens since many school music and theater programs have been cut.
Set in the East Village of New York City the show is about AIDS, HIV, drug usage, homosexuality, and gentrification. But it’s also about falling in love and finding your voice.
The shows begin on Dec. 4 at The Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street) and ticket prices are kept low. To order tickets go here. For the full show schedule please check The Rotunda’s events calendar.
33 percent of the profits will go to the cast in the form of scholarships to help the teens reach their dreams as performers.
The Porch, a recently opened public space near the 30th Street Station, already has a busy schedule of music, entertainment and recreational events until the end of this year. French swing accordion music by Dallas Vietty is at lunchtime on Tuesdays. There’s a Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays and traditional and original Eastern European and Balkan music by West Philadelphia Orchestra on Thursdays.
Apart from music, West Philly residents and visitors are invited to participate in fitness sessions organized by Drexel University’s Recreational Athletics staff. On Fridays, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. there will be a lunchtime boot camp featuring an intense 60-minute session of cardio, strength and agility drills. On Dec. 2 and 9 don’t miss cardio kickboxing workouts accompanied by high energy music (think about going back to work re-energized after those).
What about kids? There is something for them to do too. The Give and Take Jugglers and their Little Circus are there on Fridays from 4 – 6 p.m.
Finally, this Saturday, Nov. 19 don’t miss the Fall Festival from 11:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. There will be live music by West Philly’s Citywide Specials, a cooking demonstration and honey, food and apple cider tasting with Milk & Honey, Urban Apiaries, The Restaurant School and Bartram’s Garden, street puppetry from Geppetta, circus performances, and a homespun merry-go-round. The first 100 people will get free S’More’s kits! For more information go here.
The school year has begun and many parents are looking for afterschool and weekend activities for their children. We have come across a couple of flyers – one is an afterschool art program (we gave them a ring and learned that it’s a new program run by artist Rachel Louis) and the other is a weekend music program by Intercultural Family Services, Inc. We’ll be adding more such information as it comes. If you know of more afterschool programs for kids in the area email us at: editor [at] westphillylocal.com or leave a comment.
We are well into August (isn’t the summer flying by?) and more and more arts and entertainment places are putting the finishing touches on their fall/winter programs.
Crossroads Music (801 S. 48th Street) has just announced some of their fall/winter shows. The new season begins September 10 with a performance by West Philly bands Electric Simcha and Stinking Lizaveta.
West Philly’s Stinking Lizaveta will open the new season at Crossroads Music.
The new program also features music performances in a variety of genres, including classical, folk, klezmer, and world music by a group of international artists.
Ticket prices for performances at Crossroads Music usually range from $10-30. For more information on the shows go here. Crossroads Music is still working on adding more dates to the new schedule.
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