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Expand your Philly music palate this August, an event roundup

Artblog's Community Intern, Jazz pianist and Urban Studies student Ashwin Suseendran, curates a list of 9 local music events he recommends checking out this August. There's something for everyone on this list, from DJ sets to opera concerts. Zest up your summer before it ends- check out a new local music group!

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A large crowd sitting on the grass and watching a band perform on a large stage
Main stage at the Philly Folk Festival in Schwenksville. Courtesy the Philly Folk Festival official site.

As we near the end of our blistering Philadelphia Summer, we have a plethora of opportunities to go out and hear live music. A collection of nine upcoming events is listed below, spanning from large-scale festivals to intimate park concerts featuring blues, folk, opera, jazz, and more!

Friday, August 20th, 5:00 – 10:00 PM – Philly Art Collective Gallery Music Museum

Philly Art Collective, 253 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
Ticketed –$14
Indoor, near Market-Frankford line, Call (267) 815-1461 with accessibility concerns

Old City’s classic gallery for community arts is back with a showcase of 200+ portraits of influential artists and musical icons. Numerous DJs and live performers will decorate the night’s soundscape.

Saturday, August 21st, 12:00 PM-10:00 PM and August 22nd, 12:00 AM – 10:00 PM – Philadelphia Folk Festival

Spring Mountain Ski Area, 757 Spring Mountain Road, Schwenksville, PA
Ticketed — Prices start at $65; kids under 10 are free; ages 11-17 are 50% off
See website for accessibility information – 6 person covid-safe pods are available starting at $510, and parking is $15 a car on-site or free with a shuttle to the site. A digital version is also available.

Tune in for the 59th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival, a longstanding Philly tradition since Pete Seeger’s acoustic serenade in ‘62. 1000 tickets will be sold for the full in-person experience while the others can tune in for curated music, campfire open mics, craft shows, and zoom campsites.

Tuesday, August 24th, 4:00 – 6:00 PM – Concert in the Park: Belleville Quartet

Bardascino Park, 1000 S 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Free — RSVP
Wheelchair accessible, close to Broad Street Line, Outdoors

As part of a Summer free outdoor concert series, Belleville Quartet will bring their acoustic set of bright tunes ranging from Eastern European folk to gypsy jazz.

Thursday, August 26th, 7:00 PM (5:30 Doors) – An Evening of Vocal Fireworks: Amici e Rivali

Mann Center for Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
Ticketed — Prices start at $25
Wheelchair accessible, all ages, parking available

As part of the Mann’s Summer Picnic Series, Opera Philadelphia presents tenors, Lawrence Brownlee and Michael Spyres, for a masterful vocal showcase as well as a colorful fireworks display.

Aerial view of The Mann Center's large stage and seats, with trees and the Philadelphia skyline in the background.
Philly’s famed Mann Center for Performing Arts, venue for “An Evening of Vocal Fireworks: Amici e Rivali.” Courtesy The Mann Center for Performing Arts.

Friday, August 27th, 12:00 – 2:00 PM – Lancaster Avenue Jazz and Arts Festival

The Porch at 30th Street Station, 2949 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
Free — RSVP
Near Market-Frankford line, outdoors, Call (215) 243-0555 for accessibility inquiries

Swing by The Porch at 30th Street Station to hear a preview of this year’s annual jazz and arts festival in West Philly. A performance will be given by The Ivory Keys.

Friday, August 27th, 6:00 – 8:30 PM – Frankie Velardo and Jackson Taylor Lee Band w/ Philadelphia Blues Society

The Farm at Awbury Arboretum, 6336 Ardleigh Street, Philadelphia, PA
Ticketed — $10
Outdoors, parking available on Ardleigh Street or Washington Lane, limited table seating available, bring your own chairs, blanket, and picnic.

Enjoy some gritty, old-fashioned blues amidst the greenery of picturesque Awbury Arboretum. Craft beer will be available for purchase, courtesy of local vendor, Crooked Eye Brewing of Hatboro.

Saturday, August 28th, 2:00 – 10:00 PM – Summer of Love, 60’s Music Fest

Haddon Square, 51 Haddon Ave, Haddon Township, NJ
Free — Info
Near Haddonfield PATCO stop, outdoors, family friendly

Tune into Haddon Avenue’s hippie-themed block party, including live music, artisans, food trucks, a kid zone, and a beer garden! Just a short train ride or drive out of Philly, Haddonfield’s bustling main street is filled with quirky shops and vendors.

Saturday, August 28th, 3:00 – 11:00 PM – S’morefest Music Festival

One Art Community Center, 5150 Warren Street, Philadelphia, PA
Ticketed — Prices start at $99
Wheelchair accessible, outdoors, reachable by trolley

Come on out to West Philly for an outdoor music festival with unlimited s’mores and performances by Masego, Jon Vinyl, Abby Jasmine, and many more. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the United Negro College Fund.

Sunday, August 29th, 7:30 PM (6:30 doors) – Rebirth Brass Band w/ Mervin Toussaint

Milkboy, 1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Ticketed — Prices start at $30
Indoors with mask mandate, wheelchair accessible, reachable by SEPTA

New Orleans-based Brass Band brings their fiery live set back to Philadelphia, creating a fusion of jazz, funk, soul, and R&B.

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