Top Summer Music Events In Philadelphia
More than any other season, summer is the time to go big. For example, in June, July, and August, mere day trips do not constitute vacations. Getaways need to extend into weeks for them to officially count as a summer sojourn. The same goes for entertainment. One band on a bill is simply not enough to warrant a commotion. It takes multiple acts for a concert to register as a top event during the toastiest months of the year. The following are five of Philadelphia's most must-attend summer music events for 2015.
Third Eye Blind With Dashboard Confessional
Festival Pier at Penn's Landing
601 N. Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 629-3200
www.festivalpierphilly.com
Date: June 20, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Third Eye Blind's music is a blissful groove euphoria laced with enduring poetry that makes the band a top favorite year after year. Closing in on two decades of popularity, Third Eye Blind has that magic that makes it both cutting-edge and timeless. With a plethora of angsty standards such as "Graduate," "Semi-Charmed Life," Jumper," and "Never Let You Go," this ensemble is a definite must-see live show. And, in keeping with the spirit of the summer blockbuster theme of "one band is never enough," Dashboard Confessional, responsible for such slick charmers as "Hands Down," Stolen," and "Don't Wait," will be on hand to escalate the concert to a bona fide event!
Vans Warped Tour '15
Susquehanna Bank Center
1 Harbour Blvd.
Camden, NJ 08103
(856) 365-1300
www.vanswarpedtour.com
Date: July 10, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.
The 2015 Vans Warped Tour is the quintessential summer tour. Far more than just an event, it's an entire culture. Each stop features over one hundred performers ranging from musicians to comedians to YouTubers who represent every genre imaginable, from indie folk to hard core metal. The vast array of sponsors involved is mind-blowing. Countless clothing brands, music gear companies, restaurants, non-profits, record labels, beverage companies, and more will all be attending this fiercely engaging entertainment extravaganza. And this year, the Vans Warped Tour will be continuing the tradition of groundbreaking ideas such as donating blood for backstage passes, parents attend free, and an air conditioned Reverse Daycare Tent for those adults who simply can't keep up with the kids! The 2015 Vans Warped Tour offers massive appeal for all ages.
WXPN XPoNential 2015 Music Festival
Camden Waterfront
2 Riverside Drive
Camden, NJ 08103
(215) 898-6677
www.xpnfest.org
Dates: July 24, 2015 at 5 p.m. and July 25 & 26, 2015 at 11:30 a.m.
This summer, the Camden Waterfront will be hosting the WXPN XPoNential 2015 Music Festival. This three-day event features three stages and 30 performers and it is a veritable cornucopia of musical discovery as attendees will be exposed to some of the most refined musical acts - both established and up-and-coming - imaginable. The unifying factor bonding all of the incredible artists on this multi-day bill is that each and every one of them has been heard on Philadelphia's award-winning public radio station, WXPN. If you have a somewhat cultured musical taste and you are looking for an event that has been satisfying audiences of all ages for over ten years, the XPoNential Music Festival is your perfect fit.
Related: Top DJs In Philadelphia
54th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival
Old Pool Farm
1323 Salford Station Road
Schwenksville, PA 19473
(215) 247-1300
www.pfs.org
Dates: Aug. 14 through Aug. 16, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.
The Philadelphia Folk Festival might take place a few miles outside of Philadelphia proper, but it is an event that has been going on for over half a century, so it's well worth the trip. The festival is Pennsylvania's annual folk-themed Woodstock weekend. The family-friendly event offers camping, crafts, workshops, spontaneous collaborations, limitless jubilation, endless varieties of interactive fun, and a bountiful assemblage of some of the most revered artists in the folk music community. If you've never been, this is a definite bucket list experience along the lines of celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Under The Sun Tour: Summer 2015
Xfinity Live!
1100 Pattison Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19148
(855) 406-4119
www.ticketmaster.com
Date: Aug. 22, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.
When you think of some of the greatest songs of the 90's era bands, Better Than Ezra had "Good" and "Desperately Wanting," Eve6 gave you "Inside Out" and "Here's to the Night," Uncle Kracker brightened your day with "Follow Me" and "Smile," while Sugar Ray penned the timeless "Every Morning" and "Someday." And that's just barely scratching the surface of what these guys have to offer. Thanks to Sugar Ray's frontman extraordinaire, Mark McGrath, the Under The Sun Tour: Summer 2015 offers this dream teaming of four of the biggest acts from the 90s working together to blast you back to the past for an unforgettable concert event.
Allen Foster, a lifelong Greater Philadelphia resident, has been writing about all those wonderful things that make us feel so alive for over 20 years. He approaches each day as an adventure, eager to discover what new and vibrant surprises await just around life's corner. You can see his work on Examiner.com.
