Sat, June 19 - Sun, June 20, 2010
3pm - Dawn | Rain or Shine | Kimmel Center

Kick off the summer in style as artists from Philly and beyond descend on the Kimmel Center for fifteen hours of nonstop fun—all for only $10! During the day, enjoy family activities, face painting, classical, and dance performances. As the sun sets, get down with indie bands, club dancing, Forte's late-night lounge, and a drag show. Finally, welcome the new day with a sunrise drum circle, BYOD (bring your own drum)!

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3pm-5pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Family
Zoo On Wheels
The Philadelphia Zoo visits the Kimmel Center! Stop by the Zoo's station where you can experience live animals and talk to their traveling naturalists about the animals and learn bio-facts.

3pm-6pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Family
Face Painting
Free face painting from Creative Face.

3pm - 7pm | Tier One | Visual Arts
Artist Vendors
Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, presented by the Center for Emerging Visual Artists
As the largest tour of artist studios in the region, Philadelphia Open Studio Tours offers a unique and intimate way to view, purchase, and learn about a wide variety of visual art. Stay tuned for more work by these talented local artists during the first two weekends in October.

3pm | Innovation Studio | Family
Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale
with Soundtrack Featuring The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
A special showing of the Warner Brothers animated film, Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale, with soundtrack featuring the members of The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

3pm-6pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Family
Please Touch Museum “Play Patrol”
Kids of all ages can participate in exciting activities hosted by Please Touch Museum’s "Play Patrol."

3:15pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Dance
Traditional Cambodian Dance Ensemble
Preserving the Cambodian culture, dance and language, this program works to unify communities by promoting understandings of cultural differences. Comprised of children and young people ages four to 25, the Troupe performs traditional Cambodian dance throughout the city and beyond and takes to the Kimmel stages for the first time as part of Solstice. Presented by the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia.

3:30pm | Verizon Hall | Jazz
Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble
This ensemble of young talented musicians, comprised primarily of middle school students, trains with accomplished jazz musicians and teachers to perform in the first regional ensemble specializing in jazz. These talented students are directed by Marc Johnson.

3:45 | Rendell Room | Classical
Liebesfreud
The Philadelphia-based Liebesfreud is an ensemble devoted primarily to the performance of great literature for the string quartet. The name, meaning Love's Joy, is best known as that of a heartfelt piece by beloved violinist Fritz Kreisler.

4:30pm | Innovation Studio | Family
The Paisley Pickles
Founded in 2008, the Paisley Pickles have been capturing the hearts of young “Pickle Heads” with their catchy Pickle tunes and their handsome Pickle attire. But they don’t only appeal to the tiny future leaders of our world – they also have the ability to charm fully-grown human beings. Sponsored in part by PNC Grow Up Great.

4:30pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Jazz
Hoppin’ John Orchestra
A group of ten professional musicians from all corners of musical Philadelphia brought together to make great music. The Hoppin’ John Orchestra specialize in New Orleans brass band style, Jazz, both modern and historic, Dixieland and pre-Rock and Roll Rhythm and Blues. A smattering of original hard-to-define compositions rounds out their eclectic style.

5pm | Verizon Hall | Indie
Toy Soldiers
Philadelphia's Toy Soldiers are an eclectic group of friends and musicians that have wandered in and out of the roots of American music, jumping around the spectrum uncontrollably with a wide array of instruments and a stockpile of singers. Their first album Whisper Down the Lane was released nationally on MAD Dragon records in May. WXPN's Bruce Warren describes the group as "a righteous collection of rootsy, jangly, scraggly, soulful indie inspired songs that bring to mind Shangri-La era Kinks, Nashville Skyline-era Dylan, Bright Eyes and the Black Keys, The Coasters and Carl Perkins. Rock it."

5pm | Rendell Room | Classical
Mari-Liis Pakk & Jason Calloway
Landmark 20th-century works for violin and cello Violinist, Mari-Liis Pakk and cellist, Jason Calloway, take you on a musical travelogue of the twentieth century, as they explore solo and duo works from Cambodia, Estonia, France, Greece, Japan, and the USA, from composers including America's elder statesman, centenarian Elliott Carter, to the pre-war music of little-known Estonian master, Heino Eller.

6pm | Cadence Restaurant | Food
Kimmel's Clash of the Kitchens: Chefs Brown vs. Nunez
4 Courses • 3 Rounds • 2 Chefs • 1 Winner! YOU decide
Summer Solstice heats up with our own version of Top Chef at Cadence Restaurant! Chefs Will Brown and J.C. Nunez highlight four key seasonal ingredients from local sources in this four-course food fight to the finish. They cook. You choose. Reserve in advance for the $45 prix-fixe* dining experience and Solstice admission is included. For reservations call 215-670-2388 or visit opentable.com.
*Plus tax and gratuity.

6pm | Commonwealth Plaza | African Dance and Drum
Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble
This diverse Ensemble includes performers spanning four generations of inner-city African-American families from different backgrounds. Founded and directed by Robert and Wanda Dickerson this ensemble is sanctioned the best of its kind in the category of African-American Dance & Drum in America by scholars and African Djelis (historians). Sponsored in part by PNC Grow Up Great.

6pm | Innovation Studio | Dance
Rennie Harris RHAW
Rennie Harris RHAW was conceived in 2007 as a youth organization driven by community outreach and education. Harris‘ inspiration for this company was inspired by the overwhelming interest from teens and young adults to join his internationally renowned company, Puremovement. RHAW teaches and performs street dance techniques such as Campbell Locking, Popping & Boogaloo, House and Hip Hop dance.

6:15pm | Rendell Room | Classical
The Munier Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra
The Munier Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra was formed in 1957 and named after the great composer, teacher and mandolin virtuoso, Carlo Munier. The Orchestra’s repertoire ranges from the Baroque, through the romantic Neapolitan songs and operatic arias of the nineteenth century, to recent works composed and arranged specifically for the mandolin orchestra.

6:30pm | Verizon Hall | Dance
Miro Dance Theatre presents Best of The Miro Mash-Ups
Miro Dance Theatre has spent the Spring in a creative laboratory process known as the Miro Mash-Ups. For three sessions, the company has gone into an intensive and experimental one week process with a rock band (Toy Soldiers), a composer, and its core dancers to come out four days later and present what they have created. Miro will present a “Best-Of” the Mash-Ups series in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center and will feature performances from all three Mash-Ups.

7pm-1am | Commonwealth Plaza | Variety
Henna Tattoo Designs

7pm-1am | Commonwealth Plaza | Variety
Tarot Card Readings

7pm-1am | Commonwealth Plaza | Variety
Chair Massage Therapy
$1/minute professional chair massages.

7:30pm | Commonwealth Plaza | World
Tato Torres & Yerbabuena
Yerbabuena is a group of composed of musicians, singers and dancers from the New York City area, who share an intense passion for the musical traditions of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean under the musical direction of singer-composer-musician Tato Torres. Their performances feel like a cross between a jam in the park, a spiritual ceremony and a family reunion. The music they play is, by nature, participatory—whether bomba, plena or música jíbara, it's all interactive! Presented in association with Afrotaino Productions.

7:30pm | Innovation Studio | Hip Hop R&B
MB3 Entertainment Showcase
Starring: Team IceCream, Pride, Billias Clan, Hoffa, J Fresh, Promise, FOE, Living Lavish Production, Young Tech, Remy & MORE!!

7:30pm | Rendell Room | Singer/Songwriter
Philadelphia Songwriters Project Showcase
Ryan Tennis, Tania Alexandra, The Fleeting Ends and Johnny Miles
More than 600 contestants entered this year’s Philadelphia Songwriters Project event. Come see an eclectic showcase featuring the four winners!

8pm | Verizon Hall | Gospel
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Mass Choir
Established in 1876, Enon is the oldest African-American Baptist Church in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. This majestic 80-100 member choir will perform uplifting spirituals, and traditional and contemporary choral music.

9pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Ska Rock
On Display
Blending an exciting and engaging live performance, with crisp and polished melodies, On Display represents an alternative to your typical "rock show." Combining a wide array of musical styles, including rock, ska, blues, reggae and pop, these Philly natives are quickly developing a strong reputation in the local music scene.

9pm | Innovation Studio | Spoken Word
First Person Arts Story Slam: Song & Dance
First Person Arts StorySlams are twice-monthly, real-life storytelling competitions that take place at L'Etage Cabaret and World Cafe Live... and at Summer Solstice! For those brave enough to approach the mic and share a story, this year's theme is Song and Dance. Sign-ups will take place outside of Innovation Studio prior to performance time. Hosted by Victor Fiorillo, A&E Editor of Philadelphia Magazine and pianist for The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret.

9:30pm | Rendell Room | Comedy
Meet Market: This is Your Dating Life
The hit improv comedy 'MEET MARKET' comes from NYC to dig into the audience’s dating closet and drag out the skeletons for the world to see. The cast features eight improvisers looking for love—and direction. The audience suggests personality quirks and shares dating stories to help create the most innocent or unusual characters and events. The cast brings these lovers to life in an improvised Dating Game. The laughs begin as the couples mingle for a night of romance—or Rolaids. True love is a rare and beautiful flower and dating is the thorns! This is one date you won't want to miss.

9:30pm | Verizon Hall | Brazilian
PhillyBloco
Experience the joy and excitement of the PhillyBloco! With a 12-person Brazilian Drumming Troupe as it's core, PhillyBloco's 20 members perform a raucous mash-up of Samba, Funk, Reggae, New Orleans 2nd Line and more. With it's irresistible rhythms and infectious energy, PhillyBloco will get you out of your seat and dancing in the aisles!

10pm | Perelman Theater | Jazz/Neo-Soul
Phillies L.X.G. featuring Lauren Lark
Phillies LXG is a group of Philadelphia's up and coming premiere jazz musicians. Each individual of the group has world renowned status playing all over America and covering five of the seven continents. LXG plays originals and standards, deeply rooted in the tradition of Jazz with the flavor and relevance of today's popular music of Hip-Hop, R&B and Neo-Soul.

10pm-2am | Hamilton Rooftop Garden | Variety
Forte's Late Night Lounge
Forte, the Kimmel Center’s Young Professionals group, hosts a Late-Night Lounge on the rooftop garden for an escape from the noisy crowds below. Enjoy silent films on a giant blow-up screen, tarot card readers, drink specials, old school board games, henna designs and snazzy giveaways.

10:30pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Drag Show
Bob & Barbara's Drag Show
The notorious Bob & Barbara's Drag Night joins us again with amazing drag queen performances. "One of the longest running drag spectacles in the city...Brassy, a little gritty and real in a way that would make any Philadelphian, gay or straight, proud." — AOL Cityguide Philadelphia

11pm | Rendell Room | Variety
The Philadelphia Ukulele Orchestra
The Philadelphia All-star Ukulele Orchestra is a twelve piece ensemble comprised of bohemians, libertines and ukulele enthusiasts, on a crusade to promote truth and beauty through that most democratic of musical instruments. The group was assembled by the mysterious and inscrutable Professor Phineas Q. Tinkelbottom, who managed to transform a group of social misfits into a fantastic and single minded collective, bent on spreading the gospel of the ukulele to all those with open ears and an open heart.

11pm | Innovation Studio | Rock
Stolen Rhodes
Classic rock meets modern sounds, Bruce Springsteen meets Dave Matthews. However you describe it, Delaware Valley band Stolen Rhodes makes music to please almost any crowd. At every show, audiences are guaranteed to see a unique performance by talented musicians playing real instruments, making real music.

11:15pm | Verizon Hall | Rock
Tommy Conwell
With his rough and ready rock 'n' roll band, The Young Rumblers, in tow, Tommy Conwell took Philadelphia, America, and the world by storm in the mid-1980s. While rocking Dick Clark's The American Music Awards, The Late Show with David Letterman, and stages from Juniata to Japan, Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers were a fixture on Philly radio in the mid '80s and early '90s with hits like "I'm Not Your Man" and "If We Never Meet Again." When asked what to expect from his current show, Tommy replies, "All killer, no filler. Just the hits, dude." Don't miss it.

11:30pm | Perelman Theater | Hip Hop
Bahamadia
Bahamadia, the reigning Queen of Hip Hop and female protégée of Gangstarr's Guru, rose to hip hop royalty through popular underground and burgeoning commercial success since the earliest days of the genre. Through an expanded global "cult" fan base from Japan to Europe and across the USA, Bahamadia's 4th global release HERE hits iTunes worldwide this summer with joyful anticipation. Through ground-breaking collaborations with artists like Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, Sweetback (Sade & Maxwell's band), drum 'n' base auteur and Mercury Award winner Roni Size, and others, the only thing between Bahamadia and that special glorified status is the present moment and HERE.

12:30am | Commonwealth Plaza | Funk
Sophistafunk
Combining the sounds of live funk, soul, and dance music with the intensity of hip hop and spoken-word poetry, Sophistafunk, a trio of "top notch musicians," has invented its own original style of cross-genre music. The Syracuse-based band are winners of the 2009 Syracuse Big Break Contest and put on a show that leaves audiences so energized they're gasping for air.

12:30am | Innovation Studio | Fusion
Gina Ferrera & Polysonic
Gina Ferrera brings a lifetime of education and knowledge about traditional gyil (a pentatonic xylophone from Ghana) music mixed with the current state of music . Her most recent recording is a multi-layered, electronic, global rhythm experiment featuring the gyil in a cross-cultural presentation with other forms of world music, and urban Philly influence.

12:45am | Perelman Theater | Electro Pop
The ReBel Yell
T.R.Y. is The ReBeL Yell. With lead vocals by Domini Quinn SupaStar, and production from Khari Ferrari Mateen and Grammy winner James Poyser, The ReBeL Yell creates electric sounds to think and dance to. T.R.Y. brings hip-hop to electronica, politically incorrect lyrics to melodious beat breaks, and un-orthodox style to the performance aesthetic. In other words, The ReBeL Yell is a revolution! The group's debut album is entitled Love & War.

2am | Commonwealth Plaza | Electronic
Rob Paine
Rob Paine—Philly DJ, producer, record label owner and event promoter—spins a mix of traditional house music with a twist of reggae. Rob's longtime-running "Shakedown", Philly's premier House Music event, happens every second Saturday at the Barbary. He can also be found DJing traditional reggae tunes under the alias Solomonic Sound System.

3:30am | Commonwealth Plaza | Electronic
DJ RAHSAAN
Dance into the twilight to the global mix of DJ Rahsaan. Afro-Samba-Salsa-Soul-Disco-fied grooves. AfroTaino Productions spreading the Love of the Sun!

Dawn | Commonwealth Plaza | Drum Circle
Sunrise Drum Circle
BYOD (bring your own drum) and join Hafez El Ali Kotain, Al-Bustan's percussion teacher, for the annual drum circle to ring in the dawn as the sun rises over the glass roof.

> View a printable schedule grid featuring links to artist websites!

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Please check back for updates! All artists subject to change.

The Kimmel Center Box Office is open daily from 10am - 6pm. The Call Center is open daily from 9am - 8pm. Call 215-893-1999 for single tickets. TTY callers only, the number is 215-875-7633.

Solstice Parking Information
The Avenue of the Arts Garage at 1501 Spruce Street is the official parking garage of Summer Solstice. Visit www.aveartsgarage.com for directions and information. Please note that the Kimmel Center garage will be closed to the public for Summer Solstice. Pre-paid parking vouchers for Broadway and Opera patrons will be honored.

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Also See:

• See photos from past Summer Solstice Celebrations on flickr.com