Free Musical Performances Offered Every Friday Evening in the Kimmel Center's Commonwealth Plaza, Beginning September 25
SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
End the week on a high note with free live music at the Kimmel Center every Friday evening. The Free at the Kimmel series now extends to free musical performances on the Commonwealth Plaza stage every Friday throughout the 2009/10 season. The series kicks off on opening night of the Kimmel Center Presents season, September 25, 2009 from 5:30pm to 7:15pm with a performance by local Philly group Dirk Quinn Band.
Free at the Kimmel puts the spotlight on regional musicians who perform a variety of musical forms from jazz, dance, pop, classical, singer-songwriter and family fare. Every Friday from 5:30pm to 7:15pm, the Commonwealth Plaza is transformed into a casual, cabaret-style atmosphere with the Peco Café providing specially priced happy hour drinks and tapas selections for purchase.
"Free at the Kimmel has been inherently part of the Kimmel Center’s programming since its opening," said Tom Warner, Kimmel Center Presents vice president of programming. "By presenting free performances every Friday evening, our goal is to make regional artistic performances even more accessible to Philadelphia audiences who are looking for attractive, affordable alternatives to start the weekend."
Free at the Kimmel also includes PNC Grow Up Great concerts for kids in Commonwealth Plaza, Organ Postludes on the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ in Verizon Hall and other special events. Free themed tours, including Building & Theater Tours, Art & Architecture Tours and Academy of Music Tours are conducted throughout the week by experienced volunteer guides.
Updates and complete schedules are available at www.kimmelcenter.org/free. All artists and programs are subject to change.
Full schedule of the Free at the Kimmel events in September-October 2009 below:
Friday, September 25, 2009 | 5:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Friday Nights - Free at the Kimmel
Dirk Quinn Band
Philly
based jazz/funk guitarist Dirk Quinn draws inspiration from music of
all types—his solo acoustic sound has been compared to the guitar
"pyrotechnics" of Keller Williams and Michael Hedges, while his full
band compositions bear resemblances that range from the honest, urban
funk of Soulive to the brave experimentation of Medeski, Martin and
Wood, as heard on the band’s recently released sophomore album QuinnTet.
This free performance will take place in Commonwealth Plaza prior to
the ticketed performance by Sonny Rollins in Verizon Hall.
Friday, October 2, 2009 | 5:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Friday Nights - Free at the Kimmel
Tin Bird Choir
Tin Bird Choir is the husband-and-wife duo of Eric and Heather Hurlock,
backed by bassist Josh Sceurman and drummer Ellen Houle, a rhythm
section as solid as the stone foundation of the Chester County barn
they practice in. They’ve earned a growing—and glowing—reputation in
the Philadelphia area for their distinctive alt-folk barn rock sound
that has enraptured audiences from the Philadelphia Folk Festival to
World Café Live to The Bitter End in New York City, as well as coffee
houses, clubs and bars throughout the region. Their debut CD, Barn Rock, reflects Tin Bird Choir’s love of Americana music, blending an old sound with a modern sensibility.
Saturday, October 3, 2009 | 11am
Commonwealth Plaza | PNC Grow Up Great
Chip and Annie
Described by WXPN as sparkling and charming, Chip & Annie perform
an interactive, hands-on show with plenty of singing along. Kids and
parents can expect to hear a mix of original and fun "family folk"
tunes and known favorites on guitar, banjo, ukulele and mandolin! PNC
Grow Up Great performances take place on the first Saturday of each
month from October through May in the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth
Plaza, unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit www.kimmelcenter.org/family.
Saturday, October 3, 2009 | 1:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza
Matt Richards
"One guitar with a world of influences" is one reviewer's description
of a solo performance by guitarist Matt Richards. As an artist known
for effortlessly bridging musical styles, Matt's well-developed playing
skills are energized by his sense of inventiveness and informed by his
penchant for improvisation. With a repertoire that includes his own
compositions and the music of Luiz Bonfa, Bob Marley and other
traditional and modern artists, Matt brings jazz, contemporary and
world music together to create his signature style on both acoustic and
fretless guitars. This free performance will take place in Commonwealth
Plaza prior to the ticketed performance by Paco Peña in Verizon Hall.
Friday, October 9, 2009 | 5:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Friday Nights - Free at the Kimmel
New Directions Chamber Brass
NDCB is a contemporary chamber ensemble dedicated to breaking down
barriers of musical categories. This rhythmically explosive
genre-bending brass and percussion ensemble brings together some of
Philadelphia's finest classical, jazz and free improvising musicians to
combine their talents and form a new innovative brand of chamber music.
The ensemble is comprised of two trumpets, two trombonists and two
percussionists, and creates a truly unique sound!
Sunday, October 11, 2009 | 1:30pm and 6pm
Commonwealth Plaza
Video Games Live Festival
Join
us for a free pre-show festival in the Commonwealth Plaza, and enjoy
interactive game demos, a costume contest, game competitions, prizes
and a meet-and-greet with top game composers and designers. These free
festivals will take place in the Commonwealth Plaza prior to the
ticketed performances of Video Games Live in Verizon Hall.
Friday, October 16, 2009 | 5:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Friday Nights - Free at the Kimmel
Wade Dean Enspiration
The Wade Dean Enspiration is a collective of six creative young
instrumentalists and composers. Launched in a small practice room at
the University of the Arts in January 2007, the Enspiration is rapidly
creating a strong buzz on the Philadelphia jazz scene. The band’s
mission is daunting, yet simple: to create sincere and unselfish music.
With that uncomplicated formula, Enspiration continues Philadelphia’s
tradition of creating innovative and exciting music in all genres. The
Enspiration’s stellar lineup of talented musicians features Wade Dean
on alto saxophone, Michael Pracher on tenor saxophone, Adam Siegel on
alto saxophone, Jason Brown on piano, Jason Fratechelli on bass and
Anwar Marshall on drums. This free performance will take place in
Commonwealth Plaza prior to the ticketed performance by Christian
McBride and Friends in Verizon Hall.
Friday, October 23, 2009 | 5:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Friday Nights - Free at the Kimmel
Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra
The Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra is an energetic group of
skilled musicians interested in moving beyond classically restrictive
performance boundaries and dedicated to bringing music to new audiences
in Philadelphia, as well as throughout the USA and the world. The
orchestra's dynamic virtuosity and intimate style seeks to entertain
and challenge; presentations reflect the passions of music director and
conductor Daniel Spalding and his collaborators. Programs are
stylistically diverse, offering an array of popular masterworks,
unusual and less well known repertoire from around the world as well as
newly commissioned works.
Friday, October 30, 2009 | 5:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza | Friday Nights - Free at the Kimmel
Orquesta Herencia De Soneros
In
partnership with Artistas y Músicos Latino Americanos (AMLA)
Join us in the Commonwealth Plaza for a free musical performance by
Orquesta Herencia De Soneros, in partnership with Artistas y Músicos
Latino Americanos (AMLA).
Saturday, October 31, 2009 | 12-4pm
Commonwealth Plaza
Halloween
Follow
the Yellow Brick Road to the Kimmel Center! Dress up the kids and ease
on down Broad Street for some tricks, treats and tickets at the Kimmel!
It’s the perfect place for candy, ticket discounts, candy, costume
contests, and did we mention candy? Witches and goblins and ghosts, oh
my! Visit kimmelcenter.org/halloween for all the gory details.
Tuesdays-Sundays | 1pm
Commonwealth Plaza Information Desk | Free Themed Tours
Building & Theater Tour
Join
us for a themed tour which includes a history of the Kimmel Center;
architectural and construction highlights; and visits to Commonwealth
Plaza, Perelman Theater, Verizon Hall, Merck Arts Education Center and
the Dorrance H. Hamilton Garden. This tour is approximately one hour in
duration.
Saturdays | 10:30am
Commonwealth Plaza Information Desk | Free Themed Tours
Art & Architecture Tour
Join
us for a themed tour which includes an in-depth look at the Kimmel
Center's architecture, a walk along the Avenue of the Arts to view the
Center in the context of the cityscape, and a tour of artworks on
display throughout the Kimmel Center, including the Moore Galleries and
the recently installed Percent for Art collection. This tour is
approximately 90 minutes in duration.
New for fall 2009!
Academy of Music | Free Themed Tours
Academy of Music Tour
Select dates, 11:30 am
Visit this historic grand opera house, decorated in baroque style, for
a tour that includes the Grand Lobby, Stage Door Canteen, the recently
renovated Ballroom and the main auditorium with its dazzling
chandelier. Due to the Academy’s busy performance calendar, tours are
available on select dates, by reservation only. Call 215-790-5886 for
information and reservations. This tour is approximately one hour in
duration.
Kimmel Center Presents 2009/10 Season is sponsored by Citi. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents.
Free at the Kimmel events are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program supported by a generous grant from Wachovia Foundation.
The Kimmel Center is the recipient of partnership funding through the nationally recognized PNC Grow Up Great initiative, a 10-year, $100 million investment in preparing children for success in school and life.
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