For music lovers, summer doesn’t start until The Roots Picnic takes over Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, and it continues throughout the warm-weather season at open-air venues throughout the region:
» Pioneering hip-hop band The Roots bring together artists from various genres to the Philadelphia waterfront for a day of music and community. In its fourth year, The Roots Picnic includes all-star performances by The Roots, Nas (backed by The Roots), Wiz Khalifa, Esperanza Spalding (backed by The Roots), Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Man Man, The Dismemberment Plan, Mac Miller, Yelawolf, Little Dragon and others.
June 4. 215- 922-2FUN, delawareriverevents.com
» The Odunde African-American Festival celebrates the Yoruba New Year, beginning with a spiritual procession to the Schuylkill River and ending with a lively street fair that includes musical performances aplenty.
June 12, 215-732-8510
» Mix in musical performances by Men of Soul featuring Peabo Bryson, Freddie Jackson and Howard Hewett, Chaka Khan, Roy Ayers and Eddie Palmieri with exhibits by talented artisans and tasty treats from local restaurants for the West Oak Lane Jazz Festival.
June 17-19, 877-965-5299, westoaklanefestival.com
» Fusing Latin beats, African rhythms, traditional dance, authentic food and crafts, the Latin Roots & Rhythm Festival celebrates Spanish, Latin and African cultures—at the Settlement Music School. June 24-26, 215-425-1390, raicesculturales.org/lrrf.html
» Celebrating the nation’s birthday, Wawa Welcome America! is a multi-day party with free events for all ages throughout the city, including dazzling fireworks spectaculars and big-name entertainment. The festival concludes with a star-studded concert in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Arts featuring performances by The Roots, Michael McDonald, Estelle, Earth Wind & Fire, Sara Bareilles and DJ Jazzy Jeff. June 24-July 4, welcomeamerica.com
» WXPN, the public radio station of the University of Pennsylvania, brings together musical legends and new performers at Wiggins Park on the Camden Waterfront for the XPoNential Music Festival. July 22-24, 856- 757-9400, xpn.org
» The 50th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival, Philadelphia’s answer to Woodstock, attracts musicians, storytellers and craftspeople for a weekend of song and merriment in Schwenksville. August 19-21, 215-247-1300, folkfest.org
