For two decades, WXPN’s Free At Noon concert series has hosted emerging stars and music icons. Nearly 300,000 attendees have attended its intimate live shows, and fans worldwide have listened to its broadcasts over 5.2 million times. On Friday, Sept. 26, WXPN celebrates its 1000th show by welcoming Philadelphia legends, The Hooters, to the Free At Noon stage at World Cafe Live.
The performance is already sold out, but the show will be broadcast live on 88.5 WXPN and will stream live on xpn.org, giving listeners the ability to see and hear from anywhere as the Hooters perform an “unplugged” set.
“Playing the 1,000th Free At Noon at World Cafe Live is especially meaningful as we were also there for the Grand Opening of the venue over 20 years ago,” The Hooters shared in a statement. “And for some of us, we’ve been listening to and a part of the WXPN radio community for much longer than that.
“We are musical ‘lifers’ along with the listeners of this cherished radio station, with such strong ties and connections to the city of Philadelphia and to our friends and fans in West Philly in particular. The band is flattered and honored to be a part of this Free At Noon celebration – long may WXPN run, long may WXPN rock, and we’re excited to initiate the next thousand shows of new musical horizons.”
Over the past twenty years, World Cafe Live has hosted incredible performances by some of the biggest local and national names around. The first-ever Free at Noon concert featured Donavon Frankenreiter, and it has since seen names like Adele, Dr. Dog, Ben Folds, Hall & Oates, Hanson, Amos Lee, Willie Nelson, The Pretenders, Carly Simon, SNACKTIME, and many more in what will become 1,000 live performances later this month.
“The fact that this show has lasted over 20 years and 1,000 episodes on the air is the direct result of the hard work and belief in the concept by everyone at WXPN, and – of course – our listeners and members who have supported Free At Noon from the outset,” says Dan Reed, WXPN Music Director, on-air personality, and Free At Noon talent booker. “Here’s to a thousand more!”
For more information, visit xpn.org
