May 29, 2026 8:00-10:00PM Mankwe Ndosi & Jamal R. Moore duo & Eric Ruin's Ominous Cloud Ensembleat Pageant: Soloveev

 

Mankwe Ndosi is Vocalist, Composer, and Interdisciplinary Culture Maker who conjures sound, story, and movement into transformative experiences. A sonic shape-shifter, she bends melody and rhythm into a living practice that amplifies the resonance between people, land, and ancestral memory. Rooted in Black ritual legacies of music and performance, Mankwe’s work explores the power of voice—not just as an instrument, but as a force for healing, connection, and liberation. 

Jamal R. Moore is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, improviser, educator, and native of Baltimore, Maryland. Moore’s research-driven practice incorporates percussion, woodwinds, and electronic synthesis, exploring African American/Diasporic traditions and global indigenous aesthetics.

Erik Ruin’s Ominous Cloud Ensemble is an ever-evolving, collectively-improvising large ensemble for projections and music, led by visual artist Erik Ruin, lauded by the New York Times for his “spell-binding cut-paper animations.” Erik manipulates intricate paper-cuts and painted films on overhead projectors to create abstract landscapes and fragmentary scenes that are nonetheless charged with meaning, merging with music that ranges from dark atmospherics to ecstatic peaks of dissonance. 

Tickets are sliding scale: $15-$25 + fee ($1.88 - $2.27)

Venue is wheelchair accessible

Pageant: Soloveev

(607 Bainbridge St, Philadelphia, PA 19147)

May 29, 2026 7:00PM Not So Latin Concerts: Agana/Winstone Quartet

 

Join us as we welcome incredible artists @juandavidagana and @george.winstone to Notsolatin for an evening of bold improvisational interplay and spellbinding compositions! Featuring @jordan_mcbride_bass on bass and @__kha215 on drums!

Juan David Agana, graduate of The Juilliard School, was a semifinalist at the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Competition in 2019 and is a composer-in-residence at The Miami Symphony Orchestra. His style on the guitar, distinguished for its virtuosity, jagged melodies and clustered voicings, make Juan stand out as an idiosyncratic voice in the instrument.

George Winstone, altoist originally from London, UK, is often hailed for his unparalleled command of the saxophone and for performances that dexterously draw on the traditions of jazz masters and classical composers alike. His daring and virtuosic approach to improvisation and harmony has made waves in the New York City scene and beyond.

Doors at 7, show at 7:30
No tickets required, $20 suggested donation
1440 W Ritner St, Philadelphia, PA

May 27, 2026 8:00-10:30PM Latin Dance Party with Un Toque de Cache at Morgan's Pier

 

Morgan's Pier

221 N Christopher Colombus BLVD, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 19106

$10 cover charge after 8:00PM

May 26, 2026 7:00PM Not So Latin Concerts: Michelle Lordi and Band

 

Help us welcome the incredible Michelle Lordi and her band to Notsolatin this coming Tuesday, May 26th! One of our hometown heroes, Michelle Lordi has received international accolades and heavy rotation on jazz radio stations in the US and abroad for her recording projects, “Drive” (2015) and “Dream A Little Dream” ( 2017),“Break Up With The Sound“(2019) and “ Two Moons” ( 2023). You don’t want to miss this incredible night of music!

Doors at 7, show at 7:30
No tickets required, $10 suggested donation
1440 W Ritner St. Philadelphia Pa

May 23, 2026 10:30Am-1:00PM Great on Skates Memorial Weekend Skate Workshop at Marian Anderson Rec Center

 

• Skate Workshops May 23rd Marian Anderson Rec Center 740-744 S 17th st Philadelphia Pa 19146 Arrival time 10:30 am End time 1:00 pm. All levels welcome; must have your own skates
• Marian Anderson Rec Center
• 740-744 S. 17th St.
• Philadelphia, PA  19146
• Register here

May 23, 2026 2:00-4:00PM Black Dance Collab at the Free Library on the Parkway

 

Black dance educators and students get recognition for their significant contribution to the cultural fabric of our city.

Celebrate Philadelphia's legacy Black dance educators Essie Marie Dorsey, Sydney King, Marion Cuyjet, Faye Snow and Joan Myers Brown as folks come together to share their stories of how these women influenced them. Bring your recital programs, photos, tutus, ballet slippers,and fond memories. Enjoy performances by the award-winning West Philadelphia High School Dance Ensemble and the 'get out your seat' rhythms of Music of Motion (MOM).

Parkway Central Library

1901 Vine Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

May 21, 2026 6:00-10:00PM Janet Mac's Third Thursday Jam at D'Griot Cafe

 

Hey Philly! I’d love to see you at the 3rd Thursday Jam at d’griot cafe on 5/21 for the kickoff of my Artist Residency!
You’ll hear some great poetry that might make you laugh and/or cry (tears of joy), and will definitely give you plenty of food for thought.
AND in preparation for my 6 week Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀ (Shake-a-ray) class which begins on 5/29, I’ll be bringing a whole bunch of Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀s to give a brief demonstration and mini lesson! Then all of the musicians will jam together!! It’s happening 5/21, 6-10PM, and it’s FREE!!
Don’t miss it!!! 

D'Griot Philly

51 Maplewood Mall

Philadelphia PA

Free event

May 19, 2026 9:00PM-12:00AM Prester & Samargia at Bob & Barbara's Lounge

 

Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146, USA

Prester & Samargia is a powerhouse quintet led by pianist-composer Robert Prester and vocalist-arranger Adriana Samargia, known for genre-blending artistry and an electrifying stage presence. Fusing funky fusion, Latin and Brazilian rhythms, jazz standards, and reimagined pop, the ensemble delivers a cinematic, high-energy sound that’s both richly textured and emotionally charged.

May 19, 2026 7:00PM Not So Latin Concerts: Mike Cemprola

 

Join us as we welcome the incredible alto saxophonist Mike Cemprola back to Notsolatin!!! Come out Tuesday, May 19th to hear his takes on classics as well as exciting original compositions! You don’t want to miss it!!

Doors at 7, show at 7:30
No tickets required, $10 suggested donation
1440 W Ritner St. Philadelphia Pa

May 18, 2026 6:00-8:50PM Kulu Mele's Community African Dance Bash at CEC

 We’re switching things up for this month’s Community African Dance Bash! 

For the first time, we’re bringing you THREE classes in one night, including our newest addition: Soca Fitness!

If you’ve been looking for a fun way to move your body, release stress, and reconnect through rhythm, movement, and community, this is the perfect night out. Bring a friend and come experience the joy of movement, music, and community together!

 Soca Fitness  
 Afro-Cuban Dance  
 West African Dance  

At Kulu Mele, we believe movement is medicine. Through rhythm, culture, music, and community, we reconnect with joy and leave feeling energized and uplifted.

 Monday, May 18, 2026  
 Community Education Center  
3500 Lancaster Ave.

Schedule 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM   Soca Fitness with Monisha   7:00 PM – 7:50 PM   Afro-Cuban with Cachet Ivey   8:00 PM – 8:50 PM   West African with Zakiya L. Cornish   Pricing Adults: $15/class or $40 for all 3   Children under 16: $10/class or $25 for all 3   Pay at the door: Cash, Cash App, or Zelle All levels welcome. Come dance, sweat, smile, and let the rhythm move you! — Kulu Mele African Dance & Drum Ensemble Please visit us on Instagram or Facebook for up to date happenings with Omo Kulu Mele and Kulu Mele. Peace and Wellness. Please visit us on Instagram or Facebook for up to date happenings with Omo Kulu Mele and Kulu Mele. Peace and Wellness.

May 17, 2026 5:30-9:30PM Viva La Salsa presents: Carlitos Padron & Los Rumberos Del Callejon at The Fringe Bar

 

May 17, 2026 12:00-6:00PM Festival of Many Colors at The Mummers Museum

 

From Philly Voice:

The Mummers Museum will host the Festival of Many Colors, a free outdoor celebration highlighting three of Philadelphia’s cultural traditions, on Sunday, May 17, from noon to 6 p.m. outside the Mummers Museum.

The free festival brings together the Mummers, Philly Caribbean Carnival and Carnaval de Puebla en Philadelphia for an afternoon of music, dance and activities. Attendees can expect food trucks, craft vendors and family-friendly programming throughout the day.

Live performances will begin at noon with the Philadelphia Pan Stars Steel Orchestra. The lineup continues with Hueyxolotl Aztec Dancers at 1 p.m., the Quaker City String Band at 2 p.m., Trinidadian-American soca artist Anika Berry at 3 p.m., New Sound Brass Band at 4 p.m., and Banda La Poblanita with Danza Tonantzin at 5 p.m.

Organizers say the festival aims to highlight shared traditions across the three communities while bringing them together through music, dance and food.

Festival of Many Colors

Sunday, May 17 | Noon - 6 p.m.
Mummer's Museum
1100 S. 2nd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Free to attend

May 17, 2026 3:00PM Dialogues 7: Charumathi Raghuraman & Anantha R Krishnan at The Rotunda

 

Dialogues 7: Charumathi Raghuraman & Anantha R Krishnan

Co-presented with Sruti The India Music & Dance Society - Celebrating 30 years of Sruti and 25 years of Fire Museum Presents!

Dialogues: A Conversation and Performance is a series of events in which we invite someone to discuss their creative process and present an aspect or aspects of their work. For the sixth edition we present Carnatic (South Indian classical) musicians Charumathi Raghuraman (violin) & Anantha R Krishnan (mridangam).

Charumathi Raghuraman is a young and vibrant violin virtuoso gifted with a refreshing candor of combining the elements of traditional music from India’s exalted Carnatic tradition, with modern performance. She belongs to a special pedigree of artists who search for the beauty in creating and sharing the art as a live experience.​ She started learning from her mother Smt. Rama Raghuraman, then continued formalized training with the respected Guru Smt. T.R. Balamani in Mumbai, and soon thereafter, at the suggestion of the iconic violinist of South India, Padma Bhushan Prof. T. N. Krishnan, Charumathi became his ardent disciple in 1995. She has also studied Carnatic vocal music with the renowned teacher Padma Bhushan Sri. P. S. Narayanaswami. ​She played her debut concert along side Prof. T. N. Krishnan in 1998 and since then has been performing regularly both as a soloist and accompanist. She is an ‘A grade’ artist of the All India Radio and Doordarshan.

A rare phenomenon in the world of music, Anantha R. Krishnan started his musical journey on the mridangam, the principle drum of the Carnatic tradition. The grandson and disciple of the great mridangam maestro, Shri. Palghat R. Raghu, he first learned the fundamentals of the mridangam under his uncle, Shri. R. Ramkumar and then began an official tutelage under his grandfather at the age of five. He performed his first concert at the age of seven and before the age of twenty performed alongside a rare generation of Indian classical musicians like, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Prof. T.N. Krishnan, Dr. KJ Yesudas, Mandolin Srinivas, among many others. He currently serves as faculty of percussion at A.R. Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory in Chennai, India.

Tickets:  Admission is free: donations are greatly appreciated

The Rotunda

4014 Walnut St.

Philadelphia, PA

May 17, 2026 3:00PM Philly Music Factory Adult Ensemble Concert

 

Free concert of Philly Music Factory Adult Ensembles at First Unitarian Church.

May 17, 2026 6:00-7:30PM Andrés Cisneros: Philly Cancionero at The Painted Bride Art Center

 

"The experiment is to make the audience understand how, in Latin American music and our folklore, songs are created." - ANDRÉS CISNEROS

Part of our Proof of Life Residency showings, "Philly Cancionero" brings that process to life in real time. Audience members write and submit responses. Andrés selects one and, with his band, transforms it into a song on the spot, live. This happens three times over the course of the evening.

Free RSVP open now: 
Painted Bride Art Center4029 Cambridge St.Philadelphia, Pa

May 16, 2026 11:00Am-5:30PM Girard Avenue Street Festival with Live Music

 

Join us May 16 from 11-5:30pm on West Girard Avenue, between College Avenue and 29th Street, for the best of Brewerytown, Francisville, Spring Garden and Fairmount - 100+ vendors, a kids zone with activities and games for families, live music from local bands, and neighborhood food businesses serving the best bites of Brewerytown.

WEST STAGE @ 29th & Girard - Hosted by Dena Miranda

• 11:00 – 11:15 DJ Tragic 

• 11:15 – 11:25 B'Ella Ballerina Dance Academy

• 11:30 – 11:40  Action Karate

• 11:45 – 12:15 Girard Ave College Choir 

• 12:20 – 12:40 Brewerytown Music School

• 12:45 – 1:05 Welcome from partners

• 1:10 – 2:10 Mariposas Galacticas

• 2:20 – 3:35 Hodgepodge

• 3:40 – 4:10 DJ KenRoc

• 4:20 – 5:20 West Philly Orchestra

• 5:20 – Close DJ Tragic
   

EAST STAGE @ 2601 Girard - Hosted by TEEF & BIG CUZ

• 11:00 – 12:00 Big Cuz

• 12:00 – 12:30 Zay Money & RJ Da King

• 12:40 – 2:00 The Reality Check Experiment

• 2:10 – 3:00 Pocket Flowers

• 3:15 – 4:05 Super Friends

• 4:20 – 5:10 TEEF

• 5:00 – 5:30 Big Cuz

May 16 - June 13, 2026 Batala Philly at Philadelphia Union and More!

 

Follow the beats  Batala Philly will be performing all over the city this spring and summer! More gigs to be announced soon. This Saturday we are honored to perform at the Philadelphia Union’s Subaru Park at Unity Night presented by Penn Medicine. We will be play 2 shows at the arena as Philly gears up for the World Cup!!