July 1, 2011 Dendê and Band at Art After Five 5:00-8:45 pm Philadelphia Museum of Art

Percussionist, singer, composer, bandleader, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist Dendê has been a professional musician since the age of 14, when he appeared in the frontline of Carlinhos Brown’s superstar percussion ensemble, Timbalada. For the past ten years, he has divided his time between New York and Bahia, and played with stars of world music including Mongo Santamaria, Giovanni Hidalgo, Zakir Hussain, David Byrne, and Vinicius Cantuária. Tonight's show will feature Dendê with his flagship band (formerly called Hãhãhães) with whom he has made his greatest musical impact as leader and principal songwriter. Known for seamlessly blending rhythms from Brazil with others of the African diaspora, Dendê will have you up and moving! Bring your dancing shoes!
Admission $16. for non-members; free for members of the art museum.

June 25 "Matuto" at World Cafe Live 9 pm Upstairs

Matuto

Imagine the sound of a Brazilian Carnaval in the Appalachian Mountains. A sound where exotic percussion instruments rumble beneath blues drenched vocals, telecaster twangs, accordion acrobatics, and folksy fiddle tunes. Now, imagine these sounds in the hands of some of NYC's finest young improvisers as they light up club and festival stages worldwide. Through the unorthodox blend of Brazilian Percussion and American Bluegrass, Matuto has created an organic, animated sound all its own. "Weird and Wonderful… Unorthodox and Delightful" - Jazz Times Magazine Artist's website | Artist Videos Saturday, June 25th, 2011 | Showtime 9:00pm | Upstairs Live Advance Tickets: General Admission Seating/Standing*: $10.00 ($8 ticket + $2 processing fee) Day of Show Tickets: General Admission Seating/Standing*: $12.00 ($10 ticket + $2 processing fee) *Please note: Ticket purchase is not a guarantee of seating! Some ticketholders may end up standing, depending on the number of tickets sold. To be assured of seating, place a reservation by calling 215-222-1400. Click here to see our menus. Click here to check out more World music concerts at World Cafe Live. Be the first to know about upcoming shows & special offers. Click here to sign up for our Live Access newsletter.

June 24, 25, & 26 2nd Annual Latin roots & Rhythms Festival

The festival kicks off on Friday, June 24 at 7 p.m. at the Settlement Music School, Mary Louise Curtis Branch, 416 Queen Street with two major performances featuring critically acclaimed Kùlú Mèlé West African Dance Ensemble and then experience flamenco dance taken to new and exhilarating heights by the all-female, contemporary flamenco troupe Pasión y Arte. The festival continues on Saturday, June 25, 2011 from Noon to 10 p.m. with a full day of diverse outdoor and indoor theater entertainment. From Noon to 5 p.m., the Weccacoe Park's outdoor courtyard (next to the Settlement Music School) will be transformed into a festive, family-friendly, Latino street fair featuring crafts,food vendors, dance and music performances and workshops by artists representing the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Panama, Argentina and Spain. Come share a beautiful spring afternoon with your family experiencing diverse cultures, foods, music, and dance. At 7:00 p.m., the first of Saturday's two major indoor theater performances will include Casa de Venezuela, a troupe influenced by Venezuela's Indigenous, African, Caribbean, European, and Middle Eastern cultures and nuevo flamenco favorites Flamenco Olé featuring choreography created by Spain-based artist and internationally acclaimed flamenco dancer Carmela Greco. On Sunday, June 26, 2011 join us at 3:00 p.m. for dazzling performances by Familia Rojas/Raíces de Borinquen representing the music and dance of Loiza, Puerto Rico and KanKouran West African Dance Company representing Senegal and based in Washington, D.C.Festival tickets are $5 for Saturday's outdoor caseta events at Weccacoe Park, $12 for each of the two evening and matinee performances, or $30 for an all-inclusive 3-day pass (a savings of $11). Tickets are available online at www.LatinRootsandRhythmsFestival.com up to 48 hours before the festival begins and at the Settlement Music School box offices during the festival. Major support for the 2011 Latin Roots & Rhythms Festival is provided by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through Dance Advance, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Mega 1310 AM Radio, 6 abc and Univision. Please visit the festival Web site at www.LatinRootsandRhythmsFestival.com for up-to-date information about schedules and performances, or call 215-425-1390 to purchase tickets.

Hump Day: Wednesday nights in the Summer

The next three posts are ongoing live music events on Wednesday nights this summer. Sometimes you need an extra boost in mid-week to get you to Friday night.

FREE LIVE MUSIC! RAAMP + IT + UP Every Wednesday June 1 to September 28, 2011 at the African American Museum in Philadelphia

Get your Mid-Week Groove on Every Wednesday at AAMP! FREE LIVE MUSIC!!! June 1 – September 28, 2011 LOCATION: 701 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 5pm – 8pm ~ RAAMP It Up Wednesdays. Join AAMP after work for an enjoyable evening of extended gallery hours and live outdoor music from across the Diaspora. FREE Admission. June 1: Ali and the Cassius Clays

4 Piece Reggae, Funk, and Hip Hop Band Combining a mix of conscious hip hop, reggae and funk, Ali and the Cassius Clays are a feel-good party band. Not only can Ali and the Cassius Clays get everyone dancing, but they also pack a lyrical message within every song.

June 22 through August 24, 2011 5:00-8:00 pm PM @ Penn Museum Summer Nights

The sounds of summer in West Philadelphia, on Penn's campus, just got sweeter! Penn Museum presents its second annual PM @ Penn Museum summer music series with a diverse line-up of outdoor performances taking place every Wednesday, June 22 through August 24, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, in the Penn Museum's Warden Garden. Ten musical groups offer styles that range from Irish folk to reggae, funky jam band to Mid-East fusion, and Afro-influenced world beat to Eastern-European folk-punk. For the after-work set, PM @ Penn Museum Summer Nights provides a change of scenery and a chance to listen to live music, explore the Warden Garden, sip drinks and enjoy light fare from the Pepper Mill Café's garden bar. In the event of rain, concerts move inside. Museum galleries are open until 8:00 pm. General admission is just $5 (and includes Museum entry fee); free for PennCard holders and Museum members.

Wednesday Nights Samba at 7165 Germantown Ave. (formerly NXNW)

Wednesdays 6:00pm - 10:00pm Location @ 7165 Germantown Ave (formerly North by Northwest) Created By Al Todd More Info Wednesday Nights Join us for classes, dancing, music and an entire evening of FUN Tickets: $ 5 @ door Classes by Simone L Poole Music: Salsa, Bachata, Merrenque, Waltz and Cha Cha More Info: (215) 629-3939

June 18 12 noon to 2am: Citibank Summer Solstice at the Kimmel Center

Leana Song opens this year's Summer Solstice at noon with a drum ceremony, followed by a 1:00 PM performance. Oscuro Quintet will play tango music, and will be joined by two tango dancers and a singer. Minas will perform Bossa Nova and samba with costumed dancers, and midnight will bring a dance party with DJ Rahsaan and other musical guests.There are lots of activities and programs for children, too. Tickets are $10. plus $3. service charge each. Click on the link for a full schedule.

June 17, 18, and 19 "West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival"

The West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival, Philadelphia’s preeminent music and culture event is back and better than ever. The 2011 edition of the festival will again showcase internationally acclaimed, award-winning artists, alongside some of the best regional and upcoming talent. This year, we celebrate the diversity that is our world, our country, our city and our communities. We invite you to Ogontz Avenue to experience, on two stages, three days of live Jazz, Salsa, R&B, Classical, Soul, Reggae and more. Explore the Marketplace filled with hand-crafted, original Art creations. Exhibitors from around the country have been selected to deliver a multi-cultural mix of jewelry, clothing, photography, paintings and so much more. No festival is complete without food! Come enjoy the array of cuisine from around the globe and around the corner. A new feature of the festival is our Children’s Day event; complete with live performances, music workshops and a video gaming arcade. As part of the festival’s greening and sustainability initiatives, we urge the use mass transit. Free shuttle service to the festival site is available at our Park and Ride locations in select locations around Philadelphia. Complimentary parking is available at many locations.

June 17 9 pm to 2 am Ruba Drummer Festival

Time Friday, June 17 at 9:00pm - June 18 at 2:00am Location Ruba Club-Studios 414 GREEN STREET Philadelphia, PA Created By Ryan D J Ha, Melinda Linda, Ruba Club-Studios More Info THE 1ST EVER -RUBA DRUMMER FESTIVAL- WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE 2ND FLOOR BALLROOM ON JUNE 17TH 2011. A WORKSHOP STYLE EVENT, THE NIGHT WILL INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCES BY SOME OF PHILADELPHIA S MOST UNIQUE AND TALENTED PERCUSSIONISTS. MANY GENRES WILL BE COVERED AND MANY INSTRUMENTS -- SOME NEW SOME OLD -- WILL BE PRESENTED AND REFLECTED UPON BY EACH OF OUR MUSICAL GUESTS IN ORDER TO EDUCATE FANS AND STUDENTS ABOUT MODERN DRUMMING TECHNIQUES AND WORLD PERCUSSION. 9PM TO 12AM - MAIN EVENT - 2ND FLOOR BALLROOM (ALL AGES) GINA FERRERA - WEST AFRICAN DRUMS/PERCUSSION/GYIL SHAWN HENNESSEY - AFRO CUBAN/CLAVE/RUMBA DJ HA - LIVE DRUM'N'BASS/BREAKBEATS YISROEL RUBIN - MARCHING TECHNIQUES FOR DRUM KIT WOODY SUTTON MIKE PIETRUSKO 12AM TO 2AM - AFTERPARTY - 1ST FLOOR CABARET (21+) MORE ARTISTS AND DJ'S TO BE ANNOUNCED !!!!!!!

June 17 Taller Puertorriqueño SUMMER IN THE CITY Fundraiser 5:30 to 8:30 pm

At Isla Verde Cafe 2725 N. American St. Philadelphia, PA 19133 (215) 426-3311 Hosted by Ileana Helwig Suggested Donation $20 2 complementary drink tickets Raffles: Wine basket & 50/50 Live Music by: BTE

June 12 4:30 and 7:30 PM "The Spirits Break to Freedom" from Philadelphia Folklore Project

June 12, 4:30 and 7:30 PM
THE SPIRITS BREAK TO FREEDOM
Christ Church Neighborhood House
20 N. American Street, Phila. PA

If you saw its beginnings at PFP last year, you will want to preview the latest version of the ongoing creation of dancer/choreographer Germaine Ingram, composer/musician Bobby Zankel, and visual artist John Dowell to commemorate the nine African Americans enslaved by President George Washington in the President's House, the first American "white house" that stood on a site just steps away from where the Liberty Bell is currently on display. Jazz tap/percussive dance, projected art work, and original instrumental music and song are the artists' tools for wrestling with the irony of human bondage practiced in Philadelphia - the "cradle of liberty - by the revered leader of a new nation founded on the promise of free-dom. Giving voice to the identities, feelings and aspirations of the Nine - whose existence was buried and forgotten for centuries - an ensemble of 10 dancers, musicians, and vocalists wrestle with slavery's enduring legacy, and explore the power of tradition and culture to sustain hope and resist oppression.
Tickets $20 are available online at www.jazzbridge.org/products-page or by calling 215-517-8337. Seating is very limited. For info call: 215-517-8337

June 12 Odunde Festival

June 10-12, 2011: One of the largest and most longstanding African-American street festivals in the nation The Odunde Street Festival and African Marketplace The Odunde Street Festival and African Marketplace Credit: by G. Widman for GPTMC Description Date: June 10 – 12, 2011 Take in the sights, sounds and smells: the rhythmic, thumping beat of the drums, the colorful, never-ending array of African textiles and crafts mix, and the tantalizing smell of African spices cooking on an outdoor grill. The annual Odunde Street Festival, held every second Sunday in June, brings a genuine taste of Africa to South Street and one of Philadelphia’s oldest, historically African-American neighborhoods. The festival begins with a procession to the Schuylkill River, where prayers are offered and blessings bestowed. The procession then returns to 23rd and South Streets for the start of the street festival. This year, as the landmark festival enters its fourth decade, it becomes a three-day abundance of cultural, historical and family-friendly events. Visit the website for more information. Odunde is the creation of its South Philadelphia founder, Lois Fernandez, who launched the festival after visiting similar celebrations in Africa. The concept originates from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa, and celebrates the coming of another year for African-Americans and Africanized people around the world. ODUNDE, Inc. is an educational and cultural organization that sponsors year-round programs featuring the African Diaspora as well as the annual Odunde Festival. Traditionally, the festival draws 22 percent of its visitors from outside the Philadelphia region. COME PREPARED Festival streets will be closed to traffic and parking, so consider taking public transportation. DON’T MISS Odunde’s authentic African Marketplace features vendors from around the world, including the Caribbean and Brazil. Outsider Tip Odunde is a Yoruba word that means “Happy New Year.” Every year, Odunde draws vendors from not only America but from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Guinea. The Festival is almost like a large family reunion. And the aromas of Africa, the Caribbean and beyond fill the air.

June 11 8pm Soweto Kinch Quartet at The Painted Bride Art Center

An award-winning saxophonist-composer, a highly-respected poet-rapper-mc, Soweto Kinch is the quintessential bridge between planets be-bop and hip-hop. Hailing from the UK, Soweto debuts Philly with his quartet to perform new works from his latest critically acclaimed project. Before its US release, WITNESS this world-class rising star perform The New Emancipation live and direct from the Bride!

Femi Temowo (guitar)
Karl Rasheed-Abel (bass)
Graham Godfrey (drums)

“The New Emancipation” draws its inspiration from 19th century work songs and early blues, exploring the modern resonances of the emancipation story. From debt/wage slavery, to creative oppression in the music industry and ideas of race in a post-Obama age it combines this rich musical inheritance and revisits it with stellar jazz ensemble and modern hip hop production.

The album features an prestigious international lineup, including Byron Wallen, Justin Brown (US), Eska Mtungwazi, Femi Temowo, Shabaka Hutchings and Harry Brown among others.

Citing influences as divergent as Duke Ellington, Madlib and Frederick Delius, it plants the power and significance of the blues firmly with modern realities. The piece is both an ode and polemic in Kinch’s words it sets out to ‘challenge the comfort and complacency of our modern world, when the same conditions that enslaved and emmiserated people 150 years ago are still powerfully in effect today. Yet above all its about celebrating the endurance and resilience of the human spirit.’

Purchase tickets here: http://www.paintedbride.org/events/soweto-kinch/

June 11 Screening of Brazilian documentary "Wasteland" 2pm and 4pm

Wasteland - Save the Date - June 11 Brasil, Culture & Sustainability Day Sat June 11, 1 PM 1 PM - Meet Wanner Oliveira 2 PM - Wasteland -First Show 4 PM - Second Show The Brasil Cultural Center in Philadelphia (BCC) and Cinema 16:9 will co-host a screening of Oscar-nominated Brazilian documentary Wasteland. A must see eye opener and inspirational film. Event includes a "Meet the Artist" visit with Brazilian sustainable wearable artist Wanner Oliveira Filmed over nearly three years, WASTE LAND follows renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world's largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs an eclectic band of “catadores”—self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz’s initial objective was to “paint” the catadores with garbage. However, his collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both the dignity and despair of the catadores as they begin to re-imagine their lives. Director Lucy Walker (DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND, BLINDSIGHT and COUNTDOWN TO ZERO) and co-directors João Jardim and Karen Harley have great access to the entire process and, in the end, offer stirring evidence of the transformative power of art and the alchemy of the human spirit. Limited capacity. Reservations suggested $12 Official Website Cinema 16:9 35 N. Lansdowne Ave. Lansdowne PA 19050 484-469-0169

June 11 Underground at Ron's #44 with "Global Illage" 8pm

This Friday, June 3, 2011 at Studio 34 "Sojogroove"

Three different local music acts will perform this Friday at Studio 34 for a benefit for Camp Sojourner, a girls' leadership camp. Come listen and dance while helping young future leaders develop their potential.