clockwise from left: Judah Kim, The Bul Bey, Just Sole Street Dance Theatre, Nalani and Sarina | stills from videos
The Music of Welcome America: Here’s who will bring the party to the Ben Franklin Parkway on the 4th of July
The Wawa Welcome America festival takes over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this July 4th, and while headliners Jennifer Hudson and Meghan Trainor are sure to draw a crowd leading up to the fireworks display, there’s plenty to see ahead of the main event. The Party on the Parkway will keep the entertainment going all day long, with four different music stages showcasing a vibrant variety of music and dance performances throughout the day.
Groove Stage
On the Groove Stage, you won’t want to miss Judah Kim, a local Philly singer-songwriter who will be playing with a full band for the event. Kim released his debut album Dark Circles last year, calling it “a sonic reflection of the struggle of keeping it all together in the 21st Century.”
Groove Stage Schedule
1:00 – 1:30 Arato Band
1:45 – 2:15 Three Aksha Musical
2:30 – 3:00 Hermonic Band
3:15 – 3:45 Judah Kim
4:45 – 5:15 Lisa OnTour and The Sweet Jersey Band
5:30 – 6:00 Blaqmel and The Problem Band
Multicultural Stage
The Multicultural Stage will feature an afternoon of dance from all around the world, from the Philippines, to India, to right here in Philly. The lineup includes a performance from Mina’s Power Squad, a local group of high-school and college dancers led by radio personality Mina SayWhat.
Multicultural Stage Schedule
12:00 – 12:30 Greater Philadelphia Falun Dafa Association
12:35 – 12:45 Mutya Philippine Dancers
12:45 – 1:00 Three Aksha Dancers
1:05 – 1:25 Mina’s Power Squad
1:30 – 2:00 Powersurge Dancers
2:15 – 2:45 Project Home Dancers
3:00 – 3:30 Art in Motion
3:45 – 4:15 The Quinn Center for Performing Arts Dancers
4:30 – 5:00 Demented Evolution Drill Team
5:15- 5:45 Ksquared
Freedom Stage
Philly Just Sole! Street Dance Theater Company kicks things off on the Freedom Stage. It’s members are emerging artists in the hip hop scene, and use street dance “to inspire, empower, innovate, and motivate others to embrace their story and individuality while teaching the culture and history of Hip Hop Dance.”
Freedom Stage Schedule
12:50- 1:50 Just Sole
2:00-3:00 Ran D’ Shine
3:30- 4:30 DJ Diamond Kuts
5:00-6:15 U.S. Navy Band Cruisers
Chill Moody Music Stage
“My goal this year, as always, is to spotlight some of Philly’s rising stars, mix in some love from out of town, and provide an experience I’m sure everyone in attendance will enjoy,” says Philly’s own Chill Moody. This year he’s curated a stacked lineup that includes Philly rapper The Bul Bey, who recently released a self-titled EP that pushes the limits of his genre with a variety of creative sounds.
Also performing is the New Jersey twin duo of Nalani & Sarina, who fuse pop and soul into their sound, as heard on their most recent album, The Circle. Chill Moody himself will take the stage at 5 p.m., showcasing tunes from his forthcoming Horns At The Funeral.
Chill Moody Music Stage Schedule
12:00- DJ Hank McCoy
12:10- Rec Philly Winner
12:35- 215 Alive
1:00- Rubber
1:25- Scott C & P.A.
1:50- Rotation Records Artist Showcase
2:15- Alexander Charles
2:40- Temi Oni
3:10- The Bul Bey
3:40- Nalani & Sarina
4:10- Worldtown Sound System
5:00- Chill Moody
5:40- DJ Aktive & Friends
Find more information at welcomeamerica.com.