Summer Solstice Celebration Sponsored by Citibank Kicks Off the Summer Season at the Kimmel Center, June 20

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Summer Solstice Celebration sponsored by Citibank® kicks off the summer season at the Kimmel Center with an all-day, all-night musical blowout on Saturday, June 20 from 3pm until dawn on Sunday, June 21, 2009. The annual community celebration showcases Philly-based talent, rising stars and more for a 15-hour stretch of live entertainment in every nook and cranny of the center for only $10 ($5 for children under 12). Audiences may enjoy family fun activities early on, and then experience an eclectic mix of classical, blues, R&B, jazz, dance, Latin, world music and late-night fun. Festivities spill outdoors with InLiquids Art for the Cash Poor arts sale on Spruce Street,* and a Yappy Hour on Broad Street for dog-lovers and four-legged friends to socialize with a canine-friendly menu.

Afternoon entertainment begins with a rollicking Miss Amys Kids Fitness Rock & Roll and Zoo on Wheels wildlife encounter; Philly-bred blues chanteuse Gina Sicilia; bluegrass band Schuylkill River Outlaws; 85+ member Chester County Concert Band performing show tunes, swing music, marches and more; an improvisational percussive set by Curtis Institute rooted A.I.R. Percussion Quartet; Pasin y Arte flamenco dance company; and, Philadelphia's oldest dance-and-drum ensemble Kule Mele with new and traditional West African works.

New York-based hip hop rising star Christian Rich heats up late night fun with a performance blending electronica, hip-hop, R&B and pop with a live string quartet. Nighttime revelry includes the raucous Bob & Barbaras Drag Show, Brazilian drumming ensemble PhillyBloco, a First Person Arts StorySlam competition, a Bollywood dance lesson leading into a Bhangra dance party with DJ Rahsaan spinning global beats, Phillys own Grateful Dead tribute band Splintered Sunlight and ska band Ruder Than You. As always, it all leads up to the annual Drum Circle at dawn to start the summer off with a bang.

Henna tattoo artists, chair massages, tarot card readers, face-painters and more will be stationed in Commonwealth Plaza and on the Hamilton Rooftop Garden. Food and drink options will be available throughout the day and night from Peco Caf.

*Spruce Street will be closed to traffic between Broad and 15th Streets from 3pm until 8pm.

Note: Check the Kimmel Center website at www.kimmelcenter.org/solstice for performer and schedule updates as new artists continue to be added.

Below is a list of confirmed artists performing at the Summer Solstice Celebration:

Summer Solstice Celebration
Saturday, June 20, 2009 | 3pm to dawn
All Kimmel Center Venues

BRING THE KIDS

Zoo on Wheels
3pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Variety
Traveling naturalists from the Philadelphia Zoo bring animals and bio-facts for an educational and exciting encounter with wildlife.

Miss Amys Kids Fitness Rock & Roll
3pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Family
Singer-songwriter and family entertainer Amy Otey, known as Miss Amy, is an accredited fitness instructor who inspires kids to be active and healthy with her high-energy musical act. Miss Amy will have kids ages 2-8 and parents hopping, roaring and jumping for joy.

Please Touch Museum “Play Patrol"
3pm | Spruce St. | Outdoor Family Fun
Kids of all ages can participate in exciting outdoor activities including games, crafts and giveaways, hosted by Please Touch Museums “Play Patrol."

Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble
3pm | Perelman Theater | Jazz
This ensemble of talented young musicians, comprised primarily of middle school students, trains with accomplished jazz musicians and teachers to perform in the first regional ensemble specializing in jazz. Directed by Marc D. Johnson, the ensemble will perform works by Cole Porter, Dizzy Gillespie and Palestinian instrumentalist Simon Shaheen, among others.

Chester County Concert Band
3:30pm | Verizon Hall | Concert Band
The 85+ member Chester County Concert Band, directed by David Reif, has been performing traditional and contemporary symphonic and military band compositions, show tunes, swing music, marches and patriotic favorites for over 25 years. Discover why Chester County and surrounding tri-state area audiences deem CCCB a local favorite.

A.I.R. Percussion Quartet
4pm | Rendell Room | Classical
Formed in the basement studios of the Curtis Institute of Music in 2008, A.I.R. Percussion Quartet consists of four broad-minded young players eager to make a splash in the waters of contemporary music. Committed not only to the standard repertoire of Cage, Reich, Takemitsu and others, A.I.R. also dives deeply into the realm of improvisation and world music.

Kulu Mele
4:30pm | Perelman Theater | African Dance & Drum
Philadelphias oldest dance-and-drum ensemble, Kulu Mele has built a repertoire that showcases an exciting blend of West African ancestral tradition and African American creativity. Performances include music and dance of Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, Brazil, Haiti, Cuba and the Americas. A force behind a vital African cultural renaissance in Philadelphia, the ensemble teaches and performs both new and traditional works.

“Kulu Meles 10 expert drummers and singers, plus a bakers dozen of hyper-energetic dancers, brought down the house with their joyful, polyrhythmic unison work, plus virtuosic solos." Philadelphia Inquirer

Yappy Hour
5:30pm | Broad St. | Variety
Bring your dog and enjoy Yappy Hour together with other animal lovers on Broad Street in front of the Kimmel while supporting Pennsylvania SPCAs Dog Park Project. A portion of drink proceeds will directly benefit building a 14,000 square foot dog park for sheltered pups to play! The dog park is currently under construction in the lot next to Philadelphias shelter.

PARTY EXTRA: Face-Painting
3pm-6pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Family
Free face-painting by Creative Face.

PARTY EXTRA: Balloon Art by Black Hat Balloons
3-6pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Family

HAPPY HOUR HAPPENINGS

Schuylkill River Outlaws
5:30pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Bluegrass
Philadelphia-based bluegrass quintet Schuylkill River Outlaws brings American-roots and country music to the spotlight. The group draws its influences from performers like the Stanley Brothers, John Hartford, the Memphis Jug Band and Old Crow Medicine Show.

Gina Sicilia
5:30pm | Verizon Hall | R&B
Rising star blues singer-songwriter Gina Sicilia began singing in Philadelphia area clubs as a teen, performing on the blues circuit at local venues such as WarmDaddys and World Caf Live, and has since showcased her “alluringly husky alto" (Philadelphia Inquirer) on tour nationwide and in Canada. Her debut album, Allow Me To Confess, earned her a nomination for best-new-artist debut at 2008's national Blues Music Awards. Her sophomore album, Hey Sugar, was released in October 2008.

Gina Sicilia is “a fast-rising talent in the world of blues, one who shows the potential to transcend that worldBoth albums reveal a multifaceted singer and songwriter who blends emotional maturity with youthful dynamism." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia Songwriters Project
6pm | Innovation Studio | Singer-Songwriter
The Philadelphia Songwriters Project presents the winners of the 2009 Songwriting Contest. These six artists have emerged from submissions of more than 200 nationwide entries. The Philadelphia Songwriters Project is a non-profit arts organization with the mission to support local and regional songwriters.

Pasin y Arte
7pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Flamenco
Pasin y Arte, a Philadelphia-based flamenco company, will perform provocative, innovative and original works of flamenco. The all-female dance companys work is deeply steeped in rigorous study of the Old World culture of flamenco baile (dance), cante (deep song) and toque (guitar), while simultaneously including New World jazz dance, ballet and feminism.

“Pasin y Arte took the stage like burning embers" Philadelphia Inquirer

Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Mass Choir
7pm | Verizon Hall | Choral
Established in 1876, Enon is the oldest African-American Baptist Church in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. This majestic 80-100 member choir will perform uplifting spirituals, and traditional and contemporary choral music.

PARTY EXTRA: Chair Massage Therapy
7pm-1am | Commonwealth Plaza | Variety
$1/minute professional chair massages.

SUN DOWN, HEAT UP

Swinging Foxes
7:30pm | Rendell Room | Jazz
Jazz/swing/bossa nova ensemble the Swinging Foxes features Skip Moyer on upright bass, Andy Buraz on guitar, Ellen Houle on drums and vocals, and the lovely vocal sensation Amber Rae.

PhillyBloco
8:30pm | Verizon Hall | Brazilian
PhillyBloco sings, dances, shouts and celebrates Brazilian music that shakes the body and stirs the soul. Modeled after the blocosor carnival street bandsof Rio de Janeiro, PhillyBloco is comprised of 13 drummers, guitar, bass, singer, accordion, a brass section and two Brazilian dancers.

First Person Arts StorySlam
8:30pm | Innovation Studio | Variety
First Person Arts StorySlams are real-life storytelling competitions with a monthly residency at L'Etage Cabaret. For those brave enough to approach the mic and share a story, this years theme is “The Great Outdoors." Sign-ups will take place outside of Innovation Studio prior to performance time.

3 Blind Mice
8:45pm | Rendell Room | Jazz
Philadelphia's premier organ trio, 3 Blind Mice, is led by saxophonist Victor North. The group calls upon Phillys great history of organ groups for their explorations into contemporary jazz. Whether executing the traditional repertoire, exploring their own original music or even creating new standards, the Mice always bring that same dynamic soundone deeply routed in swing and infectious interplay. Joined by organist Lucas Brown and drummer Wayne Smith Jr., the ensembles long tenure together is immediately evident by their musical sharing and coaction.

Attitudes Bollywood Dance Company
9:30pm | Perelman Theater | World & Dance
Balle, Balle (Dance, Dance)! Learn the exotic, rhythmic, heart-pounding music of India through Bhangra dance with these talented instructors Rosalyn Reidt, Shazad Akram, Bidisha Dasgupta, Smita Mangla and Megha Sood. Bollywood Dance Company has been featured on AVS, Sahara One TV, TV Asia, Bollypop by Saavan and in Bibi Magazine, and India Times. They have won numerous awards for outstanding numbers in solo and group categories and have performed throughout the Philadelphia region. Stick around after the lesson for a Bhangra dance party with DJ Rahsaan.

PARTY EXTRA: Henna Tattoo Designs
7pm-12am | Commonwealth Plaza | Variety

LATE NIGHT DATE NIGHT

Iron
10pm | Verizon Hall | Reggae
The six-piece Philadelphia-based band deftly melds the rhythms of the Caribbean with a soul punch and the edgy energy of punk rock. For people seeking just the right blend of Kingston, London and Philly, Iron will satisfy the desire!

DJ Rahsaan
10:30pm | Perelman Theater | World & Dance
DJ Rahsaan has ignited dance floors from New York City to Puerto Rico with his innovative fusion of funky global beats. His company, Afrotaino Productions, has collaborated with numerous international artists including Calle 13 (Puerto Rico), Mala Rodriguez (Spain), Cordero (Puerto Rico/Brooklyn) and Monareta (Colombia). DJ Rahsaan brings Bhangra beats and anthems, accompanied by Bollywood dance styling with instructor Rosalyn Reidt from Attitudes Bollywood Dance Company.

Bob & Barbaras Drag Show
11pm | Commonwealth Plaza | Drag Show
The notorious Bob & Barbaras Drag Show joins us again with amazing drag queen performances. “One of the longest running drag spectacles in the cityBrassy, a little gritty and real in a way that would make any Philadelphian, gay or straight, proud" (AOL Cityguide Philadelphia).

Splintered Sunlight
11:30pm | Verizon Hall | Jam Band
Since 1992, Philadelphias Splintered Sunlight has entertained fans with their own interpretation of The Grateful Deads music. Splintered Sunlight has a play-list of more than 200 songs, in the true spirit of The Grateful Dead musical experience, and has performed with the Deads Bob Weir.

PARTY EXTRA: Tarot Card Readers
10pm-2am | Hamilton Garden | Variety

INSOMNIACS PARADISE

Christian Rich
12am | Perelman Theater | Hip-Hop
Hip-hop duo Christian Rich, the multi-tasking production and artist team best known for their single “Famous Girl," has been creating hit records since early 2000. The New York-based duo excites audiences at home and abroad with a six-piece band accompanied by string quartet playing electro/hip-hop infused songs.

Ruder Than You
1:30am | Commonwealth Plaza | Reggae & Ska
Long known as Phillys top ska band, Ruder Than Yous identity has never fit too neatly into any of the generic categorizations. While ska and reggae stylings have always provided the common musical thread, over the past 20 years they've been mixing dancehall reggae, hip-hop, rocksteady, funk, jazz and punk to create their own unique sound. The bands consistent energy and enthusiasm inevitably pulls people onto the dance floor.

Dr. Ketchup
3:30am | Commonwealth Plaza | Funk
Dr. Ketchup is a five piece instrumental project from Philadelphia consisting of Rhodes piano and organ, tenor sax, trumpet, bass, and drums. Dr. Ketchup's style is a balance between jazz structure and a funkified groove, as well as Boogaloo beats from the late '60s.

Sunrise Drum Circle with the Al-Bustan Percussion Ensemble
5am | Commonwealth Plaza | Drum Circle
BYOD (bring your own drum) and join with members of the Al-Bustan Percussion Ensemble for the annual drum circle to ring in the dawn as the sun rises over the glass roof.

Tickets for Summer Solstice Celebration are $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 12. Ticket price includes all-day admission regardless of the number of exits and entrances patrons choose to make. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.kimmelcenter.org, by calling 215-893-1999, or at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings.

Summer Solstice Celebration Sponsors

Summer Solstice Celebration 2009 is sponsored by Citibank®. Additional support is provided by the William Penn Foundation, Next Realty and ABM Mid-Atlantic, Inc. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents.