PHILADELPHIA, July 8, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- This year, Penn's Landing Corporation will proudly produce its 20th Season of free programming on the Great Plaza, the heart of Penn's Landing, Philadelphia's premier riverfront entertainment destination. Presented by Independence Blue Cross, the centerpiece of our 20th Anniversary celebration will be an extraordinary weekend of free concert performances featuring Philly's own Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, blues legend Buddy Guy, The Sound of Philadelphia and world famous singer songwriters, They Might Be Giants.
Penn's Landing Corporation is the non-profit organization responsible for funding and producing public programming at Penn's Landing. People in the Greater Philadelphia region count on Penn's Landing for a steadfast commitment to public programming, and producing both summer and winter traditions for all who visit.
The 20th Anniversary Summer Program Season will feature a diverse schedule of events including ten multicultural festivals, spectacular concert series featuring smooth jazz, gospel, blues, R&B and singer songwriters, a new outdoor movie series, the annual AFL-CIO Labor Day Family Picnic, ship tours, and more.
The third night of the Sounds of R&B concert series will kick off the 20th Anniversary Celebration Concert Weekend on Friday July 22, 2005. This free concert beginning at 7:00 p.m. will celebrate Rhythm and Blues. The Sound of Philadelphia, will open the concert with a tribute to Philadelphia soul, followed by blues legend, Buddy Guy at 8:00 p.m. Guy is considered the greatest contributor to classic Chicago Blues and a recent inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Over the course of his 45-year career, Guy has sold over 2 million albums and won 5 Grammy Awards and 19 W.C. Handy Blues Awards. For more information about this artist, please visit www.buddyguy.net.
The 20th Anniversary Concert Celebration weekend continues on Saturday July 23rd with a free concert featuring Time for Three, Adrian Belew, and They Might Be Giants. Gates open at 3:00 p.m. and at 4:00 p.m., Time for Three will kick off the concert. Brimming with youthful energy and exuberance, Time for Three plays a unique mix of bluegrass, gypsy, jazz, and classical. The group is composed of violin players Zachary DePue and Nick Kendall, and Ranaan Myer on the double bass. The group formed at the Curtis Institute for Music and soon after won Astral Artististic Services 2003 National Auditions. Time for Three's music was also featured in the documentary Rittenhouse Square. For more information about this artist, please visit www.timeforthree.com.
Adrian Belew will then take the stage at 5:00 p.m. This critically acclaimed musician's career has spanned three decades. Belew has worked with such artists as Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Paul Simon, and Talking Heads to name a few. For more information on this artist, please visit http://www.adrianbelew.net
Saturday's concert will be headlined by Grammy award winning singer songwriters, They Might Be Giants. Not only are they talented artists, but these traveling performers also write children's music, have created a children's DVD along with Disney and are developing children's books with Simon and Schuster. They will take the stage at 6:00 p.m. for this family-friendly show. For more information about this artist, please visit www.tmbg.com.
The celebration will conclude on Sunday July 24 at 5:00 p.m. with a free concert by Philadelphia natives Vivian Green and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. Contemporary R&B singer/songwriter Vivian Green began playing the piano at age eight and writing songs when she was 11. Green's debut album, A Love Story, reached gold status in May 2003. Green's latest album, Vivian, was written and co-produced by the talented 23-year old.
Peter Nero, a two-time Grammy Award winner, leads his Philly Pops, the largest independent orchestra in the country. Their style blends Classical, Swing, Broadway, Blues and Jazz. Nero and the Philly Pops have recently signed a three-record deal with DRG Records in New York. They are one of only two Pops orchestras in the country to have a recording contract. For more information, please visit www.phillypops.com.
WHYY, Inc. is a proud media partner in the 20th Anniversary concert celebration, lending support on WHYY TV 12, WHYY 91FM, and Whyy.org. WHYY is what a diverse community has in common. WHYY, through television, radio and other communications services, makes our region a better place, connecting each of us to the world's richest ideas and all of us to each other.
All events produced by Penn's Landing Corporation are free to the public. The quality and quantity of our free programming is a tremendous benefit for the residents of this region and vital attraction for the City's flourishing hospitality and tourism efforts. Nowhere else in the region can you find over 50 events produced where no admission ticket is necessary.
Independence Blue Cross is the presenting sponsor of the 2005 Summer season at Penn's Landing. The 2005 summer program season would not be possible without the support of our family of sponsors US Airways, PECO Energy, Commerce Bank, Pennsylvania Lottery, Anheuser Busch and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, all of whom are committed to serving their community.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary season, Penn's Landing is Philadelphia's Waterfront district, running along Columbus Boulevard from Washington Avenue to Spring Garden Street. The main site for the more than 50 festivals, concerts, and events at Penn's Landing is the Great Plaza, located along the Delaware River on Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street. For more information on event locations and event details, please call (215) 922-2FUN or visit www.pennslandingcorp.com. The Penn's Landing website is a virtual resource for the waterfront which can help plan a visit to easily park, play and stay all day at Penn's Landing.
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