The Roots Announce Next Musical Undertaking: Philly’s Fourth of July Jam

[Carleen Donovan]

The Roots to Headline Wawa Welcome America presents: Philly’s Fourth of July Jam

Band will Create a Festival vibe by Curating Several Events Around the City on July 3rd & a Second Stage of Musical Performances on July 4th

Curated by Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson

Now that The Roots have successfully completed their 4th annual Roots Picnic, the band has set their sights on their next exciting musical undertaking in the beautiful city of Philly – helping to build the Wawa Welcome America Presents: Philly’s Fourth of July Jam into a full-blown music festival, featuring national and international superstars as well as focusing on the indie scene in Philadelphia.  Drawing more than a half million attendees every year, the group is working in partnership with Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter to build a music festival feel around what is already a week filled with exciting events across the city.  Curated by Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson, there will be several new events scheduled for July 3rd and July 4th, extending the celebration for the city and enriching the music experience for the festival-goers.

Throughout the two-day event, Philly’s  Fourth of July Jam will feature over 25 artists from a variety of genres, providing music for everyone’s taste, whether a Philadelphia native or a visitor to the historic city during the holiday weekend.  Artists slated to perform with The Roots on the main stage of the “Largest Free Concert in America” on the 4th of July include Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael McDonald, Estelle, Sara Bareilles, DJ Jazzy Jeff. The concert will also include “The Sound of Philadelphia,” a special tribute to the 40th Anniversary of Gamble and Huff’s iconic Philadelphia International Records.

With ?uestlove serving as music director, the main stage show, typically featuring a headliner and supporting acts, will be re-tooled into a jam session, with artists spanning musical styles and generations performing together, backed by The Roots. For a special touch, ?uestlove has programmed a side stage that will be headlined by Philly soul group Kindred the Family Soul with additional sets by Res, Chin Chin, Nico’s Gun and many more. The Roots managers Shawn Gee and Richard Nichols, Executive Producer of Wawa Welcome America Scott Mirkin and Geoff Gordon from Live Nation are producing this series of events over the course of the weekend.

In addition to adding this fresh spin to the Fourth of July Jam, ?uestlove has planned four incredible events set to happen on July 3rd. PSK at Club Voyeur will feature world renowned DJs Diplo (Mad Decent), DJ Jazzy Jeff & DJ ?uestlove (Magnificent Love), DJ Spinna (Wonderful) and J Rocc (Stones Throw) all spinning simultaneously in separate rooms of the club. The Theatre of Living Arts on South Street will feature the buzzed-about underground MC Dom Kennedy with support from Cassey Veggies and Philly’s own Dosage. At Johnny Brendas, Philly indie bands Working Drugs, CSLSX, and Wrestling will be featured, along with Smooth Sailing DJ’s: Red White and Smooth.  The Legendary Dobbs will be featuring additional bands from the Philly underground including Firm Taqtics, Da Rezarekt, SPIN, and The Violent Tone.

?uestlove says, “I have been attending the fireworks and the concert on the Parkway in Philly since I was kid. I have had the pleasure to perform on the main stage over the past two years and truly understand the impact this event has on the city and can potentially have on the world. July 4th should be to Philadelphia what New Year’s Eve is to Time Square in New York City. That is the kind of excitement we are aiming to bring to Philly this year and in years to come.”



Roots manager Shawn Gee says, “For the past year we’ve been working closely with Mayor Michael Nutter and City Representative Melanie Johnson , building upon the foundation laid by the previous Wawa Welcome America celebrations with the hope of creating a vision for a world- class musical and cultural experience. The Mayor has truly embraced The Roots creative vision for the event, which we hope will become a magnet, drawing people from around the country and around the world to the city of Philadelphia during the July 4th holiday.”


Executive Producer of Wawa Welcome America Scott Mirkin says, "Working with Ahmir, Shawn, Richard and the Roots over the last several years has been an amazing experience, they have added so much, creatively to this event.  The 4th of July Jam is the premier music event of America's Birthday!"


For more information, please contact Press Here:
Carleen Donovan / carleen at pressherepublicity.com<mailto:carleen at pressherepublicity.com>
Natalie Sawyer / Natalie at pressherepublicity.com<mailto:Natalie at pressherepublicity.com>
212-246-2640

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