Never mind the weekend: A new city-sponsored initiative will focus on turning three Philadelphia neighborhoods into music destinations on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights.
“Weeknights Live” — a program initiated by the city of Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce’s Nighttime Economy Unit — will bring local bands and DJs to bars, restaurants and hotels to South Philly, Center City, and West Philadelphia.
The program has been running in Center City hotels on Tuesdays since December and is now expanding to include the East Passyunk Ave. commercial corridor in South Philly and Baltimore Ave. corridor in West Philly.
“From Center City to our neighborhood commercial corridors, we are building a more connected Philadelphia through the Weeknights Live program,” Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said in a statement.
“Our local artists enrich the quality of life across our city. By showcasing live performances at participating businesses, we support artists’ livelihoods and strengthen neighborhood economic vitality.”
In a 16-week pilot program, five Center City hotels paid 135 artists to perform, according to Karen Fegely, the Department of Commerce’s acting director.
In the run up to the city’s celebration of the semiquincentennial and the arrival of the World Cup this summer, Fegely said “alongside our partners we are committed to continuously building our 24 hour city with a thriving nighttime economy that drives tourism, hospitality and world class arts and culture.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Commerce said $100,000 was spent by the city on the pilot phase of the program and $1 million is allocated for the Weeknights Live as a year round series.
On Monday nights, free music will be heard at four East Passyunk destinations: Pistolas del Sur at 1934 E. Passyunk Ave.; Rays Happy Birthday Bar, 1200 E. Passyunk Ave. (where WXPN-FM (88.5) DJ Robert Drake will spin weekly); Stogie Joe’s Tavern, 1803 E. Passyunk Ave.; and Lucky at 13 Pub, 1820 S. 13th Street.
On Tuesdays, participating hotels include the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market St.; Notary Hotel, 21 N. Juniper St.; Canopy By Hilton Philadelphia Center City Hotel, 1180 Ludlow St.; Aloft Philadelphia Downtown, 101 N. Broad St.; and Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St.
On Wednesdays in West Philly, the venues include: Carbon Copy, 701 S. 50th St.; Renata’s Kitchen, 3940 Baltimore Ave.; Dahlak, 4708 Baltimore Ave.; and Booker’s Restaurant and Bar, 5021 Baltimore Ave.
This Wednesday, Nimrod Speaks and Elijah Cole are playing Eliza’s Kitchen, Eri Whatley and Brandon Young are at Dahlak, Spoeaks and Seriah Nicole and Ismail Abdus-Salaam play Booker’s and Joe Kinney is at Carbon Copy.
Check with venues to see who is scheduled to perform each night.
The article was updated with additional information from the city’s Department of Commerce.