Legendary R&B Artist Aaron Neville to Headline Wawa Welcome America!’s Taste of Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing June 25
Jazz musician Gerald Veasley to also take the stage during Taste of Philadelphia on June 24.
PHILADELPHIA (April 12, 2011) – Distinguished rhythm and blues musician Aaron Neville is set to headline Wawa Welcome America!’s Taste of Philadelphia on Saturday, June 25 at Penn’s Landing’s Great Plaza. Following his powerful performance, a spectacular fireworks display will light up the sky over the Delaware River.
Celebrated jazz bassist Gerald Veasley and additional acclaimed jazz, blues and gospel acts will also take the stage throughout the weekend. Taste of Philadelphia takes place Friday, June 24 – Sunday, June 26 and features famous Philly flavors from dozens of notable restaurants. Entertainment and admission to Penn’s Landing is free, and the bite-sized “tastes” are just a few dollars—a fraction of regular entrée-sized prices.
“We are proud to welcome these premier musicians to Philadelphia to take part in Wawa Welcome America! and help celebrate our nation’s birth in the very city where it all began,” said Mayor Nutter. “And, this year’s Taste of Philadelphia is going to be even bigger and better than before. We’ll be announcing more details soon!”
To kick off Taste of Philadelphia, Philadelphia’s own Gerald Veasley will rock the Great Plaza on Friday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. with contemporary jazz favorites. Then, Aaron Neville returns to Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing on Saturday, June 25 at 8 p.m. with his famous combination of soul, gospel and rhythm and blues. A dramatic fireworks display will conclude the evening— the first of three fireworks displays during the Wawa Welcome America! Festival.
People of all ages are invited to enjoy these timeless artists under the stars after a day of delicious cuisine.
We have even more entertainment scheduled throughout Wawa Welcome America!. Starting off the amazing Festival is a showcase concert at The Dell Music Center in Fairmount Park featuring Nancy Wilson. It takes place on Thursday, June 23 and is a ticketed event.
For the largest free concert in America, Philadelphia favorites and four time Grammy award-winning band The Roots will headline Philly’s Fourth of July Jam on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The band and their Musical Director ?uestlove will be performing their set as well as sets with special guests Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael McDonald, Estelle, Sara Bareilles, DJ Jazzy Jeff and more. The concert will also include a special tribute to the 40th Anniversary of Gamble and Huff’s iconic Philadelphia International Records, “The Sound of Philadelphia.”
For more Wawa Welcome America! event highlights visit www.welcomeamerica.com.
Wawa Welcome America! is a multi-day festival that celebrates America’s birthday in America’s birthplace, Philadelphia, and is produced by Welcome America, Inc. For more information, please visit www.welcomeamerica.com.
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