By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
This is a weekend for special holidays and celebrations starting with Juneteenth on June 19 and ending with Father’s Day on June 21.More importantly, June 21 is the day summer solstice is celebrated.
The solstice is one of four major markers in Earth’s yearly orbit around the sun, alongside the December solstice and the March and September equinoxes.
The solstice will be celebrated across North America at events including Seattle’s Fremont Solstice Parade, Santa Barbara’s Summer Solstice Celebration and Canada’s National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Another celebration is scheduled to be held right in our backyard.
On June 21, people can celebrate the longest day of the year with live music in downtown West Chester.
World Music Day takes place every year on the summer solstice.
First organized in France in 1982 as Fête de la Musique or Make Music Day, this worldwide event now spans over 1,000 cities, uniting communities through the joy of live music.
It’s a completely free, volunteer-powered celebration where musicians of all kinds perform in public spaces, turning the streets into a stage.
On Sunday from 1:30-7 p.m., downtown West Chester will come alive with music.
Visitors can wander through town and enjoy performances on street corners, sidewalks, plazas, and more.
Many of the region’s highly regarded acts will be showcased including the Festers at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, Flock of Indifference at Side Bar & Restaurant and Sophie St. Claire at LoCali Wine Lounge.
The following is the schedule for each of the participating venues:
Chester County Historic Courthouse (2 North High Street) — Dojo Sound Official, 1:30-3 p.m. and 3:30-5 p.m.;
Warren Montgomery & The Derailed Gang, 5:30-7 p.m.
Side Bar & Restaurant (10 East Gay Street) — The Past Blasters, 1:30-3 p.m.; Flock of Indifference, 3:30-5 p.m.; ROOT SETTAZ, 5:30-7 p.m.
Downtown West Chester’s Office (137 North High Street) — John Costello Country Blues and Spirituals, 1:30-3 p.m.; Amalia Kirnos, 3:30-5 p.m.; The Shevlins, 5:30-7 p.m.
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street) — Houston Trio, 1:30-3 p.m.; Florence Phillips, 3:30-5 p.m.; The Festers, 5:30-7 p.m.
Roman Coia Photographer (39 West Gay Street) — COSMIC DEBRIS, 1:30-3 p.m.; Wash, Re-Wash, 3:30-5 p.m.; Fuzztide Jones, 5:30-7 p.m.
Turks Head Wines (120 North Church Street) – Velvet, 1:30-3 p.m.; Laurel Bendetti, 3:30-5 p.m.; CnC Music Box, 5:30-7 p.m.
Taylor’s Music Store & Studios (116 West Gay Street) – Fuscia, 1:30-3 p.m.; Mark Oppenlander, 3:30-5 p.m.; Who Needs Nigel, 5:30-7 p.m.
Jawn Supply (40 South High Street) — Benjamin Fritz, 1:30-3 p.m.; Stephanie Phillips, 3:30-5 p.m.; Landfall, 5:30-7 p.m.
LoCali Wine Lounge (123 East Market Street) — Lukas Kochansky, 1:30-3 p.m.; Sophie St. Claire, 3:30-5 p.m.; Missy Lippincott, 5:30-7 p.m.
Gentleman Jack’s Tattoo Gallery (130 East Market Street) — Gelu Martin, 1:30-3 p.m.; Elm Grove, 3:30-5 p.m.; Smoke Honey, 5:30-7 p.m.
Station 142 (142 East Market Street) — Secretly Sixty, 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Jake Mosca & The Travelers, 5-7 p.m.
D’Ascenzo’s Gelato (132 East Gay Street) – coldpheet, 1:303 p.m.; Choke Artists, 3:30-5 p.m.; Alternative Dawg, 5:30-7 p.m.
On-street parking, surface lots, and parking garages are free on Sundays (excluding the Chester County Justice Center Garage).
The Rose Tree Summer Festival (Rose Tree Park, Route 252, Media, www.delcopa.gov/departments/parks) will have a New Orleans groove when it presents Philly Gumbo on June 19.
Even though it’s summer, Philly Gumbo always brings a Mardi Gras vibe to its concerts.
Philly Gumbo has long been associated with New Orleans. The music of the Crescent City has been an integral part of the Philadelphia-based band’s sound for four decades.When people think of New Orleans, they think of Mardi Gras and the wild celebrations along the city’s Bourbon Street.
Mardi Gras refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday.
Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday,” reflecting the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual Lenten sacrifices and fasting of the Lenten season.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans includes days of partying in the streets and bars, marching bands, parades, beads and the decadent King’s Cake.
“You can celebrate New Orleans-style courtesy of Philly Gumbo, the band who pioneered Philadelphia area Mardi Gras celebrations more than three decades ago,” said Philly Gumbo’s Randall Grass, during a phone interview from his home in Mount Airy.
“Philly Gumbo began bringing authentic New Orleans music to area audiences in the 1980’s.
“Indeed, the mix of music the band delivered was similar to what one would have heard at a Neville Brothers show at Tipitina’s in uptown New Orleans around the same time.
“That’s no accident as Philly Gumbo was greatly inspired by the Neville’s precursor band, the fabled funk band The Meters. Early on, the band held Mardi-Gras-themed shows annually in the Mardi Gras season and an offshoot of the band, The Wild Bohemians, initiated a South Street parade tradition that has continued to this day.
“But the spirit of Mardi Gras is a year-round thing for Philly Gumbo. It’s all about getting people up on their feet, swaying and dancing in one happy partying crowd.”
The longevity of Philly Gumbo, Philadelphia’s longest-running band, is legendary.
Early in 2020, Philly Gumbo kicked off what was to be the band’s 40th year as a performing band with a sold-out show at World Café Live. Then COVID hit and live music shut down almost completely.
The “core four” of Randall Grass, Tim Hayes, Pete Eshelman, and Bert Harris have been together throughout the four decades with India Rex joining in 2010 and saxophonist Richard Orr, who used to sit in back in the day, joining in 2014.
“The six of us have been together for 12 years,” said Grass. “India has been our longest running singer.”
Philly Gumbo has pioneered New Orleans music – and a new tradition of Mardi Gras celebrations – in Philadelphia.
“I was doing a reggae show on WXPN in 1980,” said Grass. “My friend Walt Taylor was doing Top Ranking, a reggae magazine.
“One day, we sat around my place and did a song together and it was great. So, we formed a duo with him singing and me on piano. We started with a duo gig at Taker’s Café in Germantown.
“Then, I was in Third Street Jazz and saw a flyer from a drummer looking for a gig playing reggae, blues and New Orleans. It was a perfect match. That drummer was Tim Hayes and soon we were a trio.
“Then we heard about guitarist Pete Eshelman who had been playing with the reggae group Roots Vibration. We had rotating bass players at the beginning and then Bert Harris settled in.”
Guitarist, vocalist and harmonica player Richard Johnson rounded out the “classic” line-up of the 1980’s which established a decade-long Saturday night residency at fabled bohemian club Bacchanal on South Street while regularly playing legendary rock club J.C. Dobbs at the other end of South Street.
“Within the first year, we found our niche,” said Grass. “It was musically great — reggae, New Orleans, blues, Memphis style music. It was a dream band for us. We love those genres, and we found a group that could play all of them.”
“When we started, we were playing every Saturday night at Bacchanal on South Street. We did that for more than 10 years.
“We released a 12-inch single in 1984 – an original reggae tune ‘Holy War’ on one side and an obscure New Orleans tune, ‘Mardi Gras’, on the other side.
“We played at clubs all around Philly – JC Dobbs, Chestnut Cabaret, Equator, Khyber Pass. And we also used to play a lot at Joe’s Lounge in West Chester.”
None of those clubs exist anymore and Philly Gumbo has outlived them all.
“We also played a lot in New York at clubs like SOBs and Tramps. We played in Washington, D.C. at Kilimanjaro Club and Musikfest in Bethlehem.”
Philly Gumbo made appearances at major festivals such as The Atlantic City Summer Music Festival, Jam On The River, The West Oak Lane Jazz Festival and more followed as the band’s reputation grew.
“We played a lot of festivals including Jambalaya Jam on Penn’s Landing and Media’s State Street Blues Stroll,” said Grass. “As years went by, we got very selective.”
Grass has stayed busy. He is General Manager and Vice President of A&R at Shanachie Records and the author of a soon-to-be-released book on Philly music.
“About 10 years ago, we released the CD, ‘Come and Get It,’ featuring our current vocalist, India Rex,” said Grass. “But we haven’t been in the studio for a while.”
Video link for Philly Gumbo – https://youtu.be/6dU8iItvt5w.
The Philly Gumbo show on June 19 will start at 7 p.m.
Other outdoor shows at Rose Tree Park this month are Rose Tree Pops on June 20, Jersey Beach Boys on June 21, Peter Moses on June 24, Minute By Minute on June 25, Three Fourteen on June 26, Class of ’84 on June 27 and Blackbird Society Orchestra on June 28.
Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) will start its 2026 Kennett Flash Rooftop Concert Series on June 20 by hosting Roots Revival Roadshow featuring Sug Daniels, Antar Goodwin, Melvin McKnight and Ash Phillips.
Roots Revival Roadshow is a dynamic traveling collective of musicians dedicated to celebrating the rich tapestry of African American music.
With a sound rooted in blues, folk, rock, and soul, the rotating cast breathes new life into classic songs while showcasing powerful original compositions.
Their performances are a vibrant journey through time, bridging the past and present with heartfelt storytelling, infectious rhythms, and soulful melodies.
Antar Goodwin, a Philadelphia-based roots and blues artist, blends the grit of classic blues with the soul of Americana in his music. Before gaining recognition with his band, Antar Goodwin & The Faithful Sinners, he spent 15 years as a bassist in New York City’s vibrant music scene.
Goodwin co-wrote the album “On My Way,” which reached the Billboard top 10 twice and was featured on Blues Rock Review’s list of the Top 20 Albums of 2022.
Sug Daniels is a Delaware-born, Philadelphia-based, ukulele player, singer-songwriter, story teller, and producer who is using the tools around her to capture the emotions of an era.
Daniels combines elements of folk, rock, and soul alternatives to create personal and tender music interlaced with messages of truth and positive change.
Melvin C. McKnight, aka BlaqMel, is a New Brunswick, NJ-born singer and musician whose soulful sound and magnetic stage presence have earned him opportunities to work with legends like Will Downing, John Legend, and Parliament-Funkadelic.
Currently, BlaqMel is putting the finishing touches on his upcoming EP, set for release in early fall, featuring original music that reflects his roots in soul, funk, and R&B.
Ash Phillips is a singer/songwriter and teaching artist whose artistry is shaped by their love of the rich and bold legacy of Philly music, the great storytellers in our community, and their awe of the natural world.
The all-ages show will start at 7 p.m.
This show is free. Please follow the forms link below to register — https://forms.gle/BxyxJQT3o69qCWa97.
Rooftop Concert shows are presented outside on the top floor of the Kennett Square Parking Garage located at 100-198 East Linden Street in Kennett Square.
Shows begin at 7 p.m. and seating starts at 6 p.m.
Limited chairs available to rent and limited concessions will be available for purchase. You can bring food with you to the rooftop event.
The KSQ parking garage is a 24/7 paid parking lot run by the Kennett Square Borough. Average cost for an evening is $4-$6.
The Eagleview Town Center (Wharton Boulevard, Exton, www.ineagleview.com) will present its Summer Concert Series every Tuesday now through August.
On June 23, Eagleview will host Sunny War with special guest Ladybird.
The 2026 schedule also features LeCompt with special guest Lia Menaker on June 30, Handsome Jack / Canyon Lights on July 7,
Sophie Gault / Lazy Villains on July 14, Polyrhythmics featuring Adryon de León with special guest Julia Miralles on July 21 and The Legwarmers on July 28.
Additionally, this week’s “Movie Night” series features “Clueless” on June 22 at 7 p.m.
The 2026 Concerts Under the Stars series at the scenic Upper Merion Township Building Park (175 West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, www.concertsunderthestarskop.com) presents Hooray for the Riff Raff with Free Range on June 19.
Other upcoming shows this month are “An Evening With Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sanchez Trio” on June 25, Tortoise with Evan Chapman on June 26 and “River Roads Festival” featuring Dar Williams, 10,000 Maniacs, Billy Bragg, Shawn Colvin, Susan Werner, Amethyst Kiah and Miko Marks on June 27.
People’s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, peopleslight.org) is presenting “Two Outta Three” now through June 21.
The show, which was created and is performed by Jennifer Childs and Scott Greer will be performed on People’s Light’s Steinbright Stage.
The acclaimed comedy cabaret from 1812 Productions will be a special presentation at the theater in Malvern.
1812 Productions is dedicated to creating theatrical works of comedy and comedic works of theater that explore and celebrate our sense of community, our history, and our humanity.
1812 Productions was founded in 1997 by Jennifer Childs and Peter Pryor, two long-time friends and artistic collaborators, with a dedication to comedy, theater, and Philadelphia artists.
In 1998 the company premiered with “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged)” and was promptly named “Best of Philly – Theater in Infancy” by Philadelphia Magazine.
Jennifer Childs and Scott Greer bring their acclaimed comedy cabaret to People’s Light for a special presentation this June.
“Two Outta Three” is a laugh-out-loud look at how a trio becomes a duo again, rediscovering the rhythm and timing of their own lives.
People’s Light audiences will also recognize Childs’ witty wordplay from her two original pantos — Alice in Wonderland” and “Peter Panto.”
The show at People’s Light will run now through June
Tickets prices are $43 and $48.
The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org) is presenting “Arsenic & Old Lace” now through June 20.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” is a play by American playwright Joseph Kesselring, written in 1939. It has become best known through the 1944 film adaptation starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra.
The play opened on Broadway at the Fulton Theatre on January 10, 1941.
The play, a clever combination of the farcical and the macabre, centers on two elderly sisters who are famous in their Brooklyn neighborhood for their numerous acts of charity.
Unfortunately, however, their charity includes poisoning lonely old men who come to their home looking for lodging. The two women are assisted in their crimes by their mentally challenged nephew who believes he is Teddy Roosevelt and who frequently blasts a bugle and yells “charge” as he bounds up the stairs.
Matters get complicated when a second nephew, a theater critic, discovers the murders and a third nephew appears after having just escaped from a mental institution.
“Arsenic & Old Lace” revolves around drama critic Mortimer Brewster, whose engagement announcement is upended when he discovers a corpse in his elderly aunts’ window seat.
Mortimer rushes to tell Abby and Martha before they stumble upon the body themselves, only to learn that the two old women aren’t just aware of the dead man in their parlor, they killed him.
The “murderous old lady” plot line may also have been inspired by actual events that occurred in a house on Prospect St in Windsor, Connecticut, where a woman, Amy Archer-Gilligan, took in boarders, promising “lifetime care,” and poisoned them for their pensions.
“Arsenic & Old Lace” runs through June 20 and features a themed meal and free parking.
Tickets are $83 for adults and $38.50 for children (ages 4-12). Tickets for show only are $43.50 (adults and children).
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org) is hosting Still They Ride on June 19, Beter Than Bacon 15th Anniversary Show on June 20, Summer Pop-Up Beer Garden Series with Forever Donna on June 26 and Social Sessions On The Lawn on June 27 featuring performances by Cumberland County, Swift Technique, and The Fractals
Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) is presenting Cobalt Blues Band on June 19, The Billy Price Band on June 20 and the Blues Muthas featuring Steve Shanahan on June 21.
Elkton Music Hall (107 North Street, Elkton, Maryland, www.elktonmusichall.com) is hosting Bernard Purdie and Friends on June 19, James McMurtry & The Martial Law Review on June 20 and Ana Popovic on June 24.
Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, www.ardmoremusic.com) will host The County Jawn Reunion on June 20 and Ally the Piper on June 24.
