Festival Noize: Philly Jam, First City, KROQ Weenie Roast

Called “the largest free concert in America,” this year’s Philly Jam happening at the City of Brotherly Love’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway July 4 will feature performances by The Roots, Ed Sheeran, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Hudson, Aloe Blacc, Ariana Grande and Vicci Martinez.   

The concert, which comes with a magnificent fireworks display, caps the annual “Wawa Welcome America!” week of fun beginning June 28.  The week of family entertainment begins with the “Liberty Block Party at the Shops At Liberty Place,” which features plenty of opportunities to sample goodies presented by local restaurants and food trucks.  Other attractions leading up to the Independence Day concert include a “Mural Arts Paint Day” June 29, and the festival’s first “Go 4^th & Learn Event” which will take place June 30 at the Academy Of Natural Sciences.  Peter Nero returns as Conductor Emeritus for the “POPS! On Independence” concert July 3.

But it’s the Fourth of July Philly Jam that gets the most attention.  Head over to WelcomeAmerica.com for more information.

The 22^nd annual KROQ Weenie Roast will take over the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, Calif., May 31 with a lineup that includes Avicii, Foster The People, Fall Out Boy, Neighborhood, Bastille, Fitz & The Tantrums, Capital Cities, Phantogram, The 1975, American Authors, Kongos, Bleachers and Cherub.

All tickets will go up via an exclusive KROQ Street Team onsale scheduled May 9 at 12 noon PDT.  Click here for what you need to know.

As if you need an excuse to visit California’s Monterey Peninsula, the First City Festival returns to the picturesque town where John Steinbeck found inspiration for his novels “Cannery Row” and “Sweet Thursday.”

Happening at the Monterey County Fair and Event Center Aug. 23-24, the second annual First City will feature Beck, The National, The Naked and Famous, Phantogram, Best Coast, Dawes, Cults, Cocorosie, Blind Pilot, Lake Street Dive, Tokyo Police Club, Geographer, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Midlake and many, many others.

But wait, there’s more.  First City will also host a “vaudeville stage” with a lineup that includes everyone’s favorite operatic clown act – Puddles Pity Party.  Other acts taking the vaudeville stage are John Brothers Piano Company and Vau de Vire Society dancers.

Along with all that music First City will present the Unique USA Marketplace featuring handmade couture curated by independent designers.  As the title suggests, everything offered in the marketplace is made in the U.S.A. 

And bring your thirst because for very first time First City will present a full craft-beer and wine garden featuring California vino and boutique brews.

Presented by Goldenvoice, tickets go on sale May 9 at 10 a.m. PDT.  Click here for all the details.