We know the city has a lot on its hands right now, but we wish it would do more with this lovely 6,000-person Fairmount Park amphitheater managed by Parks & Rec. There were only 12 (12!) concerts scheduled for all of July and August. Maybe the city shouldn’t be in the concert business? Read More »
2400 Strawberry Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA Website
This season, the Mann debuted a brand-new seating option: onstage. That’s right. For select shows, the regular seats and lawn are closed off, and the audience sits right up there with the performers. There’s only one Downstage @ the Mann show left this season (sorry; you just missed Nigerian Afrobeat master Femi Kuti), but you can still get tickets for the Resistance Revival Chorus on October 7th. Read More »
5201 Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, PA Website
If you like the aesthetic and programming of Johnny Brenda’s and Union Transfer, you’ll love this indie venue within feet of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the brainchild of South Philly Tap Room and American Sardine Bar owner (and now Atlantic City developer) John Longacre. This month, look for Guided By Voices (August 20th), the Mountain Goats (August 29), and Philly’s own Low Cut Connie (August 27th). Read More »
247 South New York Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ Website
A chain music venue? In the glorified mall that’s the Fashion District, née the Gallery? With a name like City Winery? Yeah, we were skeptical. But the fact is, this place offers an intimate, high-quality experience — with pristine sound and excellent production standards — like no other in the city. Oh, and the wine is great, too. How often can you say that about a music venue? Read More »
990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA | 267-479-7373 | Website
Imagine if a professional sound crew turned your favorite hangout room into a spot where impressive local acts and touring musicians liked to stop by and jam. That’s this place. (And it’s BYO, too!) Read More »
35 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, PA Website
Finally, a music venue figured out how to not have us stand in line for 20 minutes to pay $13 for a domestic beer. The answer was quite simple: Have lots of bars. Read More »
858 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA Website
The upcoming season is one helluva barn burner, with opera great Placido Domingo kicking things off in September; the new series WomenNOW, featuring female composers, conductors and instrumentalists; and the entirety of Bach’s majestic Mass in B minor. Totally subscription-worthy. Read More »
| 215-893-1900 | Website
This intimate venue is relatively small–only 2,400 seats–but the acts that perform here are anything but. Last month, headliners included Britney Spears and Barry Manilow. This month: Stevie Wonder and Cher. Good luck getting tickets! Read More »
1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ | 609-317-1000 | Website
A recent much-needed rehab and a new programming push (Erykah Badu, Frankie Beverly’s Maze and the War on Drugs all play this summer) make this once-neglected city-run amphitheater a solid venue contender. Read More »
2400 Strawberry Mansion Drive, Philadelphia, PA | 215-685-9560 | Website
When we heard that someone was converting a former World War II munitions factory in Fishtown into a 2,500-person music venue, we pictured a drab, soulless cavern (cough, Electric Factory). Thank God we were wrong. The concert hall is sleek, the bars are well staffed (never miss three songs while waiting for a drink again!), and the sight lines are so good, you won't find a bad seat in the house. It's the all-grown-up-yet-totally-cool venue we've been waiting for. Read More »
29 East Allen Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-309-0150 | Website