MUSIC
Philly Celebrates Jazz
Through April
Various locations
creativephl.org
April is Jazz Appreciation Month in Philadelphia, which means you have 30 days to take in a host of events celebrating the genre. Check creativephl.org for a multitude of events happening every day—including free concerts in City Hall on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. Among the one-off performances this weekend are saxophonist Kris Allen Friday night at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a kid-friendly jazz workshop at the Kimmel Center Saturday called Grow Up Great.
Travis Tritt
April 7, 8 p.m.
Valley Forge Casino
1160 First Ave.
$40-$55
vfcasino.com
Country legend Travis Tritt brings a little twang to the ongoing Valley Forge Music Fair. Tritt was one of the biggest selling country artists of the late-’80s and ’90s, helping to define that golden era of country music with ditties like “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” “”Help Me Hold On” and “Foolish Pride.”
Boss Hog
April 8, 9 p.m.
Underground Arts
1200 Callowhill St.
$15-$18
undergroundarts.org
Boss Hog, the late-’80s garage-punk outfit founded by husband-wife duo Cristina Martinez and Jon Spencer, just released their first album in 17 years. “Brood X,” they say, is a timely effort, because it comes out “just when the world needs driving, scuzzy anthems for sweating it out.” Give it a listen at their record release party at Underground Arts Saturday night.
ART
Art Unleashed
April 7-10
Dorrance Hamilton Hall
320 S. Broad St.
artunleashed.uarts.edu
Looking for some cool and affordable new bling for your home? Hit up Art Unleashed at University of the Arts all weekend to browse original work made by students, faculty, alumni and staff. Goods up for grabs range from paintings and artisanal jewelry to sculpture and selections of furniture. If you want to be among the first to peep the artwork, snag a ticket to the exhibition’s opening party on April 6. That goes from 4-9 p.m. and features cocktails and light fare.
“Another Way of Telling”
April 8-July 16
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Free with $20 admission
philamuseum.org
Philadelphia Museum of Art digs into its archives for a new exhibition that spotlights international female photographers from the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection includes many photographs that have never been seen at the Museum, and features works by artists like Berenice Abbott, Diane Arbus, Kelli Connell and Elaine Stocki. Together, they come together to tell a story about how lady shutterbugs used their lenses to explore identity and conventional female roles around the globe.
BOOKS
Alec Baldwin
April 7, 7:30 p.m.
Penn Museum
3260 South St.
$37
freelibrary.org
Man of the hour Alec Baldwin reads from his new memoir, “Nevertheless,” at the Penn Museum Friday night. The multi-award winning actor may be one of the defining comedic minds of this generation, but the book delves into some not-so-funny moments in his life, touching on painful childhood memories, his struggles with addiction and myriad relationship woes. Unsurprisingly, the event is sold out, but you can get on a waitlist by emailing [email protected]. Good luck!
PERFORMING ARTS
Philadelphia Burlesque Festival
April 6-9
Various locations
thephiladelphiaburlesquefestival.com
For four shimmy-filled days, burlesque dancers from across the country perform for local audiences in venues across the city. The Philadelphia Burlesque Festival shines a light on the artform that has deep roots in Philadelphia, and features myriad types of performances. Look out for shows starring 2016 Burlesque Hall of Fame inductee Poison Ivory, Vegas “boy-lesque” artist Mr. Gorgeous, and an explosive closing night hoopla at Franky Bradley’s featuring music from the Striptease Orchestra.
“Shadowland”
April 7-8
Annenberg Center
3680 Walnut St.
$30-$75
annenbergcenter.org
Pilobolus Dance Theater comes to the Annenberg Center for a two-day performance of “Shadowland.” The dreamy production utilizes athletic feats of modern dance and lively multimedia creations to tell the story of a teenage girl’s “Alice in Wonderland”-recalling journey through a fantastical world of shadows. Note that, even though this is a kids’ show, it contains brief nudity, strobe lighting and gunfire.
CAUSES
Walk Against Hunger
April 8, 8:30-11 a.m.
Lincoln Financial Field
1 Lincoln FInancial Field Way
hungercoalition.org
The annual Walk Against Hunger moves to a new location this year, but the mission stays the same: to raise money for more than 100 hunger-relief agencies in the Philly region. The walk begins with a lap around Lincoln Financial Field and culminates with a family-friendly day of activities, like live music, food trucks and photo opps with Eagles mascot Swoop.
“Time: The Kalief Browder Story”
April 8, 1-7 p.m.
Community Futures Lab
2204 Ridge Ave.
Free
Local clothing designers with a heart Thrift Element Apparel Co. (TEAC) hosts a public screening of the new Jay-Z documentary that tells the tragic story of Kalief Browder. At 16 years old, the Bronx youth was arrested for stealing a backpack and sentenced to three years in prison—spending most of that time in solitary confinement. After the film, stick around to buy some of the latest threads from TEAC. All funds will be donated to the The Kalief Browder Scholarship Fund, which aids ex-inmates working to complete their education at Bronx Community College.
