The Radio 104.5 Summer Block Party Concert Series has found success at its new home at Festival Pier on the Delaware River waterfront.
The concert series, previously held at the Piazza at Schmidt’s in Northern Liberties, has become a Philadelphia tradition in the past few years.
Radio 104.5’s first concert of the summer at Festival Pier took place June 7 and featured headlining act The Head and the Heart with supporting acts KONGOS, Bear Hands and Alright Junior.
The Head and the Heart is a Seattle-based band with a folk-rock sound. The Sub Pop Records-signed band played fan favorite songs, “Down in the Valley” and “Lost in My Mind.”
Concertgoers were pleased with the choice of headliner.
“This was the perfect concert to kick off the start of summer,” said Brandon DeMauro, an attendee at the June 7 concert. “The Head and the Heart is one of my favorite bands, but they’re not very well known so it was cool that they got to play in such a huge venue.”
The venue change has allowed for a larger audience. Festival Pier’s expansive location on the waterfront has a capacity of over 6,500.
“The Radio 104.5 Summer Block Party Concert Series has vastly expanded in the past few years and has become a huge part of the Philadelphia community,” said Daniel Casarella, of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment.
“By moving to Festival Pier, we were able to accommodate more people than we have been able to in the past,” Casarella said.
This summer, music fans can still expect the same caliber of big-name artists they have been treated to in previous years. The headlining artists selected for the upcoming summer months are Neon Trees on July 12, Bleachers on August 2 and Grouplove on September 13.
In addition to the big-name artists, a huge draw for crowds is the concerts remain completely free of charge and open to all ages.
“It’s a fun way to experience new music in a festival-like setting,” Casarella said. “Since we have more space now and the concerts are free, music fans have the opportunity to hear bands that they maybe never would have listened to.”
Fans of the Summer Block Party Concert Series have responded favorably to the venue change.
“It’s nice having the concert on the waterfront,” said Adam Moyer, an attendee at the June 7 concert. “It’s like a fun beach party. I like Festival Pier a lot.”
Festival Pier is located on the Delaware River waterfront at the intersection of Spring Garden Street and Columbus Boulevard. All Summer Block Party Series concerts will take place from 4:45 p.m. to 7 p.m.
-Text and photos by Hayley Condon and Madeline Bates
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