2011 Festival
The 2011 Connections Festival music lineup included Dr. Dog, Manu Chao, The Baseball Project, Kuf Knotz, Birdie Busch, Toy Soldiers, and Justin Townes Earle. Events also included a screening of Ken Burns' Prohibition.
Reviews & articles
- The Swollen Fox
Photos, videos, and setlists from WHYY Connections Festival - The Swollen Fox
Review: WHYY Connections Festival - TriState Indie
WHYY Connections Festival Photo Recap - Philly Mostly Vegan
WHYY Connections Festival at Great Plaza at Penn's Landing 9/3/11 - The Philly Scene Blog
Photo Recap: WHYY Connections Fest - The Key
Photo Recap: WHYY Connections Festival Concert (featuring Dr. Dog, Birdie Busch, Kuf Knotz, + more) at The Great Plaza
About the 2011 Event
WHYY and the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) celebrated the region's arts and culture with a free two-day festival on Sept. 2 and 3, 2011 with the innagural WHYY Conections Festival.
The Festival will kicked off the evening of Friday, Sept. 2, 2011 with a preview screening of renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns' latest film, Prohibition. Prior to the screening, guests enjoyed a performance of prohibition-era jazz by The Hot Club of Philadelphia and heard remarks from Prohibition co-director Lynn Novick and other celebrity guests. WHYY also hosted a prohibition-themed reception for WHYY members before the film screening featuring hors-d'oeuvres, beer from Yards Brewing Company and Prohibition-style cocktails compliments of the Philadelphia Distilling Company.
Following the free preview of Prohibition, attendees were invited to take a short walk up Columbus Blvd to the Festival Pier at Penn's Landing as WHYY Presents: Manu Chao. This ticketed concert was produced in partnership with Live Nation. WHYY Members who reserve tickets (free of service charge) through WHYY will had access to a Member VIP area during the concert which featured prime seating, refreshments and more.
On Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011 WHYY and DRWC hosted a concert event headlined by Philadelphia indie-rock band Dr. Dog. Acclaimed alt-country, singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle, The Baseball Project, hip-hop artist Kuf Knotz; singer-songwriter Birdie Busch; and Toy Soldiers also performed. This exciting concert attracted a crowd of more than 12,000 people and featured brief performances by the Kyo Daiko drum team of Philadelphia, First Person Arts "Story Slam" champion R. Eric Thomas, live painting by Hussian School of Art students and more!
Support for the 2011 WHYY Connections Festival comes from the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, Live Nation, Temple University, Commonwealth Connections Academy, Philadelphia Distilling Company, Yards Brewing Company, Peeps, Mike & Ikes and Peanut Chews.
