Originally posted July 2020.

As you no doubt know, there is no 4th of July concert at The Philadelphia Museum of Art this year because of COVID-19, and there will also be no fireworks there either because we, as a city, as a country, have gone entirely freelance, and we are all fireworkers now. And though this very website you are reading has ragged on the Welcome America Festival for years now (because the Wawa brand is broken and because, as Philadelphians, we do not welcome Americans just as general rule), we cannot help but notice that something is missing this year: It’s the concert. Whether you attended in person or watched it on TV, it could not help itself from being a constant and reliable expression of Philadelphia-ness. Over the years, there have been memorable moments, awkward moments, and moments that frankly, we missed because we drank 18 Coors Lights in the blazing sun and were asleep by 7pm. 

To the point: We already miss the big Philly 4th of July jam, and we suspect that you might, too. To ease that a little, we present here, numbered but in no particular order,  with brotherly love and sisterly affection, 10 Times The 4th Of July Art Museum Concert Gave The Entire City Big Feels.

1. That time the The Roots opened the show with their fresh-to-death take on the Action News theme. (2015)

Under what we call The Roots Administration, the 4th of July concerts were unquestionably the best we’ve ever had, and the fact that one of Jim Kenney’s first moves as mayor was to blow this arrangement should have been a warning sign. In fact, it was! (Ahmir please take the wheel!) 

2. Patti LaBelle being Pattie LaBelle, which is to say, HEADLINING. (1996)

Like Jill Scott, The Roots, Hall & Oates, it should be mandated that Patti co-headlines this thing every year, but she wouldn’t be back until ten years later, when she shared the bill with…

3. Elton John, giving up that “Philadelphia Freedom” and also proving that the noughties were still kinda the ‘90s. (2005)

Lotta looks here! 

4. Nicki Minaj and thousands of Philadelphians in total unison (pre-post Meek Mill). (2014)

Do you remember that so many white people got bent out of shape about this that Mayor Michael Nutter had to go out and apologize? Woof! Sorry, Mike!

5. Jennifer Hudson just CRUSHING Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujiah.” (2019)

Lots of people cover this song, but Jennifer took it to church, in a wild set that also included “Carry That Weight” by The Beatles and the theme from The Jeffersons.

6. The Isley Brothers gleefully blurring the line between their own songs and everyone who sampled them. (2004)

May you live long enough to walk into a room with the confidence of Ron Isley quoting Biggie Smalls and thus in essence quoting yourself. 

7. Uh, The Beach Boys and Jimmy Page doing a Little Richard cover worse than a Wildwood cover band. (1985)

Hey, we said they were FEELS, we didn’t say they were all good feels. P.S. Fuck Mike Love! 

8. Lauryn Hill’s ULTRA high-energy surprise set that made us thankful the Parkway doesn’t have a roof! (2012)

… because it surely would have been blown off. For this writer, this was the apex of the Roots years, and they were perfect as her backing band. Pull up this clip and tell me you don’t get AMPED

9. Michael McDonald doing “Takin’ It To The Streets” with the Roots

This was kind of adorable.

10. MEGAMIX: Daryl Hall with Queen Latifah & The Roots, "Rich Girl"/"Sara Smile" into Jazzy Jeff, Common, and Queen Latifah doing “UNITY,” “Juicy,” "Just Another Day" & "Ladies First"

NOW THAT IS WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY “4th OF JULY JAM!” Have a great holiday. (Ahmir, come back, please.)

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