The Rotunda - Events

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1 8:00 PMIn-person! Fire Museum Presents: Mourning [A] BLKstar 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Fire Museum Presents: Mourning [A] BLKstar Multi-generational, gender, genre non-conforming amalgam of Black culture, Mourning [A] BLKstar, is dedicated to sharing stories and songs of America’s unfolding apocalypse. Their music melds live instrumentation with hip-hop production creating sonic frequencies that illuminate the African Diaspora. Founded in Cleveland, the US-based Afrofuturist collective continues touring their music globally across Europe and the US, playing festivals from Crossing Border in Berlin with Lonnie Holley to Big Ears Festival and Le Guess Who? in Utrecht. A band whose importance is fast becoming evident', wrote Wire Magazine's Neil Kulkarni on Mourning [A] BLKstar. The collective, made up of musicians, writers, and multimedia artists, has a bountiful track record, amassing several releases under its belt since 2015. Their music is for both eulogies and revolutions, as they expand upon contemporary Black consciousness by forging ongoing dialogues between hip-hop production techniques and live instrumentation.Free/donations appreciated. Advance registration is not required but is appreciated. Please register HERE	2 5:30 PMIn-person! Everyone's a Judge: A Homecoming and Going Showcase Fundraiser 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM Join us for a night of reunion and entertainment. This event is all about fundraising and celebrating talent and creativity that has been in our community for over a decade. Audience members will judge the pieces showcased by Philly Reincarnated Slam Team as a way of preparing for going to Knoxville, Tennessee to represent Philly in Southern Fried National Slam. This fundraiser show will also consist of special guest artist features from various PYPM alumni. Join us for an unforgettable poetry reunion as we send this team off to nationals fully funded and grounded in community. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of something special. See you there!Tickets are 2 for 1 until May 26. Click HERE for more info!	3	4	5	6	7 1:00 PMIn-person! Live readings from contributors to S/He Speaks 3: Voices of Women, Trans & Nonbinary Folx 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Saturday June 7th, 1pm-5pm. Live readings from S/He Speaks 3: Voices of Women, Trans & Nonbinary Folx free with readings by some of the writers whose poems/essays appear in this year's edition of S/He Speaks: Voices of Women, Trans & Nonbinary Folx. Q&A to follow. Copies of the anthology will be available for purchase (cash only).* Lisa Acerbo* Connelly Akstens* Grace Biddle* Mary Lou Buschi* Morgan Caudill* Constance Clark* Coalter* Kenna DeValor* Grace Dignazio* Marcia Emiliano* Cory Finch* Angela Yeungyung Lee* Travis Lusk* Ezra Mars* Naila Mathews * Riley McKibben* Adesuwa Olumhense* Sam Poliarco* C. Joi Sanchez* Megha Sood* M.J. Stanley* Cassendre Xavier* Samari ZyskReaders are subject to change
8 12:00 PMIn-person! Relax Your Mind and Let Your Conscious Flow OPEN MIC and features 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM D.I.M.E. Universal LLC in conjunction with The Philadelphia Peace Initiative presents Relax Your Mind and Let Your Conscious FlowSpoken Vocal SoundsOPEN MIC and featuresDoors open at 11amBenefits the TWAH (Thriving While at Home) Initiative Small business marketplaceDonation at the door: $20light refreshments providedTo feature, please contact info.dimeuniversal@protonmail.com 8:00 PMIn-person! The Thurman Barker Octet 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM Thurman Barker. Growing up in Chicago in the 1950s, Thurman Barker was exposed to the city’s rich musical heritage, regularly hearing R&B, doo-wop, soul, jazz and blues musics. Accordingly, he began his professional career at age seventeen by anchoring the rhythm section for blues legend Mighty Joe Young. He then attended the American Conservatory of Music and later Roosevelt University where he received classical training. While serving as percussionist for the city’s Shubert Theatre throughout much of the 1960s, Thurman played for numerous national touring productions, including “Hair,” “The Wiz,” “Grease,” “One Mo’ Time” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” A versatile drummer and percussionist, Barker also performed with singers Billy Eckstine, Marvin Gaye, Bette Midler and Vicki Carr, and worked with classical groups like the Chicago Chamber Players and the New York City Opera. Perhaps Thurman Barker’s most notable musical experience has been with the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), an organization founded in the 1960s to promote innovative music and its players. A charter member of the group, Thurman first appeared in AACM productions with Joseph Jarman’s pioneering ensemble. He then went on to play with many other members, including Muhal Richard Abrams, Amina Claudine Meyers, Anthony Braxton, Leroy Jenkins, Roscoe Mitchell and Henry Threadgill. In the 1970s and ‘80s, after moving to New York, Barker worked with jazz giants Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers and Billy Bang, touring with their groups and recording numerous albums with them. Most recently, Thurman has performed with trombonist and composer George Lewis at the Festival International Musique Actuelle in Victoriaville, Quebec. Since creating Uptee Records in the late 1980s, Barker has released seven recordings as a leader, including Voyage (1987), The Way I Hear It (1999), Time Factor (2001), Strike Force (2004) and Rediscovered (2008), South Side Suite (2017) and Impact (2023, his first CD featuring chamber music. In 1994, his work “Dialogue,” commissioned by Mutable Music, premiered at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra premiered Thurman’s chamber piece, “Expansions,” in May 1999, and that same year he became a lecturer at Smolny University in St. Petersburg, Russia.Tara Middleton Tara Middleton is a dynamic vocalist, violinist and lyricist. Her performances are shaped by honesty and a deep connection to the moment. She is the lead vocalist for the grammy nominated Sun Ra Arkestra and makes new work with her cosmic duo Jupiter Blue, a project rooted in sonic sound, and creative freedom. Her music draws from jazz, experimental traditions, and her own spiritual roots. Whether on violin or voice, Tara plays with purpose centered in truth and guided by instinct.Terry Lawson is a Philadelphia powerhouse. Originally from Roanoke, Virgina, Terry studied and performed in the Howard University Jazz Ensemble under the tutelage of Donald Byrd. Moving to Philadelphia, he has spent decades performing with the likes of the Odean Pope Sax Choir, The Sun Ra Arkestra, The Hip Ensemble under the direction of Roy Haynes, Sonic Liberation Front with Kevin Diehl, Larry Young's Organ Ensemble, The Stylistics, the Sam Reed Ensemble, and Leon Mitchell's Bid Band. Terry has also performed with organist Butch Cornell, trombonist Tyrone Hill, drummer Sunny Murray, bassist Jamaaledeen Tacuma, and more. Terry considers himself a student of Donald Byrd, Marshall Allen, David Baker, and Odean Pope. Carlos Santiago is a violinist, improvisor, and composer. Although he is well equipped to play within the classical tradition, Carlos chooses a path of self expression through the art of free improvisation, welcoming the challenges of spontaneous composition and deeper, active, listening. For decades he has operated within new music ensembles and improvisation groups (Arcana Ensemble, Network For New Music, The People's Music Supply), played in math rock/fusion groups (Normal Love, G. Calvin Weston), performed to silent films with "Not So Silent Cinema", and has recorded with many artists. He is also the founder of Arcx String quartet, and a former founding member of the Bismuth String Quartet. Salina Kuo is a singer/songwriter, percussionist, self-taught guzhengist, improviser, and educator, based in Philadelphia (Lenape territory). They have a deep admiration for black American music, world folk, free improvisation, and 60s/70s fem singer/songwriters. They write music that blends genres and utilizes uncommon instrumentation to create a unique yet cohesive and familiar sound. By confronting personal experiences with grief, depression, and love, Kuo’s storytelling invites listeners into their world and share in their healing. They release music under St. John’s Wort (vibraphone indie-pop/rnb/soul) and River Full of Fruit (freak-folk chamber orchestra). Their debut full-length album is forthcoming. They have performed in venues across the U.S. and Canada, ranging from basements to art galleries to concert halls.Pete Dennis (they/he) is a musician, improviser, composer, visual artist, and teacher. Living in West Philadelphia, Dennis is inspired by their beautiful community and the future. Other ever present inspirations include William Parker, the works of Octavia E. Butler, their partner Abigail, and the knowledge that all vibrations carry the potential to transmit the truths of life and death. Dennis’s recorded creations are released using the project name Search for the Infinite Light and include but are not limited to Killing a Dixie Hummingbird (2019), World’s End Welcoming Committee (2021), and pastē (2022). Their most current projects and collaborations include 99 Futures, Oarsman, Mitamu, St. John’s Wort, and an ongoing poetry/bass duet performance with Abigail Swoboda. They believe that sound is the foundation of healing and would like to acknowledge all master improvisers of the past,present, and future.Dan Blacksberg. Appearing everywhere from West Philly basements to Carnegie Hall, trombonist, composer, and educator Dan Blacksberg connects people, sounds, and cultures in respectful and vitalizing ways. Acknowledged as the foremost practitioner of klezmer trombone and a respected voice in jazz and experimental music, Dan creates music inside and outside known genres, from danceable klezmer melodies on his album Radiant Others, to genre-busting projects like his Hasidic doom metal band Deveykus. He has performed and recorded with artists such as klezmer masters Elaine Hoffman Watts and Adrienne Cooper, and experimentalists like Anthony Braxton and extreme doom metal band The Body. His latest solo record, The Psychic/Body Sound System has been called “a powerful improvised statement that blends wild soundscapes and drone with gnarled extended technique and commanding free trombone flights (Nick Metzger, Freejazzblog.org).” He also makes the Radiant Others Klezmer Podcast.Julius Masri is a Philadelphia based multi instrumentalist, and performer/composer for the city's dance community at large. Born in Tripoli, Lebanon, he moved to the States in 1990 and began drumming a year later. He studied with Philadelphia instructors Carl Mottola, Elaine Hoffman-Watts, and as an undergraduate at Bard College, with AACM's Thurman Barker, Richard Teitelbaum, and Joan Tower. Julius plays drums, circuit modified Casio keyboards, Oud, Kamancheh (aka Rabab, Spike Fiddle), and various other instruments. He currently performs in groups such as grind/crust metal bands Night Raids, Nomad War Machine, free jazz groups Humanosity Project and Dromedaries, trombone and synth duo Superlith, and more. In 2021, he released a solo album "The Arabic Room" under the name of Mephisto Halabi. Julius is a recipient of a 2022 Yaddo Fellowship for composition, as well as the 2022 University of the Arts Creative Research and Innovation grant.Donations appreciated.	9 7:00 PMIn-person! BE LOUD: A creative workshop for trans/nonbinary adults to play and sing together 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM BE LOUDA creative workshop for trans/nonbinary adults to play and sing together7-9 pmFREE! Explore your voice and practice taking up space in this affirming, trans-only workshop. To experience play, to be silly, joyful, relaxed, and expressive is an act of resistance in a time when we are being silenced. We will not be silenced! We will take up physical and sonic space. We will speak up with joy, embody confidence, and celebrate ourselves and each other, even as the world tells us we don’t exist. We will embrace mistakes, and the complex, messy, multi-dimensional experience of existing as a human being. Your whole self is welcome here! No experience necessary. 18+. “Experimenting with sound was delightful and freeing.” -Past workshop participantFacilitated by Julie Lipson and Miles Crabtree, music therapists, performers in Ants on a Log, and long-time creators of community-music shenanigans. @antsonalogmusic @innerrhythmsphillyGrant funding provided by the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation and the Marrazzo Family Foundation. Questions? Email InnerRhythmsTherapy@gmail.com	10	11	12	13	14 1:00 PMIn-person! Open House/Info Session for United Block Captains Association Hospital Summer Fun Program 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Open House/Info Session for United Block Captains Association Hospital Summer Fun Program
15	16	17 6:00 PMIn-person! Legendary Philly Mother Symiira @mirdaloner , Legendary Wally 007 @w.allace & Icon Sajuan Presents: The Pride Month Kiki Lounge - Mini Ball 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM Legendary Philly Mother Symiira @mirdaloner , Legendary Wally 007 @w.allace & Icon Sajuan Presents:The Pride Month Kiki Lounge - Mini BallFREE ENTRY1 FREE ENTRY! FREE ENTRY• ALL CATEGORIES ARE JUST BRING IT • EACH CATEGORY WILL HAVE $5 REDEMPTION • EVERY CATEGORY WILL BE FOR MONEY/GIFTCARD & A TROPHY 6-10PM! BE ON TIM!• MC’s of The Night: Jawn Mona Lisa & Kurt Unbothered-Cartier @dabqkurt • DJ of The Night: NYC’s TheTaurux @itsthetaurux THE ENTIRE BALL WILL BE LIVE STREAMED FROM @theekikiscene YOUTUBE CHANNEL SO MAKE SURE YOU’RE SUBSCRIBED & TUNED INAdmission is FREE	18	19 4:00 PMIn-person! Philly Juneteenth Celebration Featuring: Dr. Leonard & Rosalind Jeffries 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM The Bigga Dre Juneteenth Celebration 2025 is Philadelphia’s premier cultural event honoring Black freedom, resilience, and excellence. Spearheaded by renowned community leader and event curator Bigga Dre (Amun Sen Hotep Re), this annual celebration has become a vital space for connection, empowerment, and cultural expression in the city.Rooted in the legacy of Juneteenth—the historic commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans—this event is a vibrant reflection of Philadelphia’s Black community and its ongoing contributions to art, activism, and progress. Attendees can expect a powerful blend of live performances, spoken word, educational programming, and showcases of local Black-owned businesses and creatives.More than a celebration, this event serves as a platform to uplift voices, create opportunities, and educate the broader public on the significance of Juneteenth. Bigga Dre’s vision has turned a day of remembrance into a dynamic gathering that unites generations and builds lasting community pride.Join us in 2025 as we continue the tradition of honoring the past, celebrating the present, and investing in the future—right here in the heart of Philadelphia.Support Culture. Empower Community. Celebrate Freedom.The Bigga Dre Juneteenth Celebration is more than just an event—it's a movement that brings people together to honor the past, uplift the present, and inspire the future. By donating, you're helping create a space where families can gather, artists can shine, small businesses can thrive, and history is proudly celebrated.Your contribution helps us provide: • Free access to entertainment, food, and education for the community.• Youth engagement and cultural enrichment • A safe, inclusive environment for everyone to celebrate the meaning of JuneteenthJuneteenth is about freedom, resilience, and unity. Help us make this year's celebration bigger, brighter, and more impactful than ever. Donate today and be a part of something powerful.Donations appreciated. Suggested donation: $19DOWNLOAD: officialbiggadre.hearnow.com SUBSCRIBE:https://youtube.com/@officialbiggadre?si=zkpeGHV4idLvZj0Thttps://youtube.com/shorts/9izmQnwVD7c?si=KkxDwRwCyfKIw90LSIGN THE PETITION:https://www.change.org/p/bring-ebony-alert-law-to-pennsylvania-eschatology-bringourgirlsback-bringourboysback	20	21
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8:00 PMIn-person! Fire Museum Presents: Mourning [A] BLKstar

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Fire Museum Presents: Mourning [A] BLKstar

Multi-generational, gender, genre non-conforming amalgam of Black culture, Mourning [A] BLKstar, is dedicated to sharing stories and songs of America’s unfolding apocalypse. Their music melds live instrumentation with hip-hop production creating sonic frequencies that illuminate the African Diaspora. Founded in Cleveland, the US-based Afrofuturist collective continues touring their music globally across Europe and the US, playing festivals from Crossing Border in Berlin with Lonnie Holley to Big Ears Festival and Le Guess Who? in Utrecht.

A band whose importance is fast becoming evident', wrote Wire Magazine's Neil Kulkarni on Mourning [A] BLKstar. The collective, made up of musicians, writers, and multimedia artists, has a bountiful track record, amassing several releases under its belt since 2015. Their music is for both eulogies and revolutions, as they expand upon contemporary Black consciousness by forging ongoing dialogues between hip-hop production techniques and live instrumentation.Free/donations appreciated. Advance registration is not required but is appreciated. Please register HERE

5:30 PMIn-person! Everyone's a Judge: A Homecoming and Going Showcase Fundraiser

5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Join us for a night of reunion and entertainment.

This event is all about fundraising and celebrating talent and creativity that has been in our community for over a decade.

Audience members will judge the pieces showcased by Philly Reincarnated Slam Team as a way of preparing for going to Knoxville, Tennessee to represent Philly in Southern Fried National Slam.

This fundraiser show will also consist of special guest artist features from various PYPM alumni.

Join us for an unforgettable poetry reunion as we send this team off to nationals fully funded and grounded in community.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of something special. See you there!Tickets are 2 for 1 until May 26. Click HERE for more info!

1:00 PMIn-person! Live readings from contributors to S/He Speaks 3: Voices of Women, Trans & Nonbinary Folx

1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Saturday June 7th, 1pm-5pm. Live readings from S/He Speaks 3: Voices of Women, Trans & Nonbinary Folx free with readings by some of the writers whose poems/essays appear in this year's edition of S/He Speaks: Voices of Women, Trans & Nonbinary Folx. Q&A to follow. Copies of the anthology will be available for purchase (cash only).* Lisa Acerbo* Connelly Akstens* Grace Biddle* Mary Lou Buschi* Morgan Caudill* Constance Clark* Coalter* Kenna DeValor* Grace Dignazio* Marcia Emiliano* Cory Finch* Angela Yeungyung Lee* Travis Lusk* Ezra Mars* Naila Mathews * Riley McKibben* Adesuwa Olumhense* Sam Poliarco* C. Joi Sanchez* Megha Sood* M.J. Stanley* Cassendre Xavier* Samari ZyskReaders are subject to change

12:00 PMIn-person! Relax Your Mind and Let Your Conscious Flow OPEN MIC and features

12:00 PM - 4:00 PM D.I.M.E. Universal LLC in conjunction with The Philadelphia Peace Initiative presents Relax Your Mind and Let Your Conscious FlowSpoken Vocal SoundsOPEN MIC and featuresDoors open at 11amBenefits the TWAH (Thriving While at Home) Initiative Small business marketplaceDonation at the door: $20light refreshments providedTo feature, please contact info.dimeuniversal@protonmail.com

8:00 PMIn-person! The Thurman Barker Octet

8:00 PM - 10:30 PM Thurman Barker. Growing up in Chicago in the 1950s, Thurman Barker was exposed to the city’s rich musical heritage, regularly hearing R&B, doo-wop, soul, jazz and blues musics. Accordingly, he began his professional career at age seventeen by anchoring the rhythm section for blues legend Mighty Joe Young. He then attended the American Conservatory of Music and later Roosevelt University where he received classical training. While serving as percussionist for the city’s Shubert Theatre throughout much of the 1960s, Thurman played for numerous national touring productions, including “Hair,” “The Wiz,” “Grease,” “One Mo’ Time” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” A versatile drummer and percussionist, Barker also performed with singers Billy Eckstine, Marvin Gaye, Bette Midler and Vicki Carr, and worked with classical groups like the Chicago Chamber Players and the New York City Opera. Perhaps Thurman Barker’s most notable musical experience has been with the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), an organization founded in the 1960s to promote innovative music and its players. A charter member of the group, Thurman first appeared in AACM productions with Joseph Jarman’s pioneering ensemble. He then went on to play with many other members, including Muhal Richard Abrams, Amina Claudine Meyers, Anthony Braxton, Leroy Jenkins, Roscoe Mitchell and Henry Threadgill. In the 1970s and ‘80s, after moving to New York, Barker worked with jazz giants Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers and Billy Bang, touring with their groups and recording numerous albums with them. Most recently, Thurman has performed with trombonist and composer George Lewis at the Festival International Musique Actuelle in Victoriaville, Quebec. Since creating Uptee Records in the late 1980s, Barker has released seven recordings as a leader, including Voyage (1987), The Way I Hear It (1999), Time Factor (2001), Strike Force (2004) and Rediscovered (2008), South Side Suite (2017) and Impact (2023, his first CD featuring chamber music. In 1994, his work “Dialogue,” commissioned by Mutable Music, premiered at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra premiered Thurman’s chamber piece, “Expansions,” in May 1999, and that same year he became a lecturer at Smolny University in St. Petersburg, Russia.Tara Middleton Tara Middleton is a dynamic vocalist, violinist and lyricist. Her performances are shaped by honesty and a deep connection to the moment. She is the lead vocalist for the grammy nominated Sun Ra Arkestra and makes new work with her cosmic duo Jupiter Blue, a project rooted in sonic sound, and creative freedom. Her music draws from jazz, experimental traditions, and her own spiritual roots. Whether on violin or voice, Tara plays with purpose centered in truth and guided by instinct.Terry Lawson is a Philadelphia powerhouse. Originally from Roanoke, Virgina, Terry studied and performed in the Howard University Jazz Ensemble under the tutelage of Donald Byrd. Moving to Philadelphia, he has spent decades performing with the likes of the Odean Pope Sax Choir, The Sun Ra Arkestra, The Hip Ensemble under the direction of Roy Haynes, Sonic Liberation Front with Kevin Diehl, Larry Young's Organ Ensemble, The Stylistics, the Sam Reed Ensemble, and Leon Mitchell's Bid Band. Terry has also performed with organist Butch Cornell, trombonist Tyrone Hill, drummer Sunny Murray, bassist Jamaaledeen Tacuma, and more. Terry considers himself a student of Donald Byrd, Marshall Allen, David Baker, and Odean Pope. Carlos Santiago is a violinist, improvisor, and composer. Although he is well equipped to play within the classical tradition, Carlos chooses a path of self expression through the art of free improvisation, welcoming the challenges of spontaneous composition and deeper, active, listening. For decades he has operated within new music ensembles and improvisation groups (Arcana Ensemble, Network For New Music, The People's Music Supply), played in math rock/fusion groups (Normal Love, G. Calvin Weston), performed to silent films with "Not So Silent Cinema", and has recorded with many artists. He is also the founder of Arcx String quartet, and a former founding member of the Bismuth String Quartet. Salina Kuo is a singer/songwriter, percussionist, self-taught guzhengist, improviser, and educator, based in Philadelphia (Lenape territory). They have a deep admiration for black American music, world folk, free improvisation, and 60s/70s fem singer/songwriters. They write music that blends genres and utilizes uncommon instrumentation to create a unique yet cohesive and familiar sound. By confronting personal experiences with grief, depression, and love, Kuo’s storytelling invites listeners into their world and share in their healing. They release music under St. John’s Wort (vibraphone indie-pop/rnb/soul) and River Full of Fruit (freak-folk chamber orchestra). Their debut full-length album is forthcoming. They have performed in venues across the U.S. and Canada, ranging from basements to art galleries to concert halls.Pete Dennis (they/he) is a musician, improviser, composer, visual artist, and teacher. Living in West Philadelphia, Dennis is inspired by their beautiful community and the future. Other ever present inspirations include William Parker, the works of Octavia E. Butler, their partner Abigail, and the knowledge that all vibrations carry the potential to transmit the truths of life and death. Dennis’s recorded creations are released using the project name Search for the Infinite Light and include but are not limited to Killing a Dixie Hummingbird (2019), World’s End Welcoming Committee (2021), and pastē (2022). Their most current projects and collaborations include 99 Futures, Oarsman, Mitamu, St. John’s Wort, and an ongoing poetry/bass duet performance with Abigail Swoboda. They believe that sound is the foundation of healing and would like to acknowledge all master improvisers of the past,present, and future.Dan Blacksberg. Appearing everywhere from West Philly basements to Carnegie Hall, trombonist, composer, and educator Dan Blacksberg connects people, sounds, and cultures in respectful and vitalizing ways. Acknowledged as the foremost practitioner of klezmer trombone and a respected voice in jazz and experimental music, Dan creates music inside and outside known genres, from danceable klezmer melodies on his album Radiant Others, to genre-busting projects like his Hasidic doom metal band Deveykus. He has performed and recorded with artists such as klezmer masters Elaine Hoffman Watts and Adrienne Cooper, and experimentalists like Anthony Braxton and extreme doom metal band The Body. His latest solo record, The Psychic/Body Sound System has been called “a powerful improvised statement that blends wild soundscapes and drone with gnarled extended technique and commanding free trombone flights (Nick Metzger, Freejazzblog.org).” He also makes the Radiant Others Klezmer Podcast.Julius Masri is a Philadelphia based multi instrumentalist, and performer/composer for the city's dance community at large. Born in Tripoli, Lebanon, he moved to the States in 1990 and began drumming a year later. He studied with Philadelphia instructors Carl Mottola, Elaine Hoffman-Watts, and as an undergraduate at Bard College, with AACM's Thurman Barker, Richard Teitelbaum, and Joan Tower. Julius plays drums, circuit modified Casio keyboards, Oud, Kamancheh (aka Rabab, Spike Fiddle), and various other instruments. He currently performs in groups such as grind/crust metal bands Night Raids, Nomad War Machine, free jazz groups Humanosity Project and Dromedaries, trombone and synth duo Superlith, and more. In 2021, he released a solo album "The Arabic Room" under the name of Mephisto Halabi. Julius is a recipient of a 2022 Yaddo Fellowship for composition, as well as the 2022 University of the Arts Creative Research and Innovation grant.Donations appreciated.

7:00 PMIn-person! BE LOUD: A creative workshop for trans/nonbinary adults to play and sing together

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM BE LOUDA creative workshop for trans/nonbinary adults to play and sing together7-9 pmFREE!

Explore your voice and practice taking up space in this affirming, trans-only workshop. To experience play, to be silly, joyful, relaxed, and expressive is an act of resistance in a time when we are being silenced. We will not be silenced! We will take up physical and sonic space. We will speak up with joy, embody confidence, and celebrate ourselves and each other, even as the world tells us we don’t exist. We will embrace mistakes, and the complex, messy, multi-dimensional experience of existing as a human being. Your whole self is welcome here! No experience necessary. 18+.

“Experimenting with sound was delightful and freeing.” -Past workshop participantFacilitated by Julie Lipson and Miles Crabtree, music therapists, performers in Ants on a Log, and long-time creators of community-music shenanigans. @antsonalogmusic @innerrhythmsphillyGrant funding provided by the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation and the Marrazzo Family Foundation. Questions? Email InnerRhythmsTherapy@gmail.com

1:00 PMIn-person! Open House/Info Session for United Block Captains Association Hospital Summer Fun Program

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Open House/Info Session for United Block Captains Association Hospital Summer Fun Program

6:00 PMIn-person! Legendary Philly Mother Symiira @mirdaloner , Legendary Wally 007 @w.allace & Icon Sajuan Presents: The Pride Month Kiki Lounge - Mini Ball

6:00 PM - 10:00 PM Legendary Philly Mother Symiira @mirdaloner , Legendary Wally 007 @w.allace & Icon Sajuan Presents:The Pride Month Kiki Lounge - Mini BallFREE ENTRY1 FREE ENTRY! FREE ENTRY• ALL CATEGORIES ARE JUST BRING IT • EACH CATEGORY WILL HAVE $5 REDEMPTION • EVERY CATEGORY WILL BE FOR MONEY/GIFTCARD & A TROPHY 6-10PM! BE ON TIM!• MC’s of The Night: Jawn Mona Lisa & Kurt Unbothered-Cartier @dabqkurt • DJ of The Night: NYC’s TheTaurux @itsthetaurux THE ENTIRE BALL WILL BE LIVE STREAMED FROM @theekikiscene YOUTUBE CHANNEL SO MAKE SURE YOU’RE SUBSCRIBED & TUNED INAdmission is FREE

4:00 PMIn-person! Philly Juneteenth Celebration Featuring: Dr. Leonard & Rosalind Jeffries

4:00 PM - 8:00 PM The Bigga Dre Juneteenth Celebration 2025 is Philadelphia’s premier cultural event honoring Black freedom, resilience, and excellence. Spearheaded by renowned community leader and event curator Bigga Dre (Amun Sen Hotep Re), this annual celebration has become a vital space for connection, empowerment, and cultural expression in the city.Rooted in the legacy of Juneteenth—the historic commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans—this event is a vibrant reflection of Philadelphia’s Black community and its ongoing contributions to art, activism, and progress. Attendees can expect a powerful blend of live performances, spoken word, educational programming, and showcases of local Black-owned businesses and creatives.More than a celebration, this event serves as a platform to uplift voices, create opportunities, and educate the broader public on the significance of Juneteenth. Bigga Dre’s vision has turned a day of remembrance into a dynamic gathering that unites generations and builds lasting community pride.Join us in 2025 as we continue the tradition of honoring the past, celebrating the present, and investing in the future—right here in the heart of Philadelphia.Support Culture. Empower Community. Celebrate Freedom.The Bigga Dre Juneteenth Celebration is more than just an event—it's a movement that brings people together to honor the past, uplift the present, and inspire the future. By donating, you're helping create a space where families can gather, artists can shine, small businesses can thrive, and history is proudly celebrated.Your contribution helps us provide: • Free access to entertainment, food, and education for the community.• Youth engagement and cultural enrichment • A safe, inclusive environment for everyone to celebrate the meaning of JuneteenthJuneteenth is about freedom, resilience, and unity. Help us make this year's celebration bigger, brighter, and more impactful than ever. Donate today and be a part of something powerful.Donations appreciated. Suggested donation: $19DOWNLOAD: officialbiggadre.hearnow.com SUBSCRIBE:https://youtube.com/@officialbiggadre?si=zkpeGHV4idLvZj0Thttps://youtube.com/shorts/9izmQnwVD7c?si=KkxDwRwCyfKIw90LSIGN THE PETITION:https://www.change.org/p/bring-ebony-alert-law-to-pennsylvania-eschatology-bringourgirlsback-bringourboysback

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1 8:00 PMIn-person! Fire Museum Presents: Mourning [A] BLKstar 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Fire Museum Presents: Mourning [A] BLKstar Multi-generational, gender, genre non-conforming amalgam of Black culture, Mourning [A] BLKstar, is dedicated to sharing stories and songs of America’s unfolding apocalypse. Their music melds live instrumentation with hip-hop production creating sonic frequencies that illuminate the African Diaspora. Founded in Cleveland, the US-based Afrofuturist collective continues touring their music globally across Europe and the US, playing festivals from Crossing Border in Berlin with Lonnie Holley to Big Ears Festival and Le Guess Who? in Utrecht. A band whose importance is fast becoming evident', wrote Wire Magazine's Neil Kulkarni on Mourning [A] BLKstar. The collective, made up of musicians, writers, and multimedia artists, has a bountiful track record, amassing several releases under its belt since 2015. Their music is for both eulogies and revolutions, as they expand upon contemporary Black consciousness by forging ongoing dialogues between hip-hop production techniques and live instrumentation.Free/donations appreciated. Advance registration is not required but is appreciated. Please register HERE	2 5:30 PMIn-person! Everyone's a Judge: A Homecoming and Going Showcase Fundraiser 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM Join us for a night of reunion and entertainment. This event is all about fundraising and celebrating talent and creativity that has been in our community for over a decade. Audience members will judge the pieces showcased by Philly Reincarnated Slam Team as a way of preparing for going to Knoxville, Tennessee to represent Philly in Southern Fried National Slam. This fundraiser show will also consist of special guest artist features from various PYPM alumni. Join us for an unforgettable poetry reunion as we send this team off to nationals fully funded and grounded in community. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of something special. See you there!Tickets are 2 for 1 until May 26. Click HERE for more info!	3	4	5	6	7 1:00 PMIn-person! Live readings from contributors to S/He Speaks 3: Voices of Women, Trans & Nonbinary Folx 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Saturday June 7th, 1pm-5pm. Live readings from S/He Speaks 3: Voices of Women, Trans & Nonbinary Folx free with readings by some of the writers whose poems/essays appear in this year's edition of S/He Speaks: Voices of Women, Trans & Nonbinary Folx. Q&A to follow. Copies of the anthology will be available for purchase (cash only).* Lisa Acerbo* Connelly Akstens* Grace Biddle* Mary Lou Buschi* Morgan Caudill* Constance Clark* Coalter* Kenna DeValor* Grace Dignazio* Marcia Emiliano* Cory Finch* Angela Yeungyung Lee* Travis Lusk* Ezra Mars* Naila Mathews * Riley McKibben* Adesuwa Olumhense* Sam Poliarco* C. Joi Sanchez* Megha Sood* M.J. Stanley* Cassendre Xavier* Samari ZyskReaders are subject to change
8 12:00 PMIn-person! Relax Your Mind and Let Your Conscious Flow OPEN MIC and features 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM D.I.M.E. Universal LLC in conjunction with The Philadelphia Peace Initiative presents Relax Your Mind and Let Your Conscious FlowSpoken Vocal SoundsOPEN MIC and featuresDoors open at 11amBenefits the TWAH (Thriving While at Home) Initiative Small business marketplaceDonation at the door: $20light refreshments providedTo feature, please contact info.dimeuniversal@protonmail.com 8:00 PMIn-person! The Thurman Barker Octet 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM Thurman Barker. Growing up in Chicago in the 1950s, Thurman Barker was exposed to the city’s rich musical heritage, regularly hearing R&B, doo-wop, soul, jazz and blues musics. Accordingly, he began his professional career at age seventeen by anchoring the rhythm section for blues legend Mighty Joe Young. He then attended the American Conservatory of Music and later Roosevelt University where he received classical training. While serving as percussionist for the city’s Shubert Theatre throughout much of the 1960s, Thurman played for numerous national touring productions, including “Hair,” “The Wiz,” “Grease,” “One Mo’ Time” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” A versatile drummer and percussionist, Barker also performed with singers Billy Eckstine, Marvin Gaye, Bette Midler and Vicki Carr, and worked with classical groups like the Chicago Chamber Players and the New York City Opera. Perhaps Thurman Barker’s most notable musical experience has been with the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), an organization founded in the 1960s to promote innovative music and its players. A charter member of the group, Thurman first appeared in AACM productions with Joseph Jarman’s pioneering ensemble. He then went on to play with many other members, including Muhal Richard Abrams, Amina Claudine Meyers, Anthony Braxton, Leroy Jenkins, Roscoe Mitchell and Henry Threadgill. In the 1970s and ‘80s, after moving to New York, Barker worked with jazz giants Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers and Billy Bang, touring with their groups and recording numerous albums with them. Most recently, Thurman has performed with trombonist and composer George Lewis at the Festival International Musique Actuelle in Victoriaville, Quebec. Since creating Uptee Records in the late 1980s, Barker has released seven recordings as a leader, including Voyage (1987), The Way I Hear It (1999), Time Factor (2001), Strike Force (2004) and Rediscovered (2008), South Side Suite (2017) and Impact (2023, his first CD featuring chamber music. In 1994, his work “Dialogue,” commissioned by Mutable Music, premiered at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra premiered Thurman’s chamber piece, “Expansions,” in May 1999, and that same year he became a lecturer at Smolny University in St. Petersburg, Russia.Tara Middleton Tara Middleton is a dynamic vocalist, violinist and lyricist. Her performances are shaped by honesty and a deep connection to the moment. She is the lead vocalist for the grammy nominated Sun Ra Arkestra and makes new work with her cosmic duo Jupiter Blue, a project rooted in sonic sound, and creative freedom. Her music draws from jazz, experimental traditions, and her own spiritual roots. Whether on violin or voice, Tara plays with purpose centered in truth and guided by instinct.Terry Lawson is a Philadelphia powerhouse. Originally from Roanoke, Virgina, Terry studied and performed in the Howard University Jazz Ensemble under the tutelage of Donald Byrd. Moving to Philadelphia, he has spent decades performing with the likes of the Odean Pope Sax Choir, The Sun Ra Arkestra, The Hip Ensemble under the direction of Roy Haynes, Sonic Liberation Front with Kevin Diehl, Larry Young's Organ Ensemble, The Stylistics, the Sam Reed Ensemble, and Leon Mitchell's Bid Band. Terry has also performed with organist Butch Cornell, trombonist Tyrone Hill, drummer Sunny Murray, bassist Jamaaledeen Tacuma, and more. Terry considers himself a student of Donald Byrd, Marshall Allen, David Baker, and Odean Pope. Carlos Santiago is a violinist, improvisor, and composer. Although he is well equipped to play within the classical tradition, Carlos chooses a path of self expression through the art of free improvisation, welcoming the challenges of spontaneous composition and deeper, active, listening. For decades he has operated within new music ensembles and improvisation groups (Arcana Ensemble, Network For New Music, The People's Music Supply), played in math rock/fusion groups (Normal Love, G. Calvin Weston), performed to silent films with "Not So Silent Cinema", and has recorded with many artists. He is also the founder of Arcx String quartet, and a former founding member of the Bismuth String Quartet. Salina Kuo is a singer/songwriter, percussionist, self-taught guzhengist, improviser, and educator, based in Philadelphia (Lenape territory). They have a deep admiration for black American music, world folk, free improvisation, and 60s/70s fem singer/songwriters. They write music that blends genres and utilizes uncommon instrumentation to create a unique yet cohesive and familiar sound. By confronting personal experiences with grief, depression, and love, Kuo’s storytelling invites listeners into their world and share in their healing. They release music under St. John’s Wort (vibraphone indie-pop/rnb/soul) and River Full of Fruit (freak-folk chamber orchestra). Their debut full-length album is forthcoming. They have performed in venues across the U.S. and Canada, ranging from basements to art galleries to concert halls.Pete Dennis (they/he) is a musician, improviser, composer, visual artist, and teacher. Living in West Philadelphia, Dennis is inspired by their beautiful community and the future. Other ever present inspirations include William Parker, the works of Octavia E. Butler, their partner Abigail, and the knowledge that all vibrations carry the potential to transmit the truths of life and death. Dennis’s recorded creations are released using the project name Search for the Infinite Light and include but are not limited to Killing a Dixie Hummingbird (2019), World’s End Welcoming Committee (2021), and pastē (2022). Their most current projects and collaborations include 99 Futures, Oarsman, Mitamu, St. John’s Wort, and an ongoing poetry/bass duet performance with Abigail Swoboda. They believe that sound is the foundation of healing and would like to acknowledge all master improvisers of the past,present, and future.Dan Blacksberg. Appearing everywhere from West Philly basements to Carnegie Hall, trombonist, composer, and educator Dan Blacksberg connects people, sounds, and cultures in respectful and vitalizing ways. Acknowledged as the foremost practitioner of klezmer trombone and a respected voice in jazz and experimental music, Dan creates music inside and outside known genres, from danceable klezmer melodies on his album Radiant Others, to genre-busting projects like his Hasidic doom metal band Deveykus. He has performed and recorded with artists such as klezmer masters Elaine Hoffman Watts and Adrienne Cooper, and experimentalists like Anthony Braxton and extreme doom metal band The Body. His latest solo record, The Psychic/Body Sound System has been called “a powerful improvised statement that blends wild soundscapes and drone with gnarled extended technique and commanding free trombone flights (Nick Metzger, Freejazzblog.org).” He also makes the Radiant Others Klezmer Podcast.Julius Masri is a Philadelphia based multi instrumentalist, and performer/composer for the city's dance community at large. Born in Tripoli, Lebanon, he moved to the States in 1990 and began drumming a year later. He studied with Philadelphia instructors Carl Mottola, Elaine Hoffman-Watts, and as an undergraduate at Bard College, with AACM's Thurman Barker, Richard Teitelbaum, and Joan Tower. Julius plays drums, circuit modified Casio keyboards, Oud, Kamancheh (aka Rabab, Spike Fiddle), and various other instruments. He currently performs in groups such as grind/crust metal bands Night Raids, Nomad War Machine, free jazz groups Humanosity Project and Dromedaries, trombone and synth duo Superlith, and more. In 2021, he released a solo album "The Arabic Room" under the name of Mephisto Halabi. Julius is a recipient of a 2022 Yaddo Fellowship for composition, as well as the 2022 University of the Arts Creative Research and Innovation grant.Donations appreciated.	9 7:00 PMIn-person! BE LOUD: A creative workshop for trans/nonbinary adults to play and sing together 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM BE LOUDA creative workshop for trans/nonbinary adults to play and sing together7-9 pmFREE! Explore your voice and practice taking up space in this affirming, trans-only workshop. To experience play, to be silly, joyful, relaxed, and expressive is an act of resistance in a time when we are being silenced. We will not be silenced! We will take up physical and sonic space. We will speak up with joy, embody confidence, and celebrate ourselves and each other, even as the world tells us we don’t exist. We will embrace mistakes, and the complex, messy, multi-dimensional experience of existing as a human being. Your whole self is welcome here! No experience necessary. 18+. “Experimenting with sound was delightful and freeing.” -Past workshop participantFacilitated by Julie Lipson and Miles Crabtree, music therapists, performers in Ants on a Log, and long-time creators of community-music shenanigans. @antsonalogmusic @innerrhythmsphillyGrant funding provided by the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation and the Marrazzo Family Foundation. Questions? Email InnerRhythmsTherapy@gmail.com	10	11	12	13	14 1:00 PMIn-person! Open House/Info Session for United Block Captains Association Hospital Summer Fun Program 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Open House/Info Session for United Block Captains Association Hospital Summer Fun Program
15	16	17 6:00 PMIn-person! Legendary Philly Mother Symiira @mirdaloner , Legendary Wally 007 @w.allace & Icon Sajuan Presents: The Pride Month Kiki Lounge - Mini Ball 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM Legendary Philly Mother Symiira @mirdaloner , Legendary Wally 007 @w.allace & Icon Sajuan Presents:The Pride Month Kiki Lounge - Mini BallFREE ENTRY1 FREE ENTRY! FREE ENTRY• ALL CATEGORIES ARE JUST BRING IT • EACH CATEGORY WILL HAVE $5 REDEMPTION • EVERY CATEGORY WILL BE FOR MONEY/GIFTCARD & A TROPHY 6-10PM! BE ON TIM!• MC’s of The Night: Jawn Mona Lisa & Kurt Unbothered-Cartier @dabqkurt • DJ of The Night: NYC’s TheTaurux @itsthetaurux THE ENTIRE BALL WILL BE LIVE STREAMED FROM @theekikiscene YOUTUBE CHANNEL SO MAKE SURE YOU’RE SUBSCRIBED & TUNED INAdmission is FREE	18	19 4:00 PMIn-person! Philly Juneteenth Celebration Featuring: Dr. Leonard & Rosalind Jeffries 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM The Bigga Dre Juneteenth Celebration 2025 is Philadelphia’s premier cultural event honoring Black freedom, resilience, and excellence. Spearheaded by renowned community leader and event curator Bigga Dre (Amun Sen Hotep Re), this annual celebration has become a vital space for connection, empowerment, and cultural expression in the city.Rooted in the legacy of Juneteenth—the historic commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans—this event is a vibrant reflection of Philadelphia’s Black community and its ongoing contributions to art, activism, and progress. Attendees can expect a powerful blend of live performances, spoken word, educational programming, and showcases of local Black-owned businesses and creatives.More than a celebration, this event serves as a platform to uplift voices, create opportunities, and educate the broader public on the significance of Juneteenth. Bigga Dre’s vision has turned a day of remembrance into a dynamic gathering that unites generations and builds lasting community pride.Join us in 2025 as we continue the tradition of honoring the past, celebrating the present, and investing in the future—right here in the heart of Philadelphia.Support Culture. Empower Community. Celebrate Freedom.The Bigga Dre Juneteenth Celebration is more than just an event—it's a movement that brings people together to honor the past, uplift the present, and inspire the future. By donating, you're helping create a space where families can gather, artists can shine, small businesses can thrive, and history is proudly celebrated.Your contribution helps us provide: • Free access to entertainment, food, and education for the community.• Youth engagement and cultural enrichment • A safe, inclusive environment for everyone to celebrate the meaning of JuneteenthJuneteenth is about freedom, resilience, and unity. Help us make this year's celebration bigger, brighter, and more impactful than ever. Donate today and be a part of something powerful.Donations appreciated. Suggested donation: $19DOWNLOAD: officialbiggadre.hearnow.com SUBSCRIBE:https://youtube.com/@officialbiggadre?si=zkpeGHV4idLvZj0Thttps://youtube.com/shorts/9izmQnwVD7c?si=KkxDwRwCyfKIw90LSIGN THE PETITION:https://www.change.org/p/bring-ebony-alert-law-to-pennsylvania-eschatology-bringourgirlsback-bringourboysback	20	21
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