FREE Concerts At The Kimmel Center!

Live from the Plaza Stage FREE Performance Series Continues

With Philly Native Matt Richards, Feb. 18

Sponsored by Coca-Cola

Matt Richards Makes Debut on Commonwealth Plaza stage, Feb. 18

FEBRUARY 17, 2012

There’s no better cure for those chilly winter evenings than Live from the Plaza Stage, the Kimmel Center’s new FREE concert series, which showcases the best regional talent from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Saturday night as part of the Free at the Kimmel offerings on the Commonwealth Plaza stage. The entertainment continues on February 18 with Matt Richards, a contemporary acoustic guitarist and Philadelphia native who recently released his latest album, As You Are.

As part of Live from the Plaza Stage, Wolfgang Puck will continue to serve happy hour specials from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., including $1 off beers and $2 off wines at the PECO and Annex Bars. Additionally, monthly raffle drawings with ticket giveaway winners to select Kimmel Center Presents and Broadway Season shows will be announced at the end of performances in the Commonwealth Plaza.

Live from the Plaza Stage continues every Saturday until June 16 with a variety of world, pop, jazz, instrumental and dance offerings from up-and-coming local talent. Visit www.kimmelcenter.org/free for updated information on confirmed artists throughout the remainder of the season.

"A musician who's always going to be pushing the boundaries." —Acoustic Magazine on Matt Richards

Free at the Kimmel

Live from the Plaza Stage:

Matt Richards

Saturday, February 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Contemporary acoustic guitarist and Philadelphia native Matt Richards takes audiences on a musical journey with the sounds of 1960s folk, rock and psychedelic music, 1970s jazz-fusion, and signature renditions of Marley, Hendrix and the Beatles. He recently released his latest album, As You Are, which features solo performances from Richards’ first four album releases. Richards often conducts workshops and master classes for local musicians at all levels of ability and serves as a faculty member at the Ambler Music Academy.

Free at the Kimmel

Live from the Plaza Stage:

The Danny Jonokuchi Quintet

Saturday, February 25, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A talented collection of students and alumni from Temple University’s Jazz program comprise The Danny Jonokuchi Quintet. Each musician is an active member of the Philadelphia Jazz scene and has performed at renowned venues including the Apollo Theater, Dizzy's Club Cocoa Cola, Avery Fischer Hall, The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Catalina Bar and Grill, and The Jazz Bakery. With each performance the group energizes audiences with their own original compositions and brings new life to songs from the traditional Jazz repertoire.

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Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the University of the Arts Merriam Theater. Kimmel Center, Inc.’s mission is to operate a world class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience which includes providing arts in education, community outreach and a rich diversity of programming. The 2011/2012 season is sponsored by Citi. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.