Gov. Josh Shapiro announces America 250PA concert series
The Avett Bothers, Lady A, Nelly, Third Eye Blind, En Vogue, and more are part of the concert series happening in five cities across the state, but not Philadelphia.
Philadelphia’s Wawa Welcome America celebration of the semiquincentennial will have a musical prelude in five cities around Pennsylvania.
The Commonwealth Concert Series, which kicks off May 23 in State College and concludes June 27 in Pittsburgh, was announced by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at the Hersey Park Stadium on Thursday.
“In Pennsylvania, we are going to be the center of the universe over the course of these next many months,” Shapiro said, joined on stage by America 250PA chairman Pat Burns and executive director Cassandra Coleman.
“All of these big events are coming here, starting with the NFL draft in Pittsburgh. We’re going to have the MLB All-Star Game in Philly, the PGA Championship out in Delco and we’re going to have the World Cup in Philly. Big things are happening and of course they should be happening because this is the birthplace of democracy.”
Then, while flanked by actors playing Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross, he announced the five shows. Which are:
“Chillin’ It” country singer Cole Swindell and American Idol alum Gaby Barrett play May 23 at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College.
The Fray, the Colorado rock band, whose biggest hits are “How To Save A Life” and “Over My Head (Cable Car),” will perform at the Erie Insurance Arena in Erie on June 6.
The Avett Brothers, the North Carolina folk-rock duo of Scott and Seth Avett is playing Hershey Park Stadium on June 13. The band is also playing tour dates this spring with Faith No More and Mr. Bungle singer Mike Patton, with whom it released its AVTT/PTTN album last year.
Country pop act Lady A and R&B vocal group En Vogue team up at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre on June 20. That date, Shapiro pointed out, is also his birthday.
Third Eye Blind, the 1990s “Semi-Charmed Life” hitmaker, is on a double bill with “Hot in Herre” rapper Nellie at Point State Park in Pittsburgh on June 27. Pittsburgh “Black and Yellow” rapper Wiz Khalifa was thanked for helping make the event happen, but is not on the bill.
Just as Shapiro was about to announce the last of the shows, wind blew the America250 backdrop on the stage.
“This is such an exciting announcement that the world is falling apart over it!,” said the actor enthusiastically playing Betsy Ross, assuring the assembled crowd of press and dignitaries that no one was hurt. “We’re all fine,” she said. “Everyone is fine. We’re sturdy at our age.”
Tickets for all the concerts are free, with Pennsylvania residents having priority entry before the venues sell out. Details on how to sign up for tickets are at America250pa.org.
Shapiro briefly took questions after the announcement, including one about the news this week that the steel being used to build President Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom is being provided by ArcelorMittal, a Luxembourg-based firm.
“I think it’s a slap in the face to American steel workers that the President of the United States would knock down the East Wing and rebuild it with foreign steel. He should be relying on U.S. steel. It’s a slap in the face to American steel workers and its a slap in the face to Pennsylvanians.”