by Ari Roth
Interested in seeing a summer festival, but not too keen on doling out the cash for a hot, crowded outdoor slog? You’re in luck: the Hard Rock Cafe is hosting the Five Dollar Festival in just a few days, and there are still tickets on sale for – you guessed it – only $5. This night of music comes particularly recommended to open-minded and diverse listeners, particularly fans of new, eclectic, reggae-infused bands, with lots of dancing!
The night will feature sets from five great, genre-mashing bands, spanning a myriad of styles. Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad are certainly based in the dub and reggae influences that their name suggests, but they pull it off with a spacey and progressive flair that has endeared them to audiences for over half a decade. The Underwater Sounds and the Fear Nuttin Band both take those reggae influences and run with them to uncharted waters, drawing connections across geographical and stylistic borders, drawing in hip hop, heavy metal, and some serious groove inflections to enrich their respective sounds. The local Philly rap/rock/reggae act Reef’d will also be featuring, in keeping with the evening’s theme. Finally, The Manhattan Project is on deck, rounding out the lineup with a wide-sweeping set of omnivorous, dancey electronica – featuring traditional instruments as well – that’s sure to get you moving.
The Five Dollar Festival is kicking off this Saturday, August 16th, at the Hard Rock Cafe on 1131 Market Street. Anyone with a ticket can enter starting at 5 PM, and the bands will begin performing half an hour later, at 5:30. For your $5 ticket, head here while they’re still available!
