7th Annual Haverford Music Festival
Announce Our Headliners!
Matthew Sweet, The Weeklings, Danielle Miraglia and Nadjah Nicole
top the bill of more than 30 acts for a full day of late-summer family fun
Presented by ACME Markets, the 7th Annual Haverford Music Festival (HMF), will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2017, from Noon until 9:30 p.m. It will present about 30 acts, representing various musical genres, performing on four stages near the intersection of Eagle & Darby Roads in Havertown. Area businesses and vendors will fill booths along Darby Road and Hathaway Lane. There will be food booths, a beer garden, children’s activities and much more end-of-summer fun for the whole family. Admission is free; voluntary donations will be accepted at entrance points.
Headlining HMF 2017 on the large Oakmont Field Stage, located behind the Oakmont School Administration Building, will be Matthew Sweet, who has described his music as “power-pop-folk-rock-psychedelic-melodic-singer-songwriter-type stuff.” After spending the ’80s as an underappreciated solo artist as well as a member of indie bands Oh-OK, Buzz of Delight and The Golden Palominos, multi-instrumentalist Matthew Sweet emerged in 1991 as the leading figure of the American power-pop revival, as his classic album, Girlfriend, became a word-of-mouth critical and commercial hit. His next two albums, Altered Beast (1993) and 100% Fun (1995) were also critically acclaimed and successful with the latter reaching platinum status and making many year-end best-of lists. Since then, in addition to several more excellent solo records, Sweet has released three duet albums with Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles, on which the duo, calling themselves “Sid n Susie,” pay tribute to favorite songs of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, respectively. Matthew and Susanna were also part of the faux retro-mod band Ming Tea, along with comedy star Mike Myers, formed for Austin Powers movies and soundtracks. Matthew Sweet’s brand-new solo album, Tomorrow Forever, released on his own label, Honeycomb Hideout, will be released on June 16.
Topping the bill on HMF 2017’s Darby Road Stage (near Campbell Ave.) will be The Weeklings, performing original, early Beatles-inspired songs, plus tunes the Fab Four gave away to other artists instead of releasing themselves, with infectious passion and enthusiasm and an exceptionally high level of precision and authenticity – so authentic, in fact, that you might think they were Liverpool Lads, though they’re actually Jersey Boys! Besides having made two Weeklings albums– The Weeklings (Monophonic) and Studio 2, both released by JEM records and Absolutely FAB – the members have all appeared and collaborated with many high-profile artists. Perhaps most familiar is Glen Burtnik (bass guitar and vocals), a platinum/gold record-awarded singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work with Styx, Electric Light Orchestra and John Waite. Burtnik has also recorded several solo albums and starred in Beatlemania as Paul McCartney, opposite Marshall Crenshaw as John Lennon. Rounding out The Weeklings are Bob Burger (rhythm guitar and vocals), John Merjave (lead guitar and vocals) and Joe Bellia (drums and vocals). “Little Elvis,” from the Studio 2 album, was chosen as the “Coolest Song in the World” by Little Steven’s Underground Garage.
Preceding Matthew Sweet on the Field Stage will be Danielle Miraglia, who will come armed with a strong, steady thumb on an old Gibson guitar, an infectious stomp-box rhythm and harmonica with tunes ranging from heart-felt to socially conscious that will move both your heart and hips. On her third and latest album, Glory Junkies, Danielle, who’s from the greater Boston area, is joined by a killer cast of musicians blending the classic-rock vibe of The Rolling Stones and Janis Joplin with Danielle’s signature lyrical ability to explore human nature at its best and worst. Bonnie Raitt fans will also be impressed. Danielle was nominated for a 2015 Boston Music Award for Singer-Songwriter of the Year. The Boston Globe sums it up this way: “Straddling the line where folk/roots meets rock/blues, Miraglia has a voice that can go from a raspy come-hither purr to an Etta James-esque powerhouse belt, although she may be best known for her lead thumb – a heavy, thumping strike on her Gibson that’s backdrop percussion in itself.”
Preceding The Weeklings on the Darby Road Stage will be Nadjah Nicole, a finalist from season 9 of NBC’s hit series The Voice. Nadjah is a Delaware native who was introduced to millions of viewers during her 10-week run on The Voice in 2015. She has a soothing, soulful and melodic vocal style that compliments her soulful-pop music. Along with her band she performs original music as well as popular favorites. She describes her performances as “a standard serving of soul music with a pop twist.” Nadjah and her band cite various artists such as Erykah Badu, Esperanza Spalding, Corrine Bailey Rae, Jill Scott, Beyonce, and many others as their inspiration. Her impressive showing on The Voice indicated that Nadjah is destined for great success, and the Haverford Music Festival is honored to welcome her, along with our other headliners.
We are also proud to be presenting more than 25 additional performers, representing a wide range of musical genres, (e.g., Jazz, Rock, Pop, Children’s, Folk, Classical, Blues and Country – something to please everyone!). They will be announced by late July. Some will appear on either the intimate Eagle Road Stage in front of the Oakmont Administration Building, or within the intimate indoor, coffeehouse atmosphere of The Rock, in the heart of the Oakmont shopping district.
Performer applications for the 2017 festival are open, & will close July 1st.
Interested individuals and groups are welcome to apply here.
Please enjoy the photos from last year’s festival here, and listen to the festival’s audio provided by iRadioPhilly, here.
Thank You to Our 2016 Sponsors!
Presenting Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Diamond Sponsor
Emerald Sponsor
Ruby Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
2016 Performers – Check them out – Click here!
2016 Darby Road Stage Lineup
11:45 AM National Anthem (Rachael Lipson)/Announcements
12:00 PM Giada J.
12:50 PM Sunday Muse
01:40 PM Ben de la Cour
02:40 PM Spelling Reform
03:30 PM Travel Lanes
04:15 PM The John Byrne Band
05:10 PM Flightschool
06:00 PM The Figgs
2016 Field Stage Lineup
12:00 PM Danie Ocean & The Soul Tide
12:45 PM The BIG Zebowski
01:35 PM Roomtone
02:20 PM Michelle Lordi
03:10 PM Ben O’Neill
04:10 PM Sarah McGowan
05:10 PM The Anderson Council
06:10 PM Sasha Dobson
07:30 PM Lisa Loeb
2016 The Rock Lineup
12:00 PM The Paul Kurrey Band
12:30 PM Jessica Graae
01:10 PM Under the Oak (Maggie & Adam)
01:50 PM Vessna Scheff
02:30 PM Brooke Falls
03:10 PM Blind Sample & The Untrue Blues Band
03:50 PM Every Heard
04:30 PM Amy Pickard and The Cradlers
2016 WHHS Eagle Road Lineup
12:00 PM Second Sunrise
12:45 PM Made Modern
01:30 PM Grace Otley Music
02:15 PM Vinnie Paolizzi
03:15 PM Chloe Datner
03:45 PM Danielle and Jennifer
04:30 PM Marc Ambrosia
Our Mission
“The Haverford Music Festival is a family music festival that strengthens the cultural identity of Haverford Township, serves as the primary fundraiser for the Haverford Township Civic Council, and provides funding for projects that enhance the quality of life in Haverford Township.”
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