PHILADELPHIA, PA. (Top40 Charts/ Delaware River Waterfront) Fam Jams!, the "I Can't Believe It's FREE, Can't Miss Concert for All Ages," returns to Penn's Landing for a fifth season with yet another rising star-studded line-up. This year, Penn's Landing is proud to announce that
EMILY OSMENT of the Disney Channel will headline this FREE concert series. Previous performers of Fam Jams! include The Jonas Brothers, Mitchel Musso, and the multi-talented Nickelodeon stars and brothers, Nat and Alex Wolff, also known as the Naked Brothers. The concert line up also includes Australian artist
CODY SIMPSON and
TIM URBAN, a runner up on the ninth season of American Idol
.This FREE concert takes place on Sunday, July 3 from1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on the RiverStage at Penn's Landing, located on Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street. Fam Jams! will feature fun activities for kids in an all around family-friendly experience. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to see some of the best young artists in the business for FREE!
This year, Fam Jams!, expands to both sides of the River! Another great line up of rising stars on the RiverStage on the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing while Wiggin's Waterfront Park on the Camden Waterfront will feature a fun family concert too! This concert along with the Super Scooper Ice Cream Festival taking place July 2, 3, and 4 are all part of a family fun filled weekend called Independence Blast Weekend on the Waterfront. For more information about all the activities taking place along the Philadelphia and Camden waterfronts during Independence weekend, please visit www.camdenwaterfront.com or www.delawareriverevents.com.
FEATURED PERFOMERS
EMILY OSMENT
Best-known for playing Lilly Truscott on Disney Channel's Emmy-nominated "Hannah Montana," 18 year old Emily Osment has always had a passion for music. An accomplished musician, whose mom taught her to play guitar, Emily has actually been making music for as long as she's been acting.
Her debut album's title, "Fight or Flight," reflects Emily's ambitions to fight through personal anxieties and achieve success in two very competitive fields. "I don't want to write songs that are just surface-deep," explains Emily, whose own favorites growing up included Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, the Monkees, the Doors and Herman's Hermits, as well as modern groups like The Pixies and Massive Attack. "I want songs that, the more you listen, the more you figure out what I'm talking about. I love putting secrets like that on the record."
As for Osment herself, she is confident she can artfully balance - and maintain - her growing careers in acting and music without sacrificing quality in either, something she learned only too well from by observing her good friend and colleague Miley Cyrus and her brother, actor Haley Joel Osment. "Whether it's going to school and taking on film roles or doing music and acting, I'm lucky to be pursuing both of my passions."
CODY SIMPSON
As a kid growing up on Australia's sun-drenched Gold Coast, Cody Simpson used to watch his father play guitar and sing for friends and family at parties and backyard barbecues. Seeing how music brought people together, Cody asked for his own guitar and lessons at the age of seven. By age 12, he began posting YouTube videos of himself performing covers of songs by artists who inspired him, including Justin Timberlake, Jason Mraz, and The Jacksons. Search for Cody on YouTube and there he is: an appealing blonde 12-year-old accompanying himself on guitar while knocking out stellar covers of "Cry Me A River," "I'm Yours," and "I Want You Back."
In April 2010, Cody signed with Atlantic Records, which released his irresistible rhythmic pop single "iYiYi" featuring Flo Rida. In December, Cody released the "4U" EP which is highlighted by the track "All Day," currently a Top 10 smash at Radio Disney. Cody also had the chance to perform at the 2010 Australian Kids' Choice Awards and is now co-headlining tour with Greyson Chance. For more about this rising young pop singer, songwriter and guitarist, please visit
www.youtube.com/codysimpsonmusic.
TIM URBAN
During the 2010 season of American Idol, Tim Urban emerged on the national music scene with a blend of his smooth vocals, all-American charm and trademark smile. His talent, determination and upbeat attitude won the hearts of fans all over the world and earned him the number seven slot in the competition, as well as the chance to perform on the AI 2010 summer concert tour.
Tim's journey towards a music career began when he picked up his dad's guitar at age thirteen. His musical style was influenced by such musicians as Jim Croce, John Denver, Michael Buble, and Coldplay. He continued to develop his love for music throughout high school, performing in musical theater productions and playing at local music venues. Before American Idol, he was playing in his hometown, Duncanville, Texas, and pursuing a career in entertainment through a Christian talent organization, Actors, Models and Talent for Christ (AMTC). Tim's Christian faith has had a profound impact on his life and music. His song "Lullaby" was written for orphans he met while on a humanitarian trip to South Africa in 2007.
Since finishing the American Idol 2010 concert tour, Tim continues to write and record music. He released his new EP "Heart of Me" on November 8, 2010 through iTunes. He continues to write music, pursue acting opportunities and perform concerts around the country.
Fam Jams! is also sponsored by CBS 3 and The CW Philly. CBS 3 (KYW-TV) and The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV) are part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation.
Public Programming at Penn's Landing would not be possible without the continued support of corporate partners such as PECO, Verizon, Pennsylvania Lottery, Live Nation, the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, all of whom are committed to serving the Greater Philadelphia community.
The 2011 Summer Program of Free Events at Penn's Landing is funded and produced by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC). All events produced by DRWC are FREE to the public on the new RiverStage on the Great Plaza, the heart of Penn's Landing, Philadelphia's premier Delaware River waterfront entertainment destination.
The DRWC is a nonprofit corporation created in January 2009, exclusively for the benefit of the City of Philadelphia and its citizens. The fundamental purpose of DRWC is to design, develop and manage the central Delaware River waterfront in Philadelphia. DRWC is transforming the waterfront into a vibrant destination location for recreational, cultural, and commercial activities for the residents and visitors of Philadelphia.
For more information and event details, please call (215) 922-2FUN or visit www.delawareriverevents.com. This website is a virtual resource for the waterfront which can help visitors plan to easily park, play and stay all day at Penn's Landing.
