Who's Teaming With VH1 To Host This Year's Philly 4th Of July Jam?
It's that time of year, people. With Independence Day fast approaching, VH1 is heading back to the City Of Brotherly Love for 2014's Philly 4th Of July Jam. This time around, Philadelphia's annual free holiday concert, part of the Wawa Welcome America! Festival, will be hosted by comedic actor Marlon Wayans.
If you need any additional incentive to head to Philadelphia for the show, just keep in mind that we'll be featuring performances from Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran, hometown favorites The Roots, and more! And hey, we won't be mad if you're not able to catch the action in person. VH1 and Palladia have got your back, providing live coverage of the entire show.
Read below to find out more, and remember to tune in this Friday, July 4 at 8 p.m. ET.
ACTOR AND COMEDIAN MARLON WAYANS NAMED AS HOST OF VH1’S PHILLY 4th OF JULY JAM
VH1.COM AND VH1 APP TO STREAM LIVE
Featuring The Roots and Special Guests Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande and Aloe Blacc
New York, NY- June 30, 2014 – Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans has been named the host of the fourth annual Philly 4th of July Jam as part of the WaWa Welcome to America Festival. In addition, the event will be simulcast on VH1 and Palladia on Friday, July 4 from 8-11PM ET and live streamed on PhillyJam.VH1.com the VH1 App. Four-time Grammy award winners and hometown favorites The Roots, will perform and serve as the house band with this year's lineup, including: Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande and Aloe Blacc. Capping off the musical event, the evening will include a spectacular fireworks display over the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art.
In addition to hosting the fourth annual Philly 4th of July Jam, the actor and comedian can currently be seen presiding over the TBS comedy competition series, "Funniest Wins," which just premiered on June 20th and will run for eight episodes, Fridays at 10 PM. Most recently, Wayans produced and starred in Open Road Film's comedy A HAUNTED HOUSE 2, the sequel to the hilarious and successful film, A HAUNTED HOUSE, which had a budget of $1.7-MILLION and grossed $18.1-million on the opening weekend. More information on Marlon can be found on his Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page.
Billed as the "Largest Free Concert in America," the Philly 4th of July Jam is a celebration of freedom and music. The Philly 4th of July Jam is an unforgettable, entertainment-filled night that has featured some of the top artists in the music industry. This is a one-of-a-kind concert, free of cost and fun for all ages, located right in the heart of the City of Brotherly Love. With 500,000 people jamming out on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway --- there is no other place to spend the Fourth of July.
The Jam is coordinated by Welcome America, Inc. and its Executive Director Desiree Peterkin-Bell, along with Executive Producers Scott Mirkin and Shawn Gee. Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson and Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter of The Roots serve as musical directors for the Jam. Executive producers for VH1 are Lee Rolontz, Rick Krim and Keshia Williams.
The Philly 4th of July Jam takes place during Wawa Welcome America!, a multi-day festival that celebrates America's birthday in America's birthplace, Philadelphia.