BY ARTHUR SHKOLNIK The Festival Bar, now in its third year, is an after-hours space which opens its doors for the duration of the Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe. The former home of Club Egypt in Northern Liberties (Spring Garden and Delaware Ave.) has been revamped with eye-catching visual art and modern media installations in preparation for the 16-day, all-inclusive array of genre-spanning entertainment. The Festival Bar has become the verified hot spot for thousands of festival-goers seeking after-hours recreation, and during the week features a motley assortment of nightly cabaret, including but not limited to: live stage performances, dance parties, and a bar area to grab a drink, mingle, or just lounge in opulence.
The Festival Bar will offer an ever-changing atmosphere from September 3-18, with Late Night Cabaret (www.latenitecabaret.com) running from September 7 – 8 and 13 – 15. On weekends The Festival Bar springs in to full-fledged club mode, featuring dance parties galore, courtesy of prominent local DJ’s including Broadzilla, La La Cocco, the Jerks DJs, Ready Steady Eddie Austin, DJ Apt One, and DJ Ross of Love. Philly barkeep and connoisseur Fergus Carey, owner of Fergie’s Pub, Monk’s, Grace Tavern, and The Belgian Café, will once again be lending his talents from behind the cantina, which has been outfitted with art installations straight from the studios of celebrated Philly artists including Katie Murken, Ellen Brooks, and the artists collective over at Part Time Studios.
Special events include a live performance by Philadelphia-based indie-rock band The Mural and the Mint, featuring dance choreographer Nichole Canuso on Sunday, Sept. 12, and a screening of renowned filmmaker Spike Lee’s critically acclaimed film “Passing Strange,” which will be held on September 9, following a performance by Stew and The Negro Problem with Heidi Rodewald, the minds behind the hit Broadway rock musical “Passing Strange.” A complete schedule of events can be viewed HERE.