The Roots 4th of July Festival

The last two years The Roots have played the main stage at the Welcome America! Independence Day celebration, and this year, for the first time the Philadelphia hip-hop band is the event headliner for the first time. Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson isn't stopping there, however. This year, ?uesto's plan is to turn the Welcome America weekend into a mini-music festival, a la the Roots Picnic, with the Art Museum stage on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to feature a number of acts playing with the Roots, plus a side stage, and action going on at clubs around town on Independence Eve, also known as July 3rd.

As previously announced, Michael McDonald, Earth, Wind & Fire, Estelle and Sara Bareilies will be playing with the Roots on the main stage. The side stage acts, also free, will include Kindred the  Family Soul, Res, Chin Chin and Nico's Gun. On the 3rd, Diplo, DJ Jazzy Jeff, ?uestlove, DJ Spinna and J Rocc will all spin at Club Voyeur. Undergound MC Dom Kennedy will rhyme at the TLA, with Casey Veggies and Dosage. Indie rockers Work Drugs, CSLSX and Wrestling will do Johnny Brenda's, and The Legendary Dobbs will host Firm Taqtics, Da Rezarekt, and others.

Previously: Philadelphia Folk Fest Adds Levon  Helm, Trombone Shorty