Concert goers bundled up to brave the elements for Radio 104.5’s annual Winter Jam concert. CAROLAN DIFIORE / STAR PHOTO
The snow and freezing temperatures didn’t keep thousands of music fans from the Piazza at Schmidt’s in Northern Liberties on Saturday for Radio 104.5’s Winter Jam. The annual free concert featured bands MSMR, New Politics, Switchfoot and twenty one pilots.
Those who attended the concert armed themselves with multiple layers and warm beverages to deal with the harsh weather, and huddled in large groups to stay warm from each other’s body heat.
The large turnout drew mixed reactions. Mike Thomas and Mark Maria of Feltonville were impressed by the crowd as they watched and listened to the bands from outside PYT, the restaurant in the Piazza.
“It was a nice crowd,” said Thomas, who was attending Winter Jam for the first time. “I’ve been to The Who concerts back in the day, so compared to that it was pretty tame.”
For those in the thick of the crowd, however, the scene got a bit more rambunctious. Cayleigh Solano, a student from La Salle University, attended the concert with her friends and said she was surprised by how rowdy the large crowd became as the day progressed.
“I’ve been to a lot of concerts like these before, but this one was a little wild,” said Solano, who said she was forced to leave the concert early to avoid the mosh pits that formed during and between sets.
Local residents did not seem to mind the overflow of people in the neighborhood the day of the concert.
Caroline Carr, who lives in the apartments in the Piazza, said she and fellow tenants have come to expect the event-day mayhem.
“You have to know when you move in that it’s like this,” Carr said as she walked her dog in the park across the street from the Piazza. “After a while you get used to it.”
Concert goers went to great lengths to get a good view of the bands. CAROLAN DIFIORE / STAR PHOTO
Thousands packed together to get a good view of the bands performing at Winter Jam, which included MSMR, New Politics, Switchfoot, and twenty one pilots. CAROLAN DIFIORE / STAR PHOTOS
The Piazza at Schmidt’s in Northern Liberties hosts Radio 104.5’s free concert, which is held multiple times throughout the year. CAROLAN DIFIORE / STAR PHOTOS
