First Friday: Guthrie Ramsey

About the Event

Enjoy an evening of art, live music, cocktails, and light fare at our monthly First Friday mixer.

Tonight, we’re pleased to present Who Hears Here? 250 Years of American Song, composed and performed by pianist Guthrie P. Ramsey, Jr. Who Hears Here? invites listeners to time-travel through sound and appreciate the singularity of American music.

Ramsey is a 2022 Guggenheim Fellow and professor emeritus of music at the University of Pennsylvania. As a producer, label head, and bandleader, Ramsey has released five recording projects, including A Spiritual Vibe, Vol. 1 and Race Music 21: etudes/grooves/interludes. He has performed at legendary venues such as the Blue Note, Harlem Stage, and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. He co-curated the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s 2009 exhibition Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment and served as a consultant for the Emmy Award–winning HBO documentary The Apollo (2019).

Performance from 6:30 – 7:45pm

First Friday at the Barnes includes access to the main collection.

Seating is limited. Cocktails and light fare are available for purchase.

In the mood for something heartier? The Garden Restaurant is open for dinner during First Friday. Make a reservation between 6 and 8pm.

Sponsor

Support of First Friday is generously provided by Philadelphia City Fund’s 2026 Milestone Grant Fund, supported by PECO.