Two very different outdoor concerts await this week, one looking back to the swing era and the other with roots firmly planted in Philly’s singer-songwriter music scene.

The 1940s-inspired band Swing That Cat performs a combination of covers and original music meant to get the crowd on their feet. They hope to do just that when they play at the Pastorius Park Summer Concert Series on July 2.

“Even if you don’t recognize the specific tune, you’ll recognize the feeling and the groove,” said Chris Peraino, the band’s manager and guitar player. He and wife Michele Peraino founded the band after growing tired of performing classic rock in 2013. Michele sings lead alongside a four-piece horn section, upright bass, guitar, and flute.

Peraino’s childhood and adolescence were filled with music from the 1940s to 1960s and the delicious anticipation of waiting to buy records from the store. He wanted to bring that excitement back to music.

Until they wrote original music, Swing That Cat covered popular 20th-century classics such as “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie” by Louis Jordan and modern jazzy tunes including the 2010 single “That Man” by Dutch songstress Caro Emerald. While covers are still incorporated into their set, their own music gives the swingtime era pride of place. 

Anthemic tunes like “Tossin’ and Turnin’” include the kinds of double entendres popularized by early blues. Their big-band-styled song “Leap Off Your Seat” inspired their upcoming album title: “Leap!”

“The genre of music is great for an outdoor concert venue,” said Anne McNiff, executive director of the Chestnut Hill Community Association (CHCA). “It is danceable and you can’t help but tap your toes.”

McNiff’s office works with a board committee to build the roster for Pastorius Park’s annual concert series. After seeing the band perform around the area, the CHCA decided it was time for them to play at the longest running outdoor concert series in Philadelphia.

Familiar to the area

Swing That Cat performed regularly at Paris Bistro in Chestnut Hill for six years. The French cafe and jazz club closed during the pandemic due to financial difficulty. The band’s last performance there was in January 2020. 

They also performed at the Summer Solstice Festival – formerly known as the Solstice Music Festival – in Roxborough’s Gorgas Park last year, after meeting headliner Ben Arnold at a concert in Ardmore. The festival returns to Gorgas Park one week after the solstice on June 28. 

“It’s a summertime gathering more than a concert,” Arnold said. He’s been headlining concerts at Gorgas Park for over 25 years. 

Arnold said he learned to “perform for people” while attending The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). Arnold released his debut album under Columbia Records in 1995. He’s toured throughout the United States and Europe with eight label-supported and independently released albums spanning genres from the blues to rock. 

Though Arnold later realized how much he enjoyed creating music on his own, he didn’t stop building connections with fans and other musicians. He helps Friends of Gorgas Park (FOGP) find performers for the Summer Solstice-ish festival. His song, “Everywhere You Go” is beloved by the community and always ends the show.

“He’s usually the headliner and he’s always fabulous,” said John Boyce, FOGP founder and president. Arnold will perform with the 48 Hour Orchestra at the festival. He said he loves to walk through the crowd while singing and watch the community come out to dance. Other bands performing that day include John Faye (formerly of The Caulfields, John & Brittany, and IKE) and Pawnshop Roses.

Bringing people together

“We saw an opportunity to bring music to the neighborhood kind of like Pastorius Park did,” Boyce said. Upper Merion’s Concert Under the Stars also inspired Gorgas Park’s gazebo bandstand and concert series. FOGP started hosting live music at the park in 1999. Over the years, it’s expanded to include beer gardens and movie nights.

Susan Gorgas, a descendant of the prominent 17th century family, donated Gorgas Park to the city in 1892. After decades of disrepair, FOGP formed and restored the park in 1997 with help from Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, William Penn Foundation, and qualifying for $30,000 in grant money. A total of $2.5 million has been invested in the park since renovations began.

“All these people started coming to the park because of the improvements,” Boyce said. The park is often called Roxborough’s Central Park because of its location and impact on the area’s social life.

Boyce said the renovations and concerts gave the community an opportunity to enjoy their neighborhood. The most recent renovation improved sidewalks and curbs. He said the welcoming atmosphere they've created is similar to his childhood summers.

“We love the fact that these municipalities really make the effort to bring music to their communities,” Peraino said. He and Arnold enjoy how performing outdoors brings people of all ages to enjoy their music. 

Swing That Cat performs at the Pastorius Park Concerts, 8177 Roanoke St, Chestnut Hill, on Wednesday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Ben Arnold and the 48-Hour Orchestra perform at the Solstice Summer Music Fest and Beer Garden in Gorgas Park, 6300 Ridge Ave., Roxborough, on Saturday, June 28, from 3-9 p.m. Admission is free.