Double Decker Music Series
An intimate mobile concert series on an open-top double-decker bus: live music in the streets of Philadelphia, paired with a guided tour of the city by its creator, Sebastian Petsu.
On this page: About Concerts Photos Press Credits
About
The Double Decker Music Series was a unique, intimate mobile concert experience on an open-top double-decker bus. Each evening paired live music performances in an urban setting with a guided tour of Philadelphia’s attractions. Musicians performed at the front of the open top deck while the bus traveled through the city.
The series was created and hosted by Sebastian Petsu, a Philadelphia tour guide on buses and on foot since 2005 and a sound artist, whose love of both Philadelphia’s music and its history inspired him to combine the two. Sebastian started the series in 2013, and Bowerbird joined him to produce it from 2015, beginning with the fourth concert.
Each season ran on Sunday evenings through the summer, each with a rain date. In 2016 an open call for musicians drew more than 100 submissions in two weeks, and the 2019 season sold out with a waiting list.
The Double Decker Music Series is on indefinite hiatus.
Concerts
Summer 2015
Sun, May 31, 2015 · 7:30pmChristopher Sean Powell and The Sun FlightsDDMS 4
Sun, Jun 28, 2015 · 7:45pmKing Britt and Keir NeuringerDDMS 5
Sun, Jul 26, 2015 · 7:45pmWeyes Blood and Petia ZDDMS 6
Sun, Aug 23, 2015 · 7:45pmCharles Cohen and Rosie LangabeerDDMS 7
Sun, Sep 20, 2015 · 7:45pmJoo Won Park and MyrriasDDMS 8DDMS 4: Christopher Sean Powell and The Sun Flights
DDMS 5: King Britt and Keir Neuringer
DDMS 6: Weyes Blood and Petia Z
DDMS 7: Charles Cohen and Rosie Langabeer (Diamond Blazer)
DDMS 8: Joo Won Park and Myrrias
Summer 2016
Sun, May 22, 2016 · 8pmJesse Sparhawk and Jeremy Toussaint-BaptisteDDMS 9
Sun, Jun 26, 2016 · 8pmNeil Feather and NyfoltDDMS 10
Sun, Jul 31, 2016 · 8pmMoor Mother and Outside OutsidersDDMS 11
Sun, Aug 28, 2016 · 8pmVessna Scheff and Koofreh Umoren, and JNPRDDMS 12
Sun, Sep 18, 2016 · 8pmEmily Bate and KilamanzegoDDMS 13DDMS 9: Jesse Sparhawk and Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste
DDMS 10: Neil Feather and Nyfolt (with Karl Cooney)
DDMS 11: Moor Mother and Outside Outsiders
DDMS 12: Vessna Scheff and Koofreh Umoren, and JNPR
DDMS 13: Emily Bate and Kilamanzego
Summer 2017
Sun, Jul 30, 2017 · 8pmWolf Dem, and Dan Blacksberg and Tessa EllisDDMS 14
Sun, Aug 27, 2017 · 8pmSettled Arrows and Shinjoo ChoDDMS 15
Sun, Sep 10, 2017 · 8pmTether and Jo Nelson (Ashley Tini)DDMS 16DDMS 14: Wolf Dem, and Dan Blacksberg and Tessa Ellis
DDMS 15: Settled Arrows and Shinjoo Cho
DDMS 16: Tether and Jo Nelson (Ashley Tini)
Summer 2018
Sun, Jun 24, 2018 · 8pmTravis Johnson (Grooms) and Hallowed BellsDDMS 17
Sun, Jul 29, 2018 · 8pmNick Millevoi and Mike Kennedy, and Apologist (Rose Rae)DDMS 18
Sun, Aug 26, 2018 · 8pmBirdie Busch and Schuyler ThumDDMS 19DDMS 17: Travis Johnson (Grooms) and Hallowed Bells
DDMS 18: Nick Millevoi and Mike Kennedy, and Apologist (Rose Rae)
DDMS 19: Birdie Busch and Schuyler Thum
Summer 2018 trailer
Summer 2019
Sun, Jun 16, 2019 · 8pmUrsula Rucker and Madam DataDDMS 20
Sun, Jul 28, 2019 · 8pmJaimie Branch and Sebastian PetsuDDMS 21
Sun, Aug 25, 2019 · 8pmRosali and Seraiah NicoleDDMS 22DDMS 20: Ursula Rucker and Madam Data
DDMS 21: Jaimie Branch and Sebastian Petsu
DDMS 22: Rosali and Seraiah Nicole
Rosali, “If I Was Your Heart” (DDMS 22)
Summer 2019 teaser
Photos
Photos by Scott Troyan. Tap any photo to see it larger.
Press
- The Double Decker Music Series rolls out (May 27, 2015)
- Riding the Double Decker with King Britt (July 3, 2015)
- Riding the Double Decker Music Series (September 1, 2016)
- Double Decker concerts in the summer 2019 picks (June 5, 2019)
- “New double deck bus tour will hit some high notes in Philly”, Kimberly Haas, WHYY (May 29, 2015)
- “Watch Double Decker Music Series vol. 5, featuring King Britt & Keir Neuringer”, Nick Tate, WXPN (July 20, 2015)
- “Watch the latest Double Decker Music Series video; see Moor Mother on this weekend’s installment”, John Vettese, WXPN (July 28, 2016)
- “Not Your Typical Philadelphia Bus Tour”, WRTI (September 6, 2016)
- “The Double Decker Music Series presents Madam Data and Ursula Rucker”, Aaron Pond, Broad Street Review (July 16, 2019)
Credits
The Double Decker Music Series was created and hosted by Sebastian Petsu and produced with Bowerbird. Photos by Scott Troyan. Concert films by Bob Sweeney.