Electrified: 50 Years of Electric Factory
Saturday, December 30, 2023
12:00 PM-5:00 PM
The exhibition is from September 22 through December 30, 2023. Wednesday - Friday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. A major exhibition celebrating the impact of Philadelphia-based Electric Factory and Electric Factory Concerts, from the late 1960s to the 2010s.
This unmissable exhibition will include original posters, photographs, and concert apparel. An American invention, the electric guitar is the signature instrument of rock and visitors will be drawn to Bruce Springsteen’s Fender Telecaster, played in Philadelphia more than any other celebrated guitar; the 6-string bass Jack Bruce used to record Fresh Cream, painted in psychedelic colors for Cream’s 1968 European and US tours; and a late 1950s Gibson Les Paul, regarded by some as the holy grail of electric guitars, played by Mick Taylor at the Spectrum during the Stones’ tour in 1972.
The exhibition includes sections on the early years of Electric Factory, Live Aid, concert sound systems (with a scaled-down stage), the 2nd Electric Factory, and the psychology of rhythm which underlies so much music. An interactive section will close the show, inviting guests to decorate guitars virtually.
The exhibition is free and open to the public.