Article Contributed by Missing Piece Group
Published on 2026-07-14
WXPN continues to provide the soundtrack to America’s Semiquincentennial with the announcement of Philly Anthems, a new project supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage that brings together five acclaimed Philadelphia musicians and seven emerging local artists to write and record 12 original songs inspired by the enduring themes of freedom and independence.
The project will feature new music by Christian McBride, Devon Gilfillian, Eliza Hardy Jones, Lady Alma, and The Hooters’ Eric Bazilian, who kicks off the series today with his stirring new single “Better Times.”
About the song, Bazilian explains, “I was honored to be asked to be a part of the Philly Anthems project. I considered it a challenge to write something from a modern and relevant perspective about the state of our union. I put heart and soul into ‘Better Times,’ and hope that it lands well for the listeners of WXPN, and wherever people are listening.”
Alongside the five artists that represent Philadelphia's rich musical landscape across jazz, rock, soul, folk and more, the project will also feature songs from seven emerging artists: Grace Gardener, Black Buttafly, The Bul Bey, James Everhart, Sug Daniels, Moustapha Noumbissi, and The Flying Vees, who were announced today on-air as the winner of the 24 Hour Song Challenge – Philly Anthems Edition.
Earlier this summer, nearly 350 songwriters accepted the challenge to write and record an original song in just 24 hours, inspired by the prompt "Freedom." As the grand prize winner, The Flying Vees will receive a $5,000 honorarium, a performance slot at this year’s XPoNential Music Festival and Philly Music Fest, and a song on the upcoming Philly Anthems album.
Listen to The Flying Vees’ “Workman’s Song #1”
“Workman's Song #1" explores how working people in America often must defer their experience of freedom because they have to work so hard just to get by. About the song, The Flying Vees—the quartet of Hannah Taylor, Shannon Vasile, Brechyn Chace, and Caitlin Ramsey—explained, “We received a lot of positive feedback during the voting process and it felt validating to have our song resonate with so many people and to have the support of the city we love so much. This song embodies the spirit of Philadelphia, which is a community of working-class people. No snobs, no phony balonies. That’s what this song is really about: having to work hard and putting off your leisure time to another day.”
Philly Anthems is the newest chapter in WXPN's four-part Soundtrack to America's 250th initiative, joining The Philly 250, World Cafe’s Sense of Place: Philadelphia, and Sound of History in celebrating Philadelphia's musical legacy and its continuing influence.
WXPN General Manager Roger LaMay explains, "As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, we wanted to do more than look back. Philly Anthems is about creating something new—giving Philadelphia artists the opportunity to reflect on themes in the Declaration of Independence that resonate today through original music and add new songs to the city's remarkable musical legacy. We're excited to share their songs and stories with audiences over the coming months.”
New Philly Anthems songs will premiere throughout the rest of 2026, with the project culminating in the release of a 12-song vinyl album on Record Store Day 2027 and two concerts.
Serving music lovers in these areas:
Philadelphia at 88.5 FM
Lehigh Valley at 104.9 FM
Lancaster/York at 88.7 FM
Harrisburg at 99.7 FM
Worton/Baltimore at 90.5 FM
North Jersey/Poconos at 91.9 FM
Worldwide via streaming at xpn.org and the XPN app
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About WXPN:
WXPN, the nationally recognized leader in Triple A radio and the premier guide for discovering new and significant artists in rock, blues, roots, and folk, is the non-commercial, member-supported, public radio service of the University of Pennsylvania. WXPN produces World Cafe, public radio’s leading music program featuring interviews and performances with today’s essential and emerging artists and distributed by NPR to more than 300 stations across the U.S. WXPN also produces XPoNential Radio on XPN2 in HD and online. www.xpn.org.
