Idobi Radio’s Summer School Tour closed out in Philadelphia this past Sunday, sending the crowd home with memories of a summer well-spent — discovering fresh talent, learning from PETA’s outreach, and yes… plenty of crowd surfing.
Warped Tour’s spirit was alive and well. Founded by Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour), Eric Tobin (Hopeless Records), and Michael Kaminsky (KMGMT), Summer School was built for discovery — tickets starting at just $35 made it even more accessible. Philly’s lineup brought Huddy, Arrows In Action, Beauty School Dropout, If Not For Me, Charlotte Sands, Rain City Drive, and Taylor Acorn for a night that will stick long after the season fades.
Charlotte Sands, the “blue-haired hurricane,” stormed the stage fresh from a birthday celebration the night before in Worcester, MA. Blending head-banging hooks with self-reflective, norm-bending lyrics, she lit the room on fire. Mid-set, she handed the mic to a young fan for “Dress” — and the girl knew every word. Her smile, powerhouse vocals, and boundless energy made it impossible to stand still.
Rain City Drive brought a polished post-hardcore punch, fronted by Matt McAndrew (runner-up, The Voice Season 7). Their choruses had the crowd swaying, clapping, and fully locked in — a seasoned performance that felt built for big stages.
Closing out the night, Taylor Acorn delivered pop-punk storytelling laced with a hint of country charm. She kicked things off with “A Hell of a Show,” launching the room into a nonstop jumping frenzy. Couples in the crowd sang along to “their songs,” proof of the deep connection her music inspires.
And because it was the last night of tour? Full-blown on-stage chaos. The entire lineup rushed Taylor’s set for dance-along antics, even breaking into a line dance. PETA was out in full force, sharing animal rights campaigns and giving away stickers in exchange for petition signatures. There was even a free photo booth to capture new friendships — and there were plenty made that night.
Summer School lived up to its name — lessons learned, bonds built, and music discovered. If this tour swings back through Philly, consider your homework assigned: don’t miss it.
By the time Rain City Drive took to the stage the crowd was more than alive and warmed up thanks to the previous artists. They were reminded in between each set that they were in for the best 20 minutes of their lives! Although there were short teaser styled sets compiled of around 6-9 songs, it had the crowd roaring for more after each artist brought it to a close. The band brought high energy and unique vocals mixed with pop and hardcore breakdowns, multi-genre undertones added to their performance and made them stand out from the rest. Definitely a band to look out for in the future as they are constantly evolving and bending the genre “norms”.
