![\"wxpn](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DSC_0606.jpeg\")
\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
World Cafe Live shares a building radio station WXPN on Walnut Street in University City. <\/p>\n
JACK TOMCZUK<\/p>\n
For two decades, WXPN\u2019s Free At Noon concert series has hosted emerging stars and music icons. Nearly 300,000 attendees have attended its intimate live shows, and fans worldwide have listened to its broadcasts over 5.2 million times. On Friday, Sept. 26, WXPN<\/a> celebrates its 1000th show by welcoming Philadelphia legends, The Hooters,\u00a0to the Free At Noon stage at World Cafe Live.<\/p>\n The performance is already sold out, but the show will be broadcast live on 88.5 WXPN and will stream live on xpn.org, giving listeners the ability to see and hear from anywhere as the Hooters perform an \u201cunplugged\u201d set.<\/p>\n \u201cPlaying the 1,000th Free At Noon at World Cafe Live is especially meaningful as we were also there for the Grand Opening of the venue over 20 years ago,\u201d The Hooters shared in a statement. \u201cAnd for some of us, we\u2019ve been listening to and a part of the WXPN radio community for much longer than that.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are musical \u2018lifers\u2019 along with the listeners of this cherished radio station, with such strong ties and connections to the city of Philadelphia and to our friends and fans in West Philly in particular. The band is flattered and honored to be a part of this Free At Noon celebration \u2013 long may WXPN run, long may WXPN rock, and we\u2019re excited to initiate the next thousand shows of new musical horizons.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the past twenty years, World Cafe Live has hosted incredible performances by some of the biggest local and national names around. The first-ever Free at Noon concert featured Donavon Frankenreiter, and it has since seen names like Adele, Dr. Dog, Ben Folds, Hall & Oates, Hanson, Amos Lee, Willie Nelson, The Pretenders, Carly Simon, SNACKTIME, and many more in what will become 1,000 live performances later this month.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that this show has lasted over 20 years and 1,000 episodes on the air is the direct result of the hard work and belief in the concept by everyone at WXPN, and \u2013 of course \u2013 our listeners and members who have supported Free At Noon from the outset,\u201d says Dan Reed, WXPN Music Director, on-air personality, and Free At Noon talent booker. \u201cHere\u2019s to a thousand more!\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DSC_0591.jpeg\")
World Cafe Live shares a building radio station WXPN on Walnut Street in University City.JACK TOMCZUK<\/p>\n