By Cory Laquay
Photo Editor

Radio 104.5’s Winter Jam on Jan. 25 at the Piazza at Schmidt’s in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties guarantees frigid temperatures, great music, and plenty of entertainment all day long at no cost. The free show includes performances by Twenty One Pilots, MS MR, Switchfoot, and New Politics on an outdoor stage. Thousands of people are expected to fill the plaza to capacity for the fourth annual Radio 104.5 Winter Jam.

Winter Jam is a collection of passionate artists and music fans who gather every year to celebrate the year in alternative music. The cold temperatures don’t put a dampen on the energy of both the crowd and the performers, as thousands of people cram within the walls of the piazza, and band members can sometimes even be known to perform shirtless in the crippling cold.

Last year’s performance included sets by Tegan and Sara, Walk the Moon, June Divided, Matt and Kim, and Twenty One Pilots. Twenty One Pilots, who have made multiple appearances in Philadelphia, are returning to the city for their second winter jam. Instead of opening up the show, they are now headlining winter jam after a sharp rise in popularity.

“I think that our goal is to become a hard ticket in as many markets as possible. We have a lot of opportunities to come and open up for bands, but we want to find that select group of people who believe in what we’re doing and start from the ground up like we’ve done in our hometown. That’s what we’re all about and it’s really starting to pick up,” said Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots in an interview at last year’s winter jam with Radio 104.5.

Twenty One Pilots, after their release of their first album, “Vessel,” began an upward trend in popularity. Their reputation for high energy songs and unforgettable performances earned them the number one spot in this year’s winter jam.

New Politics is a Danish group that blends aspects of punk, pop, and indie rock to create an interesting and unique sound. Their energy and stage presence, in addition to their debut album, “A Bad Girl in Harlem,” landed them a spot on the stage this year.

Switchfoot is an alternative rock group from California who made a name for themselves back in 2003 with their album, “The Beautiful Letdown” and hit singles “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move.” Since then, they have been a staple in the alternative music industry, keeping an original sound for over a decade. Their newest album, “Fading West,” was released on Jan. 14 of this year.

MS MR is a male and female duo from New York who specializes in indie pop and alternative rock. Their debut album, “Secondhand Rapture” was released this past May. Their single, “Hurricane” landed a number eight spot on US alternative charts. This up-and-coming group is making a name for themselves.

This year’s winter jam gives the opportunity for new groups in the industry a chance to perform in front of a live audience, in turn sparking popularity and increasing the chance for success. Because the show is free, people are being exposed to music they might otherwise not listen to. It’s a win for the artists and the audience.

Radio 104.5’s Winter Jam begins at 12 noon on Saturday, Jan. 25, at The Piazza at Schmidt’s. Get there early for your best chances at being close to all the action.