Musiq Soulchild/Chrisette Michele/Raul Midon

Fri., July 20, 7 p.m., with Chrisette Michele, Raul Midon, Penn's Landing Great Plaza, Columbus Boulevard and Market Street

by Deesha Dyer

r&B/soul/pop

Photo By: Michael T. Regan (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Musiq Soulchild is the biggest name on the bill at this year's Penn's Landing R&B summer series, but wise eyes are going to look out for Chrisette Michele. If you ask certain critics or musicians, they'll tell you the 24-year-old New Yorker is 2007's "it" girl. Like many R&B singers, Michele gained notoriety providing vocals on rap records (Jay-Z, Nas), but unlike many, she dropped an album that is actually tolerable past track one. She'll share opening responsibility with Raul Midon, a guitarist and soul singer-songwriter who also got his start singing backup for established acts (for him it was Shakira, X-tina and J-Lo, among others). Both will be in good company as local sweet-talker Musiq closes out the evening.

Fri., July 20, 7 p.m., free, with Chrisette Michele, Raul Midon, Penn's Landing Great Plaza, Columbus Boulevard and Market Street, 215-928-8801, www.pennslandingcorp.com.