Forget red. Blue is the color for this weekend at Penn, as the second annual Greater Philadelphia Blues Fest comes to campus for two nights as part of a three-day festival of stellar performances by some of the area's - and the country's - leading blues performers.

The festival begins on Friday, Oct. 2, with the "Thank God It's Friday Evening Blues Party" at the Institute of Contemporary Art, featuring local faves Georgie Bonds and the Blues Keepers and Chicago legend Mighty Joe Young (pictured).

On Saturday, a gala dinner dance (black tie optional) at the University of Pennsylvania Museum features local artists Matt Taylor with Sugar in the Raw and nationally-known performers Shemekia Copeland and Mem Shannon and the Membership. The dinner will feature food from Museum Catering and some of University City's finest restaurants, including Dahlak, La Terrasse, the Marigold Dining Room and the White Dog Cafe.

A Sunday blues brunch at Warmdaddy's featuring John Stoddart and Maurice John Vaughn wraps up the weekend's activities.

The Blues Fest, presented by the University of Pennsylvania Health System and co-sponsored by WXPN, benefits the Partnership CDC (formerly the West Philadelphia Partnership Community Development Corporation), which works to combat blight, stimulate business and build affordable housing in West and Southwest Philadelphia.

-S.S.

• GREATER PHILADELPHIA BLUES FEST: Friday, Oct. 2 to Sunday, Oct. 4. Friday blues party: 6 to 11 p.m. at the ICA, 133 S. 36th St. Tickets $30. Saturday dinner dance: 7 p.m. to midnight at the Museum, 33rd and Spruce streets. Tickets $100. Sunday blues brunch: 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Warmdaddy's, 4 S. Front St. Tickets $30. Package ticket for all three events $150. Ticket info: Upstages, 569-9700.

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