Wilco’s Nels Cline brings some brotherly love to Union Transfer with his one-night-only Lovers (for Philadelphia) performance

When he’s not playing guitar in Wilco, Nels Cline has evidently been spending some time studying the music of iconic Philadelphia artists. This June, the experimental jazz musician will bring his own renditions of Philly-made songs to the city itself for a “One-Night-Only Love Letter to the City of Brotherly Love,” and it’s shaping up to be not your everyday concert.

The one-of-a-kind performance will feature Cline’s interpretations of compositions by various Philly-born musicians both well-known and obscure, including McCoy Tyner, Paul Motian, Ethel Waters, The Delfonics, Uri Caine, and Eddie Lang. Cline will perform with a 17-piece ensemble of renowned musicians, including conductor/trumpeter Michael Leonhart, drummer Alex Cline, and keyboardist Yuka C. Honda.

Cline will also reportedly be debuting a new Tired Hands Brewing Company beer he created himself at the event, and it’s sounding like he’ll have some other surprises up his sleeve. More details are yet to be revealed, but this leaves some questions to be answered. Will Cline play for as long as a typical Wilco set lasts? Longer? Will Union Transfer transform into a jazz-age speakeasy? Only one way to find out.

Lovers (for Philadelphia) happens June 2 at Union Transfer. Find tickets and more information on the XPN Concert Calendar.