It’s another busy week on the Philly live music scene; if you were lucky enough to get tickets to the sold out shows by The Mountain Goats at Union Transfer and Sun Ra Arkestra at World Cafe Live, you’re going to have a great time. If not, fear not, because there’s plenty more going on in this lovely spring weather. Here are 18 concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly. For more information and tickets, head to WXPN’s Concerts and Events page.
Sunday 4/16: Wild Child at Underground Arts
Austin, Texas’ Wild Child come to Underground Arts on Sunday in promotion of their brand new LP, End of the World. The Americana-leaning pop act have a fan in Dr. Dog’s Scott McMicken who recently hosted the group at the band’s studio on the outskirts of Philly. (McMicken also joins us for Free At Noon this Friday.) // 7 p.m., $22, 21+
Monday 4/17: Black Belt Eagle Scout at Johnny Brenda’s
Katherine Paul of Black Belt Eagle Scout took special care to infuse her latest LP The Land, The Water, The Sky with all the beauty and strife of her homeland in the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. The whole record is a meditative experience, with Paul’s wispy but deep vocals spreading out like mist over a quiet morning landscape. To give a greater sense of what you’re in for at this show, know the band joins Julia Jacklin on tour later this year and plays Pitchfork Music Festival in July. // 8 p.m., $15, 21+
Monday 4/17: Maya DeVitry at Tellus360
Singer-songwriter Maya Devilry is back home in her Central PA stomping grounds this week for a Monday night show at Tellus360. After almost a decade in the bluegrass-rooted act The Stray Birds, DeVitry turned her sites towards a more contemporary singer-songwriter sound after a move to Nashville, and it positively shines on her 2022 LP Violet Light. // 7 p.m., $15, AA
Tuesday 4/18: Skinny Puppy at The Met Philly
Industrial music icons Skinny Puppy are going on what’s billed as their final tour this spring, and demand was strong enough for the Philly show that it was moved from its initial location at South Street’s TLA to The Met Philly, where the band’s gripping and macabre mix of dissonant rhythms, mind-bending audio collage, and bleak lyrics will soak up the grandeur of the venue. // 8 p.m., $39.50 and up, AA
Wednesday 4/19: Tamino at The Foundry
With a voice that gets comparisons to Jeff Buckley and imaginative, kaleidoscopic songwriting, Tamino was an instant hit in the XPN universe last year, between a Free at Noon set and an appearance at our festival. This Wednesday, he plays the Foundry, and People Museum opens. // 8 p.m., $28, 21+
Wednesday 4/19: Sara Shook & The Disarmers at MilkBoy
Another hit from both XPoNential and NONCOMM last year, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers return to town this week for a headlining gig at MilkBoy in center city. Led by frontperson River Shook, who is also active in the jagged and exhilirating indie project Mightmare, the band makes Americana informed by outlaw country, amplified punk, and harmonic Nashville pop, and their latest LP Nightroamer was one of 2022’s high points. // 8 p.m., $18, 21+
Wednesday 4/19: Maxwell Stern at The Lounge at World Cafe Live
A great thing about April is it gives us a reason to blast “Light Later Lately,” the early-springtime anthem from singer-songwriter Maxwell Stern’s terrific 2021 album Impossible Sum. Stern is active in a ton of bands in the DIY sphere — his Signals Midwest put out a great album last year called Dent — and his solo shows are a comparatively rare treat. So if you like Josh Rouse, Wilco, and Jason Molina, make a point to get to The Lounge at World Cafe Live Wednesday, where Stern opens for David Ramierz. // 8 p.m., $20, AA
Thursday 4/20: Ghost Funk Orchestra at Tellus360
It’s all in the name for Ghost Funk Orchestra, if you let “ghost” describe that cool, retro swagger. Lancaster club Tellus 360 will make a great home for this 10-piece band in town from New York City. XPN Welcomes this night, but Ghost Funk will be back in the area at Philly’s Kung Fu Necktie in June. // 8 p.m., $15, 21+
Friday 4/21: Andy Shauf at Union Transfer
Decorated in the indie sense, Andy Shauf is known for the tenuous beauty and poetic phrasing in his music for over ten years. 2023’s Norm is no exception, and harkens warm summer nights and similarly still, peaceful moments. // 8 p.m., $25, AA
Friday 4/21: Natalie Merchant at Miller Theater
Only a writer as timeless as Merchant could pull off a record ten years in the making, as is the case with 2023’s Keep You Courage. Embracing her lower register, Merchant breaks her silence with confidence and warmth. Her Kimmel Center performance will be a treat. // 7:30 p.m., $69 and up, AA
Friday 4/21: Friends of Jerry at Ukie Club
If Dark Star Orchestra is a full-blown Grateful Dead tribute act recreating albums start to finish, and JRAD is a sort-of-kind-of tribute that begins with Dead music and then veers off into fluid and singular jams, think of Philly’s Friends of Jerry as their punk rock younger sibling. Made up of players with roots in the local basement show scene (you’ll find alums of Mumblr, Roof Doctor and more in their ranks), the band has garnered a fervent following in the scene these past couple years for shows steeped in fuzzy and freewheeling improvisation (which, so were the Dead) that nevertheless has roots in songs and ideas from Mr. Garcia and co. Their next Philly headliner is Friday at Ukie Club, where they’ll play two sets. // 7:30 p.m., $17, AA
Friday 4/21: Purling Hiss at Johnny Brenda’s
Speaking of a scuzzy punk rock spirit and a penchant for heady shredding, head to Johnny Brenda’s on Friday, where veteran noisemakers Purling Hiss will celebrate their raucous new album Drag on Girard. Longtime bud and like-minded individual Chris Forsyth opens the rager, and committed concertgoers can potentially catch the first FOJ set at Ukie, then hustle on over to JBs for a cosmic evening. // 8 p.m., $17, AA
Friday 4/21: Old Crow Medicine Show at Penn’s Peak
Folk faves Old Crow Medicine Show orbit the region this weekend when XPN Welcomes them to Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe. Their NONCOMM set last year was a force to be reckoned with, and while you’ll certainly hear the classic “Wagon Wheel” in the mix at this show, expect the unexpected — both in terms of roots rock and well, well beyond. // 8 p.m., $43.50, AA
Saturday 4/22: Record Store Day events
It’s Record Store Day again which means exclusive releases, deals, and even in-store performances at your friendly neighborhood record store. Here at XPN, we’re celebrating the release of “Homegrown Originals,” a compilation album of local artists’ live performances recorded through various events at the station. And we’re giving it away FOR FREE at Main Street Music, Repo Records, Forever Changes, Newtown Book and Record Exchange, and Siren Records. Pick up one of only 300 copies of the vinyl while supplies last. And hot tip: one of the artists featured will play live at Main Street Music to commemorate the event…and it’s beloved, soul singer-songwriter Sug Daniels. Other performances at Main Street throughout the day include Ruston Kelly and The Tisburys, and they’re far from the only store involved. Check the list of all stores participating in Record Store Day and what they’ve got going on here.
Saturday 4/22: Center City Jazz Fest
After a three-year hiatus, one of the best days for live music in Philly makes a return this Saturday. Center City Jazz Fest packs 20 performers on a $20 ticket — that’s $1 a band, a deal you can’t beat, especially since the tight proximity of participating venues Time, Leda, Frankie Bradley’s, Fergie’s, and Chris’ Jazz Cafe means you can in all likelihood see half the lineup if you’re willing to hustle. Highlights include drumming powerhouse Nazir Ebo, visionary saxophonist and composer Max Swan, pianist Kendrah Butler Waters, vocalist Michelle Lordi and more. Full details at their website, and big gratitude to founder and organizer Ernest Stuart for bringing CCJF back in a big way. // 1 p.m., $20, 21+
Saturday 4/22: Ruby The Hatchet at Anchor Rock Club
Embrace your sinister side with Philly’s Ruby The Hatchet this Saturday at Anchor Rock Club. The Philly-based psych rock, metal-loving group are promoting the dark magic they concocted on their last LP Fear Is a Cruel Master, which they’ll be sharing on the road throughout the spring season. // 8 p.m., $15, 18+
Saturday 4/22: Ruston Kelly at TLA
A few years back when rootsy singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly covered “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus and began throwing around the “dirt emo” tag, it seemed like 50/50 odds this was a gimmick to get folks talking on the socials. And that they did, but flash forward to 2023 and Kelly’s masterful new album The Weakness shows how that concept can be applied in fully sincere ways. The record’s cathartic vocals and candid lyrics are clearly the product of somebody who spent time with Dashboard tapes back in the day, but the overall package takes a vulnerable and nuanced view on heartbreak, personal failure, and a desire to be better. Kelly plays it live Saturday at the TLA; Purr opens. // 8 p.m., $25 and up, AA
Saturday 4/22: Langhorne Slim at The State Theatre
Beat Generation-inspired singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim released the thoughtful, gorgeous LP Strawberry Mansion in 2021 — a record he’s supported with shows at both Philly Music Fest and Free At Noon — and he’ll pay a visit to central Pennsylvania this Saturday to play the album and more at The State Theatre in York. John Craige opens. // 8 p.m., $35 and up, AA
