The big news on Philly’s live music scene this week is NON-COMM, the four-days-and-three-nights public radio convention presented by WXPN and hosted at World Cafe Live on May 2, 3, 4, and 5. Artists from Arlo Parks to Natalie Merchant to Say She She and Abraham Alexander are performing at the event — full lineup here and public tickets are now available here — but there’s a lot more happening all around Philly in the next seven days.
We wish we could send you to Cowboy Junkies at City Winery this Friday, that show is unfortunately sold out — but plenty else is on tap. Here are 14 concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly. For details and more information, consult WXPN’s Concerts and Events page.
Sunday 4/30: Rachael Sage at Zoetropolis
New York singer-songwriter and visual artist Rachel Sage has been DIY-ing it for over 25 years, and back in 2020 put out her 14th studio album, Character, paired with a companion acoustic EP. On tour this spring, she makes a stop at Lancaster art space Zoetropolis for a Sunday night show this week. // 6:30 p.m., $25, AA
Monday 5/1: Inside Hustle at REC Philly
Not a concert per se, but if the local music scene is important to you — and in particular, if you’re an artist or behind-the-scenes person looking to get more deeply involved — REC Philly is the place to be this Monday. Presented by Philly Music Fest and WXPN, Inside Hustle gathers together a panel of artists – including Julia Pratt and Chill Moody — with a roomful of experts representing promotions, touring, label services, and radio (including WXPN’s Mike Vasilikos and John Vettese). The free event is near capacity, but put your name in the mix by RSVPing now. // 6:30 p.m., free with RSVP, AA
Tuesday 5/2: The Walkmen at Union Transfer
Indie rock royalty The Walkmen have reunited this spring, and just took to New York’s Webster Hall for a five-show residency with all the aplomb of lifelong friends connecting again and enjoying one another’s presence. They move on to a multi-show run in their secondary hometown this week, beginning Tuesday and continuing Wednesday and Thursday at Union Transfer. // 8 p.m., $35, AA
Wednesday 5/3: Carbon Leaf at Sellersville Theater
Rooted in Celtic folk, Appalachian Americana, and modern jam rock, RVA outfit Carbon Leaf has been a force for two-plus decades. Their tour in support of 2021’s The Gathering Vol. 2: The Hunting Ground comes to Sellersville this Wednesday. // 7:30 p.m, $35 and up, AA
Thursday 5/4: Slomo Sapiens at Johnny Brenda’s
It’s a solid night for indie garage rock at Johnny Brenda’s on Thursday when riff ragers Slomo Sapiens headline. Presenting a Cramps-y stylistic mesh of horror movie tones and vintage rock and roll riffs, they’ll be joined by groovy rhythm-makers Lady HD as well as Divivne on this Lo-Fi Apertifs presented show. // 8 p.m., $12, 21+
Friday 5/5: The War and Treaty at Ardmore Music Hall
Michael and Tanya Trotter’s soul-filled Americana outfit The War And Treaty returned this March with their third LP, Lover’s Game. The married couple of singer-songwriters use the record to address the topic of love through a variety of lenses, and will take fans below the surface this Friday at Ardmore Music Hall. // 8 p.m., $23, 21+
Friday 5/5: Yves Tumor at Franklin Music Hall
Boundary-breaking experimental artist Yves Tumor put out their electrifying fifth studio album earlier this year via Warp Records. The title is a mouthful — Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) — but the fast-paced rhythms and imaginative atmospheres make the project a thrill to get lost in. That should be the case even more so with Tumor’s live show, which comes to Franklin Music Hall Friday. // 8:30 p.m., $35, AA
Friday 5/5: Graham Parker at Sellersville Theater
UK pub rock progenitor Graham Parker is on a North American run this spring, and passes through our region Friday night to headline The Sellersville. The 72-year-old Londoner has made music solo, led the band The Rumor, collaborated with next-gen power poppers like The Figgs, and will bring hooks and style to the border of Montgomery and Bucks counties to kickstart your weekend. // 8 p.m., $33 and up, AA
Friday 5/5: MUNA at The Met
Uplifting California pop/rock trio MUNA might see like a runaway success of the post-lockdown era — collaborating with Phoebe Bridgers on the breakout hit “Silk Chiffon” and going on tour with her, playing arenas with Kacey Musgraves, and releasing a terrific self-titled album last year — but their journey goes back a decade since forming as USC students in 2013. Hard work and persistence brings them to the point of headlining The Met on Friday and if you go, you’ll be sure to leave with a smile. // 8 p.m., $35 and up, AA
Friday 5/5 and Saturday 5/6: Sing Us Home Festival at Venice Island
Philly-born rocker Dave Hause just released his latest album, Drive It Like It’s Stolen, and it’s another rousing set of self-reflective anthems that gives introspective punks and fervent folk fans just as much to be love. To celebrate, Hause is throwing his biggest hometown party yet: the Sing Us Home Festival, a two-day event at Manayunk’s Venice Island that features an impressive cast of nationally-acclaimed talent (Drive-By Truckers, Kathleen Edwards) and local faves (Catbite, Crossed Keys, The Tisburys). // 6 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday, $50 and up, AA
Saturday 5/6: Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band at Miller Center For the Arts
Singer-songwriter fave Josh Ritter’s ten-song new album Spectral Lines just came out Friday, and his first regional show in support of it happens Saturday Night at Reading’s Miller Center For The Arts. Ritter’s songwriting over the years has been pensive and melancholic, and it has also been full of life and joy; on this record, it’s both at once, especially the lead single “For Your Soul,” and with Ritter’s Royal City Band amplifying it onstage Saturday, it’ll take fans even higher. // 7:30 p.m., $42 and up, AA
Saturday 5/6: Those Looks at Kung Fu Necktie
Imaginative Lambertville four-piece Those Looks released a stellar album called Cults Near Us late last year on Mint 400 Records, reflecting on personal connections and crowd psychology to cinematic indie rock arrangements. They’ve gigged a lot in the Garden State and around NYC, and finally are making inroads in the Philly region; see them this Saturday at Kung Fu Necktie in Fishtown. // 7:30 p.m., $12, AA
Saturday 5/6: No More Dysphoria Festival at Ukie Club
Since the mid 20-teens, the East Coast nonprofit No More Dysphoria has worked to provide resources and direct support to trans folks in need of assistance with their transition. The organization was founded by musician Nicolle Maroulis of Hit Like A Girl, and their band will play as part of a two-day lineup at Ukie Club this Saturday and Sunday to raise money for the program’s coming year. One day of the lineup centers emotive indie rock, another’s focus is screamo hardcore, and the two stellar lineups include performances by Petal, Crooks and Nannies, Sonagi and more. Show up and dig deep. // 7 p.m., $24, AA
Saturday 5/6: Yaeji at Union Transfer
New York City born-and-raised singer, songwriter, DJ, and producer Yaeji broke out in the late 20-teens with dancefloor-packers like “Raingurl.” On her brilliant new album With A Hammer — her formal debut LP, out now on XL — she takes an imaginative and immersive audio collage approach, coming across warm and psychedelic at the same time as being icy and isolated. Mixed with her back-catalog at Union Transfer this Saturday night, it will be a rollercoaster ride of energy and feeling. // 8 p.m., $25, AA
