Ms. Lauryn Hill | photo by Josh Pelta-Heller for WXPN
Wrap up May and ring in June with concerts big and small.
Here are 14 concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly. For tickets and more information, head to WXPN’s concerts and events page.
70s hitmaker and heartfelt composer Boz Scaggs is back on the road to promote the deluxe edition of his album Memphis which turns 10 this year. Scaggs and his band make a stop in central PA’s Hershey Theatre on this monumental-sized tour. // 8 p.m., $75 and up, AA
Philly-via-Jersey folk outfit Jackson Pines have their latest album of original material coming out later this year — its single “Wheel” is a gritty rocker — but first, they’re celebrating the release of Pine Barrens Vol. 1, an EP of traditional music and regional roots and blues, which they describe a collection of “songs from where we grew up, dating from around 1700 – 2013 and in between.” See them on their home turf tonight at Asbury Lanes. // 8 p.m., $17, 18+
Hot on the heels of throwing out the first pitch at Atlanta’s Truist Park for the Braves’ OutKast night, Big Boi continues his spring tour this Monday at Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia. If you’re going to make your Monday off work a concert night, what better way to do it than with a big star in a small space, and we expect to hear Big Boi showcasing 2021’s eclectic Big Sleepover LP, digging back to the deeply funky 2010 album Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty, and maybe even dusting off some favorites from the OutKast catalog. // 8 p.m., $35 and up, 21+
Rising Philly singer-songwriter Karlia and her live band deliver an atmospheric take on Philly neo-soul, as we heard in singles like “Save Room” and “Given,” and saw in their Tiny Desk Contest video entry from last year. This Wednesday, she plays The Lounge at World Cafe Live, supporting Brooklyn rock and soul outfit Control The Sound. // 8 p.m., $15, AA
Midwesterners Hippo Campus are leaning in to the current country music fad on their latest EP Wasteland by toning down their bright production and writing in a more direct style. The past Free At Nooners and World Cafe guests will be The Fillmore this Thursday to showcase their new direction. // 8 p.m., $45 and up, AA
The gospel-tinged rock and roll and R&B of The Right Fiction finds frontperson and songwriter Aaron Parnell Brown singing up a storm on their new album Golden Apple. Brown first gained our attention in the folk-adjacent outfit Aaron And the Spell, as well as his turn in the Motown revival band York Street Hustle. This band finds Brown’s myriad musical interests coexisting in one glorious place, and they celebrate the release of the album this Thursday at The Lounge at World Cafe Live. Emily Drinker opens. // 8:30 p.m., $12, AA
Indie scenesters Pine Barons take the stage at Johnny Brenda’s again this Thursday for what’s sure to be a successful night. The starry-eyed, pop-leaning electronic group brings Cool Original and Rentboy to open the night; don’t be late. // 8 p.m., $15, 21+
A few musicians play double duty on this bill, as long-time Philly favorite Radiator Hospital and newly-cemented Paper Bee share some crucial members. Listen to Paper Bee’s new Thaw, Freeze, Thaw beforehand; it’s a powerful album carried by sweet sounds and heavy with vulnerability. // 7:30 p.m., $20, AA
Again, Tin Can Bar makes another appearance on our Concert Picks list. The bar and restaurant with a modest stage has been consistently hosting some of Philly’s best up-and-coming acts for a few months now, and this show, featuring one of the last performances by singer-songwriter Alex Farr with their project Justmadnice, is a shining example. Recent Key Studio Sessions guests Puppy Angst and South Philly’s Pillow Princess share the bill. // 8 p.m., $10, 21+
West Philadelphia is the land of majestic porches, and this Saturday, porches all over the neighborhood will host free concerts from local artists beginning at noon and going all day long. Highlights include Upholstery, Caring Less, Sacred Monsters, Interminable and more, and an afterparty takes place at Pentridge Station to keep the music going into the night. // noon, free, AA
The last time Christian Lee Hutson was in Philadelphia, he played a beautiful Free at Noon concert and sold out The Lounge at World Cafe Live in support of his sophomore LP Quitters. This time around, he’s taking on Union Transfer, and is joined by the similarly poignant Fenne Lily, who put out her third album Big Picture just last month. There’s a lot to love at this show for fans of story-telling songwriting and bleeding-heart guitar music. // 8 p.m., $17, AA
Shimmery pop hero Carly Rae Jepsen performs at The Stone Pony’s Summerstage this Saturday as part of Asbury Park’s Pride Party. The “Call Me Maybe” sensation has come a long way from her 2015 debut, earning awards nominations for her larger-than-life romantic visions. No doubt this show will be the rowdy, fun-loving show that a pride celebration commands. // 6 p.m., $55, AA
Folk scene favorite Lucy Kaplansky returns to the Philly region this Saturday when she plays the Twilight Concert series at the Bryn Mawr Gazebo. The New York singer songwriter has been active since the 90s, and was part of the revered Cry Cry Cry collaboration with Dar Williams and Richard Shindell. Her ninth album, Last Days of Summer, came out last year, and it will be perfect for a contemplative night under the stars. // 7 p.m., $15, AA
Fairmount Park west turns into a hip-hop R&B wonderland this weekend, with The Mann Center once again acting as home base for The Roots Picnic. This year’s edition features a massive lineup — highlights include Lauryn Hill playing her iconic Miseducation album in full, as well as the just-added Usher, Ari Lennox, Busta Rhymes, The Isley Brothers, Roy Ayers, a State Property reunion and more — and if you’re up for the two-day endurance test, it’s an event that will once again prove to be massive. // noon, $189 and up, AA
