Wheatus | photo by Scott Troyan
What concerts are you seeing this week?
Here are 14 concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly. For tickets and more information on all of them, head to WXPN’s concerts and events page.
Whether rocking out with pals in Trigger Hippie or drawing on her own solo catalog, veteran singer songwriter Joan Osborne is a force onstage. Start the week off with her tonight at Upper Merion Township’s Concerts Under The Stars. // 6 p.m., $25, AA
Alt rock faves Cracker have a few decades under their belt of cutting country mayhem with a degree of indie surliness. Their live show is always a raucous good time and returns to World Cafe Live’s music hall tonight. // 8 p.m., $30, AA
All summer long, the free concert series XPN Welcomes to Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks draws a huge range of artists, from the homegrown to the nationally-known. Tonight, one of the series’ bigger names — and one of its bigger surprises — plays: the midwestern pop punk band The Ataris. They broke through to the mainstream with their 2003 cover of Bryan Adams’ hit “The Boys Of Summer,” but the band will bring the catchy riffs and precision harmonies they’ve been steeped in since 1996 to Bethlehem tonight. // 6 p.m., free, AA
Suave and soulful singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae graces Princeton’s McCarter Theater this Tuesday. Whether it’s her 2006 hit “Put Your Records On,” or more recent material from The Heart Speaks In Whispers and beyond, the Leeds singer-songwriter is sure to delight at this show. // 7:30 p.m., $25 and up, AA
Last year Philly singer-songwriter Christiana Benton released Better Late Than Never, a beautifully introspective record built around memorable hooks, warm deliveries, country melodies and emotive indie pop. She’ll play on the Key Studio Sessions this week, the same day she kicks off tour with local friends The Lunar Year at Silk City. // 7 p.m., $12, 21+
A versatile percussionist in the Philly roots scene, Shawn Hennessy returns to his solo project Hennessey Bonfire for a new album, A Wake On The Boulevard, a mediation on family, mortality, and hope. Dipped in Caribbean and West African tones and arrangements, Hennessey’s music draws you in, as we heard in a recent Key Studio Session, and as will see at the band’s album release party Wednesday at 118 North. // 7:30 p.m., $15, 21+
Dazzling pianist and vocalist V Shayne Frederick is an old soul, a romantic heart, but also visionary mind. His recent Key Studio Session dug into jazz nuggets of yesteryear, while his album The King Suite re-imagined nuggets from the Nat King Cole songbook in his own style. His expansive Blacklight release, by comparison, digs into history, ancestry and spirituality through towering cosmic sounds. His concert Thursday at Chris’ Jazz Cafe could go in either direction, but will be sublime either way. // 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., $15 and up, 21+
Philly indie pop fave Rachel Andie is back in town for the summer from her new home in New Zealand, and she’s brought her Kiwi bandmates with her for a U.S. tour. If you missed them at Porchfest last Saturday, catch them at Johnny Brenda’s on Thursday. // 8 p.m., $15, AA
Folk punk faves AJJ is bringing their Disposable Everything tour through the area twice this week. After an appearance Tuesday at HMAC in Harrisburg, they’ll headline Union Transfer on Friday, a show as exciting for the headliners as the openers: rollicking Brooklyn rockers Oceanator and Philly indie faves Gladie. // 7 p.m., $25, AA
You’re in luck, fans of lush psychedelic roots rock, you’ve got two chances to see Cosmic Guilt this week; they play Wayne Music Festival on Saturday, which is always a good time, but for their own headlining gig, head to Central PA’s Lititz Shirt Factory on Friday night. // 8 p.m., $25, AA
Philly treasure Sam Rise made their mark on the Black Opry world this spring by taking part in the organization’s first residency, a weeklong March event in collaboration with WXPN and Pew. Rise’s gift for immersive melody and inviting storytelling drew in World Cafe Live audiences at several in-the-round showcases, but this Friday we’ll be treated to a full set at Ukie Club. The gig finds them heading up a bill of queer country and folk music at with Tami Hart and Metdown Rodeo. // 7:30 p.m., $15, AA
The Wayne Music Festival is free, it’s easy to get to – along the main drag of the Main Line Township, conveniently located for SEPTA riders or 476 commuters – and the lineup is an all around winner. Whether you’re coming for headliners like indie rockers Wheatus and New Orleans brass band Bonerama, or for local faves like Sug Daniels, Cosmic Guilt, Wisher, and the soft rock tribute band Mellow Fever (starring our very own Dan Reed), it’s an all around stacked Saturday of music. // 1 p.m., free, AA
Tough cookies, assemble: Low Cut Connie warms up for its XPoNential Music Festival set with a headlining show this Saturday at Anchor Rock Club. Slide through and get an early taste of material from their new album Art Dealers. // 7 p.m., $22.50, 18+
It’s going to be a busy Saturday for Philly crooner and Key Studio Sessions star Re-Mus. Earlier in the evening, he and his other band — he’s hype man in Arthur Thomas and The Funkitorium — play Wayne Music Festival. Immediately after their set wraps, he’ll hustle back to Philly to headline the Lounge at World Cafe Live with a solo set celebrating his new album Universal Soul Experiment. Re-Mus’ music is sleek and upbeat with hints of Prince, Bootsy, and Paak and this show will be a perfect Saturday night party. // 8:30 p.m., $15, AA
