Here are 15 concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly; for tickets and more information, head to WXPN’s Concerts and Events page.
Sunday 9/3: Lady B’s Basement Party ft. MC Lyte and more at Dell Music Center
This annual event, hosted by the Philly rapper and DJ Lady B, features performances from rap legends: MC Lyte, Stetsasonic, CL Smooth, Brand Nubian, Kool Moe Dee, and the Force M.D.s. The legendary host became the first female to ever record a rap song with “To The Beat Y’all” in 1979, and has been holding “Basement Party” concerts throughout the recent years in Philadelphia to celebrate fellow radio personalities and other hip-hop affiliates in the lovely Strawberry Mansion amphitheater. // 7 p.m., $40, AA
Tuesday 9/5: Speedy Ortiz at Johnny Brenda’s
Fresh off the Sept. 1st release of their new album Rabbit Rabbit, Speedy Ortiz will kick off their fall tour with a stop at Johnny Brenda’s. The Philly rock group recently played Free At Noon at World Cafe Live, previewing their exciting live show and adventurous new material. The band’s new album is their first full-length studio project since 2018’s Twerp Verse. Make sure to familiarize yourself with Rabbit Rabbit before attending their show, which will feature support from Washer. // 8 p.m., $20, 21+
Tuesday 9/5: Arctic Monkeys at The Mann Center
UK stars Arctic Monkeys are coming to Philadelphia as part of their large 2023 tour, which follows the release of their seventh studio album The Car, which came out in October of 2022. The world-famous band has been a staple act in the scene since the 2000s, gaining huge popularity online thanks to their memorable hooks, Tumblr-ready dark aesthetic, and their iconic frontman Alex Turner and his personal life. The group will headline The Mann’s TD Pavilion along with opening act Fontaines D.C. // 8 p.m., $98.25 and up (Verified Resale), AA
Wednesday 9/6: Hannah Jadagu at PhilaMOCA
WXPN Welcomes rising indie singer songwriter Hannah Jadagu to Philadelphia for a headlining show at PhilaMOCA on Sept. 6th. The young artist rose to prominence in 2021 with her debut EP What Is Going On?, which was recorded on her iPhone using GarageBand. In May, she debuted on Sub Pop with her first studio album Aperture, which was constructed remotely with the help of French producer Max Robert Baby. Her PhilaMOCA show will kick off her first headlining USA tour, and will also include a set from Miloe. Check out her appearance at NOM-COMM 2023 for a peek at her live show! // 8 p.m., $18, AA
Wednesday 9/6: Rosali at Johnny Brenda’s
Former Philadelphia resident Rosali will be appearing alongside Rose City Band at Johnny Brenda’s on Wednesday. With a recent signing to Merge Records, Rosali Middleman is gearing up for a new phase in her solo career. Her recent releases include an experimental guitar-based EP under the alias Edsel Axle on August 11th, and a cover of George Harrison’s “Stuck Inside A Cloud” on the 22nd. During her time in Philly, she co-founded the local trio Long Hots, who have also stayed active since Middleman’s move to North Carolina; it’ll be a treat to see her back onstage in the city where she got her start this week. // 8 p.m., $20, 21+
Thursday 9/7: Duran Duran at Wells Fargo Center
80s new wave and synth pop pioneers will undoubtedly put on a show for the ages this Thursday at Wells Fargo Center. Though they made their breakthrough into the mainstream decades ago, Duran Duran is still going strong with much of their original lineup, and released their latest record Future Past in 2019. Their sixteenth studio album, DANSE MACABRE, comes out October 27th. // 7 p.m., $30+, AA
Thursday 9/7: Southern Avenue at SteelStacks
Americana fans will enjoy Southern Avenue’s natural blend of blues and roots music. The GRAMMY-nominated band comes to the Lehigh Valley’s impressive SteelStacks stage this Thursday as part of a tour that saw them play with The Black Opry’s Denitia down in Nashville just three days prior. Make their joyful 2021 LP Be The Love You Want essential listening ahead of the show. // 7:30 p.m., FREE, AA
Thursday 9/7: Billy Woods at Kung Fu Necktie
The intimate Kung Fu Necktie stage will be the perfect venue to see New York rapper Billy Woods. One half of hip-hop duo Armand Hammer, Woods gives listeners a window into his complicated headspace and makes profound, self-aware observations. Check out 2023’s Maps and his feature on rapper Noname’s “gospel? Feat. $ilkMoney, billy woods, & STOUT)” from her recent masterpiece Sundial. // 10:30 p.m., $23, 21+
Thursday 9/7: Geology and Zoe Lemon at Open Sound Lansdowne
mewithoutYou’s Greg Jehanian brings his solo project Geology to Lansdowne’s excellent Open Sound series for a delightful outdoors show. “Lo-fi, high hopes” is how Jehanian describes his glimmering, emo-adjacent sound that he shared to an eager online community he cultivated on Instagram Live during the pandemic. Philly singer-songwriter Zoe Lemon fills out the lineup with easy-going songs about her experience “vanlifing across the United States.” // 7 p.m., free, AA
Friday 9/8: Beck at The Mann Center
Kings of modern indie rock Beck and Phoenix are stoked to collab on this upcoming tour–you can hear it on “Odyssey,” the single they released together. Frequent XPN listeners will recognize at least one song from Phoenix’s latest LP Alpha Zulu: “After Midnight (feat. Clairo).” But the full album is recommended listening for the concert, of course. Rising star and Renaissance-painting-come-to-life Weyes Blood opens the show on the trails of her own headlining tour for 2022’s transcendent And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow. // 5:45 p.m., $23+, AA
Friday 9/8: Spirit of the Beehive at Johnny Brenda’s
Headlining at Johnny Brenda’s this Friday, Philly natives Zack Schwartz, Rivka Ravede, and Corey Wichlin combine to create SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE, the innovative, stylistically diverse, and complex local band of your dreams (and nightmares, but in a good way). They’ve been around since 2014, taking on more conventional musical styles in the alternative, indie, and shoegaze realm, before gradually exploring psychedelia, experimenting with sampling, and eventually fusing all these concepts together to make something completely their own. They just released their newest EP, titled i’m so lucky, following an album release from Schwartz and Wichlin’s side project draag me, which will also likely be showcased at this gig. Tickets are running low, so make sure to grab them while you can. // 9 p.m., $20, 21+
Friday 9/8: Thursday at The Queen
With a career spanning over two decades and counting, Thursday is making its way to you on Friday to remind you why they’re a post-hardcore classic. Formed in New Brunswick, NJ, Thursday has been through the ups and downs of a longstanding music career, having toured (and toured) the world and appeared at Warped Tour, Coachella, and more. Nevertheless, they’re still on the right path, especially after disbanding and reforming between 2011 and 2016. As their bond has strengthened, and as their commitment to the harsh, undeniable sounds of their original scene has continued to drive them, this band has proven that they’re never going anywhere. You can catch them at The Queen this Friday! // 7:30 p.m., $28, AA
Saturday 9/9: Haverford Music Festival
The Haverford Music Festival has been a fixture in the greater Philly area for around a decade, bringing in various acts and vendors both local to PA and abroad for a fun, free day of music. Welcoming artists like local rocker Fataday Korngor, blues legend Dana Fuchs, emerging Asbury Park singer-songwriter Rachel Ana Dobken, and DEVIX, a finalist on NBC’s The Voice, there are plenty of different musicians playing both the Oakmont Field Stage and Eagle Road Stage throughout the day to keep the vibe going. Be sure to get there early to support the Haverford Township Education, Arts & Music Society! // noon, free, AA
Saturday 9/9: Loneliest Place on Earth Fest ft. The Wonder Years at Franklin Music Hall
The Wonder Years, having grown up and formed in and around Philadelphia, are showing their love for the place that shaped them with the newest Philly music festival, Loneliest Place on Earth Fest. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of their fourth album, they’ll be playing The Greatest Generation in full, joined by a Philly-centric lineup: Origami Angel, Laura Stevenson, Sweet Pill, Anxious, Kississippi, and Action/Adventure. This festival will be sure to get you pumped, as well as remind you how robust the Philly music scene has always been (and always will be). Grab tickets to this one-day-only event on Saturday before time runs out. // 4 p.m., $113 and up (verified resale), AA
Saturday 9/9: One Fine Day Festival ft. Sting and Shaggy at The Mann Center
Sting and Shaggy have been close collaborators for years (which is probably a crazy sentence to hear if you didn’t already know, but actually makes a lot of sense when you see them in action). Together, they’ve created One Fine Day Festival, a one-day, two-stage festival highlighting their peers in music, such as Thundercat and Koffee. With an eclectic lineup and the spirit of Philadelphia, these music legends will be joining forces once more to continue demonstrating the magic of genre-fusing and collaborative expression. Watch the two headliners talk to 6ABC about their love for Philly in this news report and witness that love live this Saturday. // 3 p.m. $33 and up, AAs
