Here are 15 concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly. For tickets and more information, head to WXPN’s Concert Calendar.
Sunday 3/17: Shemekia Copeland at City Winery
XPN Blues Show fave Shemekia Copeland offers a great way to start the week with her concert tonight at City Winery Philadelphia. When her album Done Come To Far ranked number 17 on WXPN’s Best of 2022 Mega List, Johnny Meister wrote “Copeland’s incomparable vocal power delivers some uncompromising social commentary in song.” // 6 p.m., $28 and up – John Vettese
Sunday 3/17: Samantha Fish at The Newton Theatre
Speaking of blues and XPN favorites, Kansas City shredder and XPoNential vet Samantha Fish has a big week all around the area. Tonight she plays The Newton Theatre; you can also see her Thursday at York’s Appell Center and Friday at the Scottish rite auditorium. Dive in, tonight, and consider a return trip later in the week. // 7 p.m., $39 and up, AA – J.V.
3/17: Jon Batiste at The Fillmore Philly
After a breathtaking performance of “It Never Went Away” at the Academy Awards Ceremony on Sunday, Jon Batiste comes through Philly tonight to headline at The Fillmore. The New Orleans rooted pianist and singer-songwriter released his seventh studio album, World Music Radio, last summer; though the show’s general onsale is sold out, you can still get tickets (at a markup) via LiveNation’s verified resale.// 8 p.m., $103.89 (verified resale), AA – J.V.
Monday 3/18: Sleater-Kinney at TLA
It’s a great time to be a fan of iconic rockers Sleater-Kinney. Their eleventh studio album, Little Rope, is a winner that finds bandmates Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker exploring imaginative new sonic directions while also staying true to the anthemic core that made such an impact when they broke out 25 years ago. They just re-imagined some of its songs with the subdued acoustic EP Frayed Rope, which they talked about with Kristen Kurtis last week. They’re doing an intimate club tour, too, which means seeing them up close and personal at the TLA Monday. The general onsale tickets have sold out, but you can still attend if you buy at a markup via LiveNation’s verified resale. // 8 p.m., $85.86 (verified resale), AA – J.V.
Tuesday 3/19: Haley Heynderickx at White Eagle Hall
It’s thrilling to see singer-songwriter Haley Heynderickx out and on the road again. The Portland musician generated acclaim and numerous Artist To Watch designations around her debut full length, I Need To Start A Garden, and its mix of moving and emotive folk and effervescent pop (ie “Oom Sha La La”). Last fall, she reissued Among Horses III, her collaboration with Maine singer-songwriter Max Garcia Conover, and this Tuesday she plays Jersey City’s White Eagle Hall. // 8 p.m., $26, AA – J.V.
Thursday 3/21: GZA at Underground Arts
It was originally scheduled for last fall, then rescheduled, but any opportunity to see one of the core members of Wu-Tang in a space like Underground Arts is worth the wait. For this run, the Genius is backed by his live band, The Phunky Nomads, and Philly legend Schoolly D is slated to play an opening set. // 8:30 p.m., $37.50, AA – J.V.
Thursday 3/21: Lizzie No at Kennett Flash
Similar to Samantha Fish, who plays in XPN’s orbit thrice this week, our current Artist To Watch Lizzie No offers several opportunities to see them live this week. On Thursday, XPN welcomes her to Kennett Flash; on Friday, she headlines the Lounge at World Cafe Live; earlier in the day Friday, they play Free at Noon. However you get to them, make sure Lizzie No is part of your week: the country-inflected Halfsies is shaping up to be among the year’s best, mixing earnest and emotive country with raucous rock and roll and a compelling voice delivering it all. // 7 p.m., $20, AA – J.V.
Thursday 3/21: Carla Gamble’s Voices of Philly Soul at World Cafe Live
Recent Key Studio Sessions star and XPoNential Music Festival 2024 performer Carla Gamble shares the latest in her curated Voices of Philly Soul series this Thursday at World Cafe Live. Following a comedy show at Punchline and a Wellness event at Friends Center, this show is a massive lineup of powerhouse Philly vocalists including Nitro Nitra (seen at Philly Loves Bowie Week’s Night Of Stardust), Lady Sarkazym, Seraiah Nicole, and recent Key Studio Sessions star Chioke. // 8 p.m., $25, 21+ – J.V.
Friday 3/22: Emmylou Harris at Parx Casino
Americana queen Emmylou Harris performs just north of the city this Friday at Bucks Country’s Parx Casino. Though her last studio offering was 2015’s The Traveling Kind, a collaboration with Rodney Crowell, Harris’ robust back catalog of more than 25 albums stretching back 50-some years guarantees a must-see setlist of songs you know by heart. // 8 p.m., $49 and up, 21+ – J.V.
Friday 3/22: Shygodwin at MilkBoy
Breaking out of Break Free Fest last year, punk trio Shygodwin rages and roars in a remarkably catchy and accessible framework on its debut EP Most Likely To. With new music on the way and a thrilling Key Studio Session this past week, they headline MilkBoy this Friday with Philly pals Pearl and Friend. // 8:30 p.m., $15, 21+ – J.V.
Friday 3/22: So Totally at PhilaMOCA
Romantic Philly shoegaze four-piece So Totally releases its latest project, Double Your Relaxation, on May 10th via indie label Tiny Engines. To warm up for the record rollout, the band is set to play PhilaMOCA this Friday with Monobloc and Magic America. // 8 p.m., $14.93, AA – J.V.
Saturday 3/23: Graduation Speech and Night Windows at Silk City
Two longtime players in the emo-informed singer-songwriter scene, Graduation Speech’s Kevin Day and Night Windows’ Ben Hughes have both sharing their latest examinations of the world around them this year. The former released the EP Arcane Feelings in March, the later’s latest full length In Memories touched won in February, and both artists share a bill this Saturday at Silk City. Arrive prepared for big singalongs and big feelings. // 7:30 p.m., $12, 21+ – J.V.
Saturday 3/23: Chioke at City Winery Philadelphia
Philly’s Chioke is having, as they say, a moment. The Philly rocker and singer-songwriter is genre-fluid, touching on soulful melodies inspired by Sly Stone and Nina Simone one moment, raging to rock guitar anthems the next, and hip-hop grooves the next. After joining the bill on Carla Gamble’s Voices of Philly Soul earlier this week (see above), performing live in the Key Studio Sessions, and preparing to rock the Roots Picnic in June, Chioke plays City Winery this Saturday for the Chill Moody-curated series Moody’s Clubhouse. // 7:30 p.m., $35, 21+ – J.V.
Saturday 3/23: Rachel Andie at Johnny Brenda’s
She’s been living in New Zealand and working at Flying Nun Records for the past few years, but it’s always a treat when local indie singer-songwriter Rachel Andie returns home. For a special show this Saturday at Johnny Brenda’s, Andie is joined by singer-songwriter and dancer Kingsley Ibeneche as well as Neo-soul rapper and visual artist Rae Dianz. // 9 p.m., $15, 21+ – J.V.
Saturday 3/23: Anna Spackman at Steel City
Chester County’s Anna Spackman throws back to the pure emotive moments of 90s singer-songwriter era stars like Dar Williams, Sarah McLachlan, and Paula Cole. If Lilith Fair was still a package tour in 2024, she’d fit right in, but as it stands, Spackman is headlining Steel City on Saturday, and that’ll feel right at home as well. A music therapist when she’s not making music, Spackman is celebrating the release of her album Precipice, as well as its companion EP, A Window, contemplative works both. // 7 p.m., $15, AA – J.V.
