14 concerts to see this week, including Sleater-Kinney, The Mountain Goats and more

Here are 14 concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly. For tickets and more information, head to the WXPN Concert Calendar.

Sunday 7/28: Molly Tuttle at Upper Merion Township Park

Bluegrass extraordinaire Molly Tuttle brings her rootsy virtuosity to Upper Merion Township Park in King of Prussia this week. The Californian multi-instrumentalist recently won her second GRAMMY, taking home the award for Best Bluegrass Album in recognition of her phenomenal 2023 album City of Gold. She’ll be joined by her backing band Golden Highway; Sug Daniels opens. // 6 p.m., $35, AA – Claire Brown

Sunday 7/28: Orville Peck at Riverfront Park

Put on your most tasseled apparel and mosey on down to Harrisburg, because country music it-boy Orville Peck stops by Riverfront Park as part of Harrisburg University’s phenomenal summer concert series. His highly anticipated album Stampede comes out August 2nd (that’s this week!), but the first volume of the project is currently out on streaming. // 8 p.m., $48, AA – C.B.

Sunday 7/28: Taylor Kelly at Johnny Brenda’s

Rochester, New York native Taylor Kelly has made a home in the Philadelphia scene over the past several years, and she returns to the stage Sundat to celebrate her phenomenal new EP The Spins, which came out just last week. If you’re looking for a new slice of addictive R&B, you can’t go wrong with this EP; and check out her 2023 record Live in Philly, too! Rachel Andie and Human Bloom open. // 8 p.m., $15, 21+ – C.B.

Monday 7/29: The Clientele at Johnny Brenda’s

This Monday, Johnny Brenda’s hosts The Clientele, the criminally-overlooked jangle pop band that’s been playing bleary-eyed ballads for almost twenty-five years now. Listen to “Reflections After Jane” right now and just try not to cry. Opening for the London-based trio is The Smashing Times, a group of rascally mods from, uh, Baltimore, Maryland? It’s a match made in jangly British heaven. // 8 p.m., $25, 21+ – C.B.

Tuesday 7/30: Speedy Ortiz at MilkBoy

WXPN Welcomes the local indie mainstays Speedy Ortiz to MilkBoy this Tuesday. It’s been over ten years since their breakthrough record Major Arcana, which was reissued last year alongside the release of the genre-blurring Rabbit Rabbit. Two other Philly-based groups open this one; pop-rockers Queen Rat and art-punk outfit Grocer. // 8 p.m., $24.95, 21+ – C.B.

Tuesday 7/30: Reyna Tropical at World Café Live

The term “world music” is rightfully contentious, but it’s hard to think of another way to describe the globetrotting ambitions of Reyna Tropical. The sounds of North American indie rock, African and Latin American rhythms, and Spanish language lyrics all fuse together on the band’s 2024 album Malegría, their first album since the passing of collaborator Sumohair Diaz in 2022. // 8 p.m., $19, AA – C.B.

Tuesday 7/30: Sleater-Kinney at The Queen

There’s no better time for female rage than now, and no better duo to deliver it than Sleater-Kinney, the last great riot-grrl act and the forebears of the modern punk scene. Pay tribute to two of the best to ever do it this Tuesday at The Queen in Wilmington this week, and don’t sleep on their 2024 record Little Rope, featuring production from alt-rock studio wizard John Congleton. // 8 p.m., $33, AA – C.B.

Wednesday 7/31: Earth, Wind & Fire at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

Funky Friday listeners unite! The iconic 70s group is coming to Camden. With an iconic sound spanning funk, soul and disco to jazz and R&B, the elements are still bringing all they’ve got to the stage. Catch them on tour with CHICAGO this Wednesday for exquisite vibes. // 7:30 p.m., $49.15 and up, AA – Maeve Zeleniak

Wednesday, 7/31: Justice at the Met

Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Augé are the stars of the best electro-house show this side of the Seine. The Grammy-winning duo have an extensive discography and also have created remixes for Britney Spears, Daft Punk, Franz Ferdinand and Fatboy Slim. After releasing their latest LP, Hyperdrama, in April, they’ve been on an international tour that includes rock and roll, nu-disco, and all the untz-untz-untz. // 8 p.m., $35.25, 21+ – M.Z.

Wednesday 7/31: Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Sellersville Theater

I hear this band and I think of Mean Girls. Is that bad? I hope not. I’d rather use it as an example of how deeply embedded Ladysmith Black Mambazo is in our global culture. This legendary South African group has gained them a worldwide audience since the ‘60s with their unique blend of traditional Zulu choral music, isicathamiya, and contemporary influences. Their intricate a cappella arrangements, rich in rhythm and soul, have not only won them Grammy awards but also established them as cultural ambassadors. // 7:30 p.m., $35, AA – M.Z.

Thursday 8/1: Friends of Jerry at Abington Arts Center

Please keep reading after the next five words – this Grateful Dead cover band (still here? cool.) sounds like anything but the Grateful Dead. Friends of Jerry brings elements of punk, shoegaze, and even jazz to Garcia and Co’s music. Guitarist Sean Reilly (Mumblr) and drummer Kevin Paschall (Roof Doctor) started the band three years ago while working on their project Brown Rainbow. With Johnny Kline (Knifeplay, Euphoria Again), Tommy Fala (Half Thought), Andrew Meagher (VVeed VVolf), Daniel Zabielski, and the Dead’s music as their roadmap, Friends of Jerry creates a new kind of cover. // 6:30 p.m., free, AA – M.Z.

Friday 8/2: Olivia Rubini at World Cafe Live

Armed with her standout voice, a debut album and a set of singles, Olivia Rubini is coming to Philly. And she’s not messing around. A Wilmington native and contestant on NBC’s The Voice, Rubini has continually proved her talent with indie pop that is bright and fresh, and we can’t wait to see what’s to come, beginning with her Friday gig opening for Omnisoul. // 8 p.m., $35, AA – M.Z.

Saturday 8/3: The Mountain Goats at Union Transfer

Iconic indie folk group the Mountain Goats are so back. Led by John Darnielle, the group creates music that’s raw and poetic and resonates with everyone. With a discography that spans over two decades, The Mountain Goats have mastered turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Whether you’re drawn to their earlier lo-fi work or their more recent music inspired by the action movies Darnielle watched during the pandemic, The Mountain Goats will be sure to offer not just a concert but a musical journey. // 8 p.m., $45 and up, AA – M.Z.

Saturday 8/3: Arlo Parks at XL Live

(UPDATE 7/30: Arlo Parks’ 8/3 concert at XL Live in Harrisburg has been canceled.) Arlo Parks is a rising star. With two albums under her belt, the London poet and singer-songwriter has emerged as a fresh voice in indie pop, blending smooth melodies with poignant observations on mental health, identity, and relationships. Her soulful voice, combined with the knack for addressing complex emotions with clarity and empathy, make this concert one you can’t miss — so make sure you see her this weekend at Harrisburg’s XL Live. // 8 p.m., $44, AA – M.Z.