Music: 6 Shows to See in Philly This Week
Rihanna headlines Made in America this weekend.
Beta Hi-Fi Emerging Music Festival @ World Café Live | August 30 to September 1
The three-day Beta Hi-Fi fest is a showcase of up-and-coming musicians, with a local focus and a different lineup each night. On the bill are Layne (singer Layne Putnam and drummer Alex Rosca), Matthew Green, Joseph Alton Miller, Community Center, E. Joseph and the Sparrows, The Real Feel and New Shields.
Advance Base @ PhilaMOCA | Wednesday, August 31
Head to PhilaMOCA for lo-fi keyboard pop with longing, nostalgic lyrics from Owen Ashworth as Advance Base. There’s almost a country vibe in the storytelling, but definitely not in Ashworth’s soft indie sound. Hello Shark, aka Philly-based Lincoln Halloran, opens.
Zac Brown Band @ Atlantic City Beach | Thursday, September 1
This one is country music all the way. Apologies to RiRi, but it’s the best show on this list, because it’s on the beach. And everything is better on the beach.
Mac Sabbath with Clownvis Presley @ Underground Arts | Friday, September 2
Mac Sabbath is what would happen if a fast food franchise that can’t be named and Black Sabbath had a baby. In fact, I’m pretty sure that is what happened. The band is Ronald Osbourne on vocals, Slayer MacCheeze on guitar, Grimalice on bass and the Catburglar on the drums. In keeping with the theme, supporting act Clownvis Presley is…exactly what you’re picturing.
Jon Cleary @ Ardmore Music Hall | Friday, September 2
New Orleans-based funk singer, songwriter and pianist Jon Cleary (who’s originally from England) won his first Grammy this year, for the album Gogo Juice.
Made in America Festival @ Ben Franklin Parkway | September 3-4
Rihanna and Coldplay headline this year’s Jay Z curated music festival on the Ben Franklin Parkway, with a long list of bands on multiple stages: ColleGrove (Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz), Chance the Rapper and DJ Khaled for the hip-hop fans; Grimes and Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros if you’re craving indie sounds; DJs Martin Garrix and Jamie xx for dance music; the indefinable but eminently listenable FKA Twigs; and tons more. The video below has NSFW lyrics.
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