This Weekend’s Philly Concert Picks
WRITTEN BY: HEATHER DEWAAL
With over a month left until the summer term starts, having options to get away from college stress and enjoy a night of music might seem impossibly far in the future. However, you don’t need to wait for the big concerts and music festivals to satisfy your music needs. Philly offers many venues for live music that you can check out as early as this weekend! Taking a break with an evening of great music is just a SEPTA ride away.
Friday April 8th
World Cafe Live (Upstairs): Ensemble39 and Kinan Abou-afach
Tickets: $15, $10 for Students
All Ages
This show, hosted by Live Connections, features a local group (Ensemble39) and a local artist (Kinan Abou-afach). Ensemble39 features strings and winds and explores many musical styles and Kinan Abou-afach is a talented cello player. If you enjoy relaxing instrumentals, especially orchestra music, this might be the show for you. If that’s not your style, then you might be interested in the very different show happening downstairs.
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World Cafe Live (Downstairs): The Infamous Stringdusters ft. Nicki Bluhm
Tickets: $18-20
All Ages
Fans of Owl Country might want to mark their calendars for this anticipated show at the World Cafe Live. The Infamous Stringdusters feature bluegrass music and rock-inspired string improvisations, using guitar, fiddle, banjo, double-bass and Dobro. Nicki Bluhm is a rising star in rock music and partially owes her fame to a recent viral video. Hailing from California, her voice adds another dimension to the Western/Country themes of this show.
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The Electric Factory: The Cult
Tickets: $35-285
All Ages
Founded in the UK in 1983 and featured at Coachella in 2014, The Cult is an experienced and on-going rock music entity, featuring elements of heavy metal, mysticism, Zeppelin-like strings, and post-punk/gothic rock. This show is dedicated to their latest LP, Hidden City, released earlier this year.
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Milkboy Philly: Legendary Shack Shakers
Tickets: $15
21+
The Legendary Shack Shakers is a rockabilly/Southern gothic band with over six albums to their name. Notably, author Stephen King is a fan of the band and their songs have been featured on shows such as HBO’s “True Blood.” If you like Southern-inspired music, be sure to check them out!
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Saturday April 9th
World Cafe Live (Upstairs): Not My Dogg
Tickets: $10
All Ages
What stands out the most about Not My Dogg is their unique style, which combines elements of electronic and world music with soulful violin solos. Their music is acoustic, energetic, and comforting all at the same time. The band is well worth a listen for their originality.
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Electric Factory: Big Gigantic
Tickets: $28-30
All Ages
Big Gigantic features danceable tunes and rhythmic beats, drawing from the best of many genres, including electronic and hip-hop. Combined with the Electric Factory venue, Big Gigantic promises a night to party to a mixture of DJ and live music. Fans of Temple Pulse will want to mark their calendars!
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Milkboy Philly: Barns Courtney
Tickets: $10-$12
21+
Hailing from the UK, Barns Courtney has become a breakout star in alternative rock due to the popularity of his track “Fire”, featured in the film Burnt. Barns Courtney has also collaborated with The Libertines and will also be working with Ed Sheeran this year.
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Sunday April 10th
World Cafe Live (Upstairs): Run River North
Tickets: $12-14
All Ages
Run River North is a Korean-American band with acoustic strings and an overall relaxing ambience. If you need a night to chill and get away from it all, this may be the event for you. As a side note, the front band, The Lighthouse and the Whaler, has a sound reminiscent of Of Monsters and Men.
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