15 concerts to watch this week, including Sudan Archives, Broken Social Scene, Rufus Wainwright, Philly Music Fest and more

It’s another great music week in Philadelphia, anchored by the sixth annual Philly Music Fest. If you’re only going to one concert in the immediate future, make sure it’s one of theirs, as the week-long event benefits the city’s music education programs. If you are going to of them concerts in the immediate future, we have plenty of suggestions to see. Here are 15 concerts to do in the next seven days, all around Philadelphia; for tickets and more information about them, head to the XPN Concerts and Events page.
From Sunday 10/9 to Saturday 10/15: Philly Music Fest
This year’s PMF has something going on every day of the week, unofficially starting tonight with an ‘industry night’ kickoff show at Concourse Live downtown featuring Americana Cosmic’s dreamy outfit. Guilt and freelance singer-songwriter/former Walkman Peter Matthew Bauer. Some concerts are already sold out – if you don’t already have tickets to see the rockers of Jersey Screaming Females at Johnny Brenda or two nights of LA Mt. Joy Ballads at Ardmore Music Hall, sorry. But that shouldn’t stop you from spending a night with Lady HD, Kayleigh Goldsworthy, Low Cut Connie and many more at World Cafe Live (Wednesday), with Shamir and Echo Kid at Dolphin (Friday) or Mannequin Pussy, Empath, Riverby, and Justmadnice at Underground Arts to wrap up the week (Saturday). The week’s concerts benefit nonprofits around Philly like Beyond The Bars, Girls Rock Philly, Musicopia, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and more, and also includes the afternoon workshop Inside Hustle on Saturday, where various artists and people from across the city’s music industry will be on hand to offer advice and insight, including WXPN’s Mike Vasilikos and John Vettese. If you’re a Philadelphia musician or someone who loves Philadelphia music, make sure you get as many of these events as possible. // various prices, various periods
Monday 10/10: L7 at Union Transfer
Los Angeles hard rockers L7 are on the road this fall, and reports from earlier stages of the tour are being amplified and excited. Core members Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner on guitars and vocals and Jennifer Finch on bass, along with longtime drummer Dee Plakas, are excited about this tour, showcasing their post-reunion album Scatter the rats and share the stage with Providence punks, Downtown Boys, and they’ll be at Union Transfer on Monday. // 8 p.m., $33, YY
Tuesday 10/11: Sudan Archives at World Cafe Live
XPN artist to watch from December 2019, Sudan Archives – aka singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brittney Parks – plays World Cafe Live on Tuesday in support of her new album natural brown prom queen. The album’s aesthetic revolves around poppy R&B with effervescent, ethereal tones, balancing electronic excursions and fiddle leads with hooks galore. // 7 p.m., $30, AA
Tuesday 10/11: Julia Jacklin at Union Transfer
The third studio album by Sydney singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin Pre pleasure was released in August and was widely hailed as a show of introspective growth and sonic expansion for the independent singer-songwriter. Fans of Angel Olsen, Aldous Harding and good company on chilly autumn nights would do well to head to Union Transfer to see Jacklin on Tuesday. // 8 p.m., $20, AA
Wednesday 10/12: Shattered social scene at union transfer
Led by vocalist-guitarists Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew, Toronto art rock collective Broken Social Scene has never been an easily categorized band. From the dreamlike wash of their ambient debut to feel so lost to the spellbinding anthems of the 2010s Forgiveness rock record, it can potentially mean just about anything when BSS assembles for a new project. Their most recent collection of new material, 2017 thunder hug, was an explosive and bombastic ensemble on the theme of catharsis and community, and it took a total of 18 musicians to bring its sound to life. This year, the group delved into the archives to Old Dead Young (a collection of deep tracks/outtakes) and recording of the concert Live at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, 2003. The latter is probably the closest guess to what we’ll hear on Wednesday when Broken Social Scene headlines Union Transfer; this fall’s tour is, in part, a celebration of the famous band’s 20th anniversary You forgot it among people LP, a crucial moment of transition in their journey from soundscapes to pop songs. The live album was recorded at the end of the 2003 tour in support of People, a point where their songs had gelled so much that the band were releasing yet-to-be-released music we’d hear later on their 2005 self-titled. If that means we’ll get a taste this week of BSS LP releases in 2025 , it’s good for us. // 8 p.m., $35, YY
Wednesday 10/12: The Wonderful Years at Franklin Music Hall
On their seventh studio album, The buzz goes on forever, Lansdale-rooted punk outfit, The Wonder Years, takes a bold, introspective look at various facets of adulthood: parenthood, family ties and loss. Last month, the band took over State and Main Streets in Doylestown for acoustic performances for fans lucky enough to snag tickets; on Wednesday, they will play to a much larger audience at Franklin Music Hall. // 7:30 p.m., $32.50, AA
Thursday 10/13: Rufus Wainwright at the Colonial Theater
From operas to flamboyant songs to collaborations with queens of pop like Carly Rae Jepsen – check out the recent ‘The Loneliest Time’ it’s awesome – Rufus Wainwright has a range of interests and incorporates them all into his work creative. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wainwright posted Not following the rulesher ninth album of original material and first since 2012 Off-side; listen to him perform live this Thursday at the Colonial Theater. // 8 p.m., $42.50 and up, AA
Thursday 10/13: The House of Love at Underground Arts
You can spot the DNA of UK cult favorites The House Of Love in many places, from Australian psych rock band Babe Rainbow (named after THoL’s 1992 album) to a superb cover of “Beatles and Stones” by Philly’s Meg Baird. The band’s first US tour in a decade is finally underway, and as well as being a 30th anniversary of their breakout Butterfly LP is also a showcase for new A state of grace, and he’s coming to Philadelphia on Thursday at Underground Arts. // 8 p.m., $25, 21+
Thursday 10/13: Craig Finn at World Cafe Live
Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn played a terrific solo acoustic set at NON-COMM this spring, banging for Hurray From The Riff-Raff when the band had to pull out of the bill. It was full of warmth and engaging storytelling, and this Thursday Finn returns to the World Cafe Live stage with his full band, the Uptown Controlers. // 8 p.m., $47 and up, AA
Friday 10/14: Don McCloskey and Chris Kasper at Ardmore Music Hall
If you haven’t had enough of Philly singer-songwriter Don McCloskey last week between his Key Studio Session and his rousing Free at Noon – and both were great, then no, you haven’t. not done — head to Ardmore Music Hall on Friday night where he co-headlines with fellow Philadelphia artist Chris Kasper. The two celebrate new and recent albums – Holy Smoke for Kaspar, chaos and beauty for McCloskey – and both are packed with endearing roots rock songs and top-notch musicianship. // 8 p.m., $18, 21+
Friday 10/14: Barns Courtney at XL Live
British singer-songwriter Barns Courtney is moving at a measured pace, following two buzzing folk rock albums (2017’s The attractions of youth and 2019 404) with an EP (2020s It’s hard to be alone) and now a new single (“Supernatural”). As the minstrel plots his next big project, you can catch Courtney in Central PA this Friday for a show at the University of Harrisburg on XL Live. // 8 p.m., $25, YY
Friday 10/14: Jake Blount at World Cafe Live
Folk star Jake Blount appeared on many year-end best-of lists in 2020 after the release of his irresistible Spider Tales LP, the product of extensive research into Black Mountain and Indigenous music. This year, he followed the project with The New Faith, an Afrofuturist distilling the lessons of black spirituals and reclassifying them for modern audiences. Blount performs it live Friday night at World Cafe Live; New England singer-songwriter Eliza Edens opens her doors, and for added excitement, it’s the day she releases her stellar new album We will become the flowers. // 8:30 p.m., $12, AA
Friday 10/14: Velvet Rouge at Kung Fu Necktie
We last saw Philadelphia rockers Velvet Rouge headlining The Lounge at World Cafe Live last month and kicking off their set with a frenzied cover of Jane’s Addiction’s “Ocean Size.” Which, if you want to get that writer’s attention, that’s a great way to do it. Fronted by singer-guitarist and songwriter Gina Zo, the band have been releasing new music since the summer, starting with Philly veteran Brian McTear-produced “Save Me,” and they’ll be rocking the house at Kung Fu Necktie. Friday. // 7:30 p.m., $12, 21+
Friday 10/14: Cheeky at Khyber
Composer and singer-songwriter Cheeky is on the eve of a performance at Making Time’s Transcendent Weekend in Fort Mifflin last month, but she’s not resting on her laurels. Back in the show mix, Cheeky takes the stage Friday night at Khyber with center-left Philly rockers Broke Body. His first album The star, released in May, is a must. // 8 p.m., $15, 21+
Saturday 15/10: Wild Pink at Johnny Brenda
New York vibecasters Wild Pink occupy this rare center of the Venn diagram between dreamy ambient atmospheres, scorching and rugged Americana (thanks in large part to their lap steel player, Philly legend Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner) , and serious and honest freelance writing. . Their new album, ILYSM, is a beautiful and immersive set of songs, and they’ll be performing it live Saturday night at Johnny Brenda’s. // 8 p.m., $18, 21+