We’ve also got the details of the aforementioned special guests of the June 8 release show at MilkBoy, and it’s quite the lineup. Joining Market East will be Joey Sweeney and the Long Hair Arkestra, Night Panther, Mohican and Former Belle. Tickets and information can be found here, and you can check out the rather pretty show flyer after the jump.

Local singer-songwriter Lucy Stone performs at PhilaMOCA tonight.  The Drexel University student has had busy year, recording and touring with Rusted Root last fall, working on her own new full-length currently and accepting accolades like The Deli’s Artist of the Month last year and and an Independent Music Awards nomination for her Would You? EP earlier this year.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show with Cruiser and Former Belle can be found here.  Below, watch an acoustic performance of “Out of Time.”

Not yet a month old, new kids on the Philly indie / electronic scene Dokument play Underground Arts tonight.  Fronted by Jarrett Zerrer and rounded out with Julian Wallace and Pat Lieberman, the band formed after Zerrer parted ways with local electro / pop duo City Rain.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show with Chalk & The Beige Americans, DOTS and DJ Blueshift can be found here.  Alas, there are no recordings from Dokument yet, but you can check out Zerrer’s work with City Rain in this performance of “Real Good” from The Key Studio Sessions Vol. 4.

XPN welcomes leader of the goth-punk circuit and former frontman of Bauhaus Peter Murphy to The Trocadero tonight.  Although he recently released a solo record called Ninth, the British musician will be performing selections from Bauhaus’ discography to celebrate the band’s 35th anniversary.  Tickets and information for the all-ages show can be found here.  Below, watch Murphy perform “Hollow Hills” with Bauhaus live in London.

Matt Marchinowski of Big School Records is moving out of Philadelphia.  To celebrate his time here, Marchinowski has pieced together a snapshot of the local music scene with a 27-track mixtape called Philamixington II, available as a free download via his Tumblr.  The second installment in the local music mixtape series, this collection samples various genres, circles and side projects with tracks from radio favorites like Cheers Elephant (pictured), basement staples Roof Doctor and The Hundred Acre Woods and new-projects-from-old-buddies like Avery Rosewater.  From Marchinowski:

Although April will see my moving out of Philadelphia for the peaceful confines of the sticks I will still consider its scene ‘home’. It wasn’t easy narrowing this collection down to 27 jawns but I can assure you it won’t be the last notch in the Philamixington series.

Download the full mixtape for free on Beat the Indie Drum here and stream a sampling of the tracks below.  The first Philamixington set can be downloaded here.

BEAK>’s sound isn’t far from that of its British contemporaries Hot Chip. Dark melodies and lyrics are delivered with electronic flourishes. The band’s first two albums could be described as dance-ably sad. Fortunately, the reverse (being sadly danceable) isn’t true. Their success is due in part to BEAK> being something of a super group. The trio is comprised of Geoff Barrow (producer of Portishead), Billy Fuller (of Fuzz Against Junk) and Matt Williams (of Team Brick). The group came together officially in 2009 and has released two albums and an EP to date. BEAK> has also had a chance to sharpen its (…beak?) live show with recent international tours. They’re currently on the road again and playing our own Underground Arts tonight with Instamatic. Tickets and information for the 21+ show are available here. Below, stream BEAK>’s track “Mono.”

This month, John Denver will be touring. How?  Technology continues to push the boundaries of what a constitutes as a concert. If it wasn’t obvious after Beyonce’s Super Bowl halftime show (in which projections of Beyonce herself served as the artist’s back-up dancers)—concert technology is changing the way we experience our favorite artists.  Denver’s estate has organized a “live touring experience” in honor of Denver. Vintage footage of Denver performing with his band will be projected as a live string section plays along with the concert video. The tour is called “A Rocky Mountain High Concert,” and should be a technological high point this February for Denver fans from Buffalo to Austin. The John Denver Rocky Mountain High Concert comes to the Keswick Theater tonight. Tickets for the all ages event can be found here.  Below, watch a video of Denver performing “Back Home Again.”

Former Belle has toured the world, but it’s coming home for the release of Cathedral. The project was started by Philadelphia native Bruno Catrambone in 2010 and has since toured with the likes of Fences, Color Revolt and Owen. Cathedral is Former Belle’s debut full-length EP. Released Wednesday, it has already attracted favorable reviews. The album has a youthful folk energy to it, even on its quieter tracks; most songs sound they could have been on the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack. Catch Former Belle and celebrate Cathedral at the group’s album release party tonight at MilkBoy. Tickets and information for the 21+ show with Commonwealth Choir, Geology and Market East are available here. Below, watch the music view for “Amsterdam” from the group’s 2011 EP.

Every so often, Aesop Rock proves his commitment to the underground all over again.  Since his breakthrough in the late 90’s, Aesop Rock (also known as Ian Bavitz) has developed a reputation as a serious, dark and verbose artist.  His collaboration with friend and producer Blockhead was so successful, Rock’s 2003 album Bazooka Tooth, which he produced himself, was received by listeners with skepticism.  The album proved critically successful and instigated a series of production roles that kept Aesop Rock busier between albums.  Four years went by before his next LP, None Shall Pass, followed by another four-year hiatus.  Last year, Aesop Rock came back with Skelethon, an album that challenges any notion that he might be irrelevant or phased out.  He’s touring Skelethon and will be performing tonight at Union Transfer.  Tickets and information for the all ages show are available here.  Below, stream the single “Zero Dark Thirty” from Skelethon.

Willy Mason is touring the eastern seaboard this week.  Next month, he’ll be in the UK and he’s been booked for festivals through September.  If it seems like this 28-year-old folk singer’s career is doing remarkably well, consider his early support.  One of the first listeners to vouch for his music was Conor Oberst.  It also doesn’t hurt that Mason is the son of two folk singers, and has been at this for far longer than even his 2005 debut album Where the Humans Eat might suggest.  Mason released his third album last year, Carry On.  He brings his new album and old-school style to World Cafe tonight.  Tickets and information for the all ages show are available here.  Below, listen to his track “Restless Fugitive.”

Following the release of two EPs in 2011, Sounds From The Ground and Ancient Drum, Telford indie folk outfit Former Belle prepares for the release of their first full-length, Cathedral. You can catch Joseph Bruno and his buddies kicking around tonight at Milkboy Philly. The 21+ show starts at 9 PM; go here for tickets and information. Stream From The Ground Up here, and below you can listen to Former Belle perform “Shouldn’t Love.”

The Polyphonic Spree‘s Holiday showcase at The Trocadero is finally here! Come out and spread  holiday cheer as the pop / rock choral ensemble performs their collection of seasonal tidings tonight. The all-ages show starts at 7 PM; go here for tickets and information. Below, check out their newly released cover of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).”

Local five-piece powerpop act Rob, Lately is playing at The Fire tonight. The band, started by brothers Rob and Ryan Malloy, began playing together 2008 and released their finished full-length album Haunts this past July. You can check out Haunts here and find tickets to the show tonight at our concert calendar here. Below, watch Rob, Lately’s webcam performance of their new song, “Powdered Wig,”

Australian indie rockers The Temper Trap will be playing tonight at Union Transfer with The Neighbourhood. The Temper Trap, whose 2009 record Conditions skyrocketed to popularity with the single “Sweet Disposition,” released their self-titled sophomore album earlier this year. The show tonight begins at 9; further details can be found here. Check out their video for “Trembling Hands” from The Temper Trap below.

Local punk band Ex Friends, led by Plow United’s Joel Tannenbaum, are playing at North Star Bar tonight. The group’s first 7” for Paper + Plastick Records, No Wonder We Prefer The Dark, was released in September. Their 21+ performance tonight starts at 7 PM; more ticket information can be found here. Below, listen to Ex Friends’ new track “The Legend of the Holy Drinker” from their new EP.

Telford indie band Former Belle is performing tonight at The Balcony at the Trocadero in anticipation of their first full length album, Cathedral. The band released two EPs in 2011, Sounds From The Ground and Ancient Drum, and are prepping material from the new album they’re currently recording. Tonight their 21+ show starts at 9; more details can be found here. Watch the video for “Amsterdam” from Sounds From The Ground.

Their sound undeniably echoes Bright Eyes circa Wide Awake, but new Philly Folk act Former Belle has a more rough ‘round the edges pedigree. Their debut EP Sounds From the Ground includes guest contributions from Mike Cammarata and Farzad Houshiarnejad – formerly of carnival punk louts Drink Up Buttercup, currently of psych introverts White Birds – as well as drummer Tim Bostwick, late of Bucks County garage trio The Rowdies. These are folkies with teeth. Listen to today’s Philly Local Phile “Soul Searchin’ on an Empty Train” below, and catch the band in concert tomorrow night at The Fire.