Helen Leicht

The Week So Far: 12 must-read stories on The Key (incl. Bleeding Rainbow, Kurt Vile, Attia Taylor and Pissed Jeans)

Photo by Rachel Del Sordo

Happy Valentine’s Day from Helen Leicht – get free downloads of Philly Local love songs [link]

Philly punks Pissed Jeans ravage the Key Studio Sessions [link]

Indiepop five-piece Catnaps releases a prom-themed music video for “Novelty” [link]

WXPN will broadcast Sunday’s Mumford & Sons concert from the SBC in Camden [link]

Bleeding Rainbow‘s new LP Yeah Right is the subject of the Unlocked showcase [link]

Philly’s Abi Reimold is spotlighted in a Folkadelphia session [link]

See photos from Toro y Moi‘s appearance at Union Transfer [link]

Five Things That Inspired Mary Lattimore’s Debut Album, The Withdrawing Room [link]

Watch local actors, fashion designers and musicians Khari Mateen and Elegant Animals collaborate in a video called The Living [link]

Explore Philadelphia with Dave Hartley of Nightlands and BlackBook Magazine [link]

Kurt Vile announces a headlining Union Transfer show, shares a free download [link]

Philly space-rocker Brendan Codey shares a new track called “Twin Chimney” [link]

UK experimental trio Beak> plays Underground Arts on a snowy night [link]

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Photos + Videos, Concert Reviews, Events, Interviews, Recordings, Abi Reimold, Beak>, Bleeding Rainbow, Brendan Codey, Catnaps, Dave Hartley, Elegant Animals, Helen Leicht, Khari Mateen, Kurt Vile, Mary Lattimore, Mumford and Sons, Pissed Jeans, Toro Y Moi

November 19, 2012 | 12:18 PM | By John Vettese

WXPN ramps up for the holidays with Jingle Jams music stream, other special programming

With the holidays on the horizon, WXPN is setting the soundtrack this year with Jingle Jams, an all-holiday music stream launching this Wednesday, November 21, at 88.5 HD2 in Philadelphia, 88.7 HD2 in Harrisburg, and XPN2.org online. The mix will be curated by DJ Robert Drake – who also hosts The Night Before, XPN’s annual 24-hour music marathon on Christmas Eve – and will showcase an eclectic assortment of holiday tunes, from the new and quirky to the classic. Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: News, DJ Robert Drake, Helen Leicht, Helen Leicht's Twelve Days of Christmas, Holiday Music, Jingle Jams, The Night Before, World Cafe, XPN2

August 14, 2012 | 2:20 PM | By John Vettese

XPN Philly Local at the Philly Folk Fest: Helen Leicht on her camp stage picks

Aaron Brown of Aaron and the Spell

Every year, the Saturday concerts at Philadelphia Folk Fest get moving with Helen Leicht’s Philly Local Showcase on the festival’s Camp Stage. This year’s lineup spans styles from soul to chamber rock, kicking off with Aaron and the Spell at 11:00, continuing with Carsie Blanton at 11:45, Harper Blynn at 12:30 and Andrew Lipke at 1:15. Today, Helen gives us a look at the homegrown talent she has in store.

Aaron and the Spell is the impressive acoustic soul project of Harrisburg’s Aaron Brown, an emerging songwriter who in the past has dabbled in punk rock and (in high school) jazz music. His songs are neither punk nor jazz and that’s totally fine, since his singing voice is warm and welcoming, styled after Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. “As soon as I heard him sing, I said ‘wow!’” says Helen. “At our Philly Local showcase, I try to feature different styles of music, and he’s a great representation of soul music, the soul sound of Philly. Plus, his cover of ‘Purple Rain’ blew me away. When I heard him do it, I said ‘seriously, this guy is for real.’” Aaron and the Spell will be featured in tomorrow’s Key Studio Session, and you’ll be able to hear the tracks debut on tonight on the Philly Local Hour on 88.5 FM. Below, check out a recording of Brown singing “God Bless America” at Citizens’ Bank Park for a Phillies game.

Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, Recordings, Aaron and the Spell, Aaron Brown, Andrew Lipke, Carsie Blanton, Harper Blynn, Helen Leicht, Philadelphia Folk Festival

July 25, 2012 | 1:27 PM | By John Vettese

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