Arc in Round / Uniform Recording mastermind Jeff Zeigler will perform a solo set at Ortlieb’s Lounge tomorrow, May 4th.  The local producer / multi-instrumentalist has recently dipped his hand into a few new projects, having teamed up with harpist Mary Lattimore as a live duo, enlisting friends to remix Arc in Round’s self-titled album, and recording his own solo spacey / synth tracks like the one below.  The show, presented by Bands in the Backyard, features Zeigler with supporting sets from Mark Lanky and DJs Mikele Edwards (who appears on “Saw the Life”) and Team Krause.  More information for the 21+ show can be found on the Facebook event page here.  Stream “Saw of Life” below and get a name-your-own-price download here.

This week, we got not one but two brand new Folkadelphia sessions.  Sunday gave us a mesmerizing, improvisational set from local harpist Mary Lattimore and producer / musician Jeff Zeigler (Arc in Round) ahead of their Valentine’s Day show at Kung Fu Necktie.  Lattimore is releasing her debut full-length The Withdrawing Room in March but you can fall in love with her dreamy harp playing right now by downloading the live session below.  As a bonus download, Folkadelphia shared a session with local singer-songwriter Abi Reimold.  The four tracks are a sublime introduction to her striking vocals and sense of space and dynamics (though you may have already come across Abi on this compilation of local music).  Stream “Battlefield” below and download the full set here.

Bringing their raging, aggressively accessible new tunes to the building this week, Pissed Jeans stopped by to record a Key Studio Session.  The Philly punk quartet released their fourth studio album Honeys this past Tuesday (out via Sub Pop) and celebrated with a show at Underground Arts on Friday.  Among the tracks they recorded for the session is “Bathroom Laughter,” a scratchy, screamy rager with one of the best music videos you’ll probably ever see.  Learn more about the band in this interview with Key contributor Brian Wilensky.  Below, download “Bathroom Laughter” and watch the video; the full session is available for streaming here.

Local trio of brothers Penrose are on the verge of setting forth their new LP Circe and released a free download of “Tango with Lucy” this week in anticipation of the full-length.  Set in the shadowy streets and cafes of New Orleans, the song depicts a meeting with the devil while a carnival-esque tango plays in the background.  Penrose will throw a record release show at Underground Arts on March 2nd with Levee Drivers, The Lawsuits and St. James and the Apostles.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Stream and download “Tango with Lucy” below.

Set against field recordings of trickling water and happy chatter, Philly’s GrandeMarshall shows his confidence on the new “Boathouse Row.”  He was joined by local MC Asaad on the track and drops names like Demi Moore, Nick Cage and Crown Fried Chicken.  GrandeMarshall was recently signed to Fools Good Records (A-Trak, Duck Sauce, Kid Cudi) and wasted no time in sharing another track this week after “Boathouse Row” (check out “Tastykake” here.)  Stream and download “Boathouse Row” below.

Still riding high from the release of their debut full-length a few weeks ago, Philly’s Bleeding Rainbow headline Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  The duo-turned-quartet signed to Kanine Records last fall and though the release date was pushed back several months, the noise-punk band put out their gloriously shoe-gazey Yeah Right LP in January.  Yeah Right is The Key’s featured album for this week’s Unlocked series, which means you can dig into it with a review here (and an interview later today).  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show at Johnny Brenda’s with Pet Milk and Ghost Light can be found here.  Watch a new video for “Waking Dream” from Yeah Right below.

On the other Kung Fu Necktie stage tonight, you’ll find local harpist Mary Lattimore performing with Jeff Zeigler. This collaboration is but one on each musician’s long list of projects, Lattimore’s including work with Thurston Moore, Kurt Vile and Meg Baird and Zeigler’s expanding with his band Arc in Round and production work for The War on Drugs, Ape School and others.  When the two pair up for nights like tonight, though, the result is about as far away from those other projects as possible.  Lattimore’s dreamy harp compositions and Zeigler’s warpy but gentle synth layers froth with emotion and understanding.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Trummors, Fred Thomas and Morning River Band can be found here.  Stream Mary Lattimore and Jeff Zeigler’s improvised Folkadelphia session below and learn more about Lattimore’s debut full-length The Withdrawing Room here.

Philebrity and BITBY.TV have teamed up to bring you the hoppin-est Valentine’s Day variety show in town at Underground Arts tonight.  WIth love-themed sets by Juston Stens & The Get Real Gang, Blayer Pointdujour, Katie Frank & The Pheromones, J.M.M. Sweeney Jr. (Mr. Philebrity himself) and others, the event lays claim to being “the city’s only destination for old school-style slow dancing,” with the groove being set by DJ Langor.  More information for the 21+ show can be found on the Facebook event page here.  Stream and download “Strange Love” by Juston Stens & Jessica Lea Mayfield (part of the With Love, From WXPN Philly Local sampler).

Also happening:

XPN welcomes New Jersey rockers The Smithereens to World Cafe Live in support of their 2011 self-titled record.  At The Sellersville Theater, XPN welcomes long-standing rock ‘n’ roll act Soul Asylum.  And finally at The Fire, XPN welcomes the Northern Liberties Winter Music Fest with American Babies, The Fleeting Ends, Ross Bellenoit, Joe D’Amico Band and Miz.  Tickets and information for all shows can be found here.

And now our weekly Folkadelphia Session! This week features two prominent music heads in the Philadelphia scene- Mary Lattimore and Jeff Zeigler. I know (and you definitely have heard/seen) Mary from performing harp with the likes of Meg Baird, Kurt Vile, Thurston Moore, and many others. I know (and you definitely have heard/seen) Jeff from either performing in Arc In Round or Relay, or from hearing a record he’s worked on with The War On Drugs, Ape School, and about a ton more. In any case, the two linked up and have of late been performing as an improvisational duo around town. As you’ll soon hear, this is not folk music, or, if it is folk music, it is of the extraterrestrial variety. Perhaps protest music from the icy moons of Jupiter. But like I mentioned, I like to get on my soapbox and shout about what I consider great or intriguing or unique, regardless of traditional “folk” qualifiers. I think you’ll find that that the ebb and flow of this session is like a dream you will not want to wake up from. Let’s just stop talking and drift away…

This coming week on Thursday, February 14^th, Mary Lattimore performs at Kung Fu Necktie with Trummors, Fred Thomas, and Morning River Band (a diverse line-up that validates what I said before!) Hint, hint- a cool Valentine’s Day option!

The Archer Spade Performance Series

Archer Spade Performance Series

2/16  Anthony Coleman / Ashley Paul (organ/sax duo); Julius Masri / Joo Won Park (homegrown electronics)

3/16 Chris Forsyth / Nate Wooley (guitar/trumpet duo); Jesse Kudler / Ian Fraser (electronics)

On Saturday afternoon, the greenest grass in Kensington was occupied by neighbors and music fans checking out performances from Steve Gunn, Birds of Maya, Blues Control, and others. People sat outside on their blankets and lawn chairs grilling corn and hamburgers, drinking sweet tea and coffee, and enjoying a summer day. That is until the rain came in and washed some of the crowd out. Above check out a photo recap of the picnic including the performances by Steve Gunn, Mary Lattimore, and Jeff Zeigler.

Just the other day, John Vettese was highlighting Arc In Round‘s long-in-the-making debut EP, Diagonal Fields, in his Philly Local Philes. And we see no reason not to hype tonight’s EP-release show at Johnny Brenda’s as well. After all, the noise-pop quartet has taken its sweet time in releasing its debut; as ringleader (and local producer/engineer) Jeff Zeigler mentioned in a recent interview with The Deli, he’s a pretty busy guy, after all. Thankfully, he’ll be focused less on making other bands sound great and more on Arc In Round in the next few months; the new EP comes in advance of a proper full-length scheduled for release in 2011, which will be followed by a tour with WXPN favorite SOARS. (“Spirit,” the lead track off Diagonal Fields, is posted below; you can find the other songs here.) The only bummer about tonight’s show is that local quartet Post Post—originally slated to open—recently broke up, as reported by Make Major Moves earlier this week. Arc In Round performs with Golden Ages and Tadoma at 9 p.m. at Johnny Brenda’s; tickets to the 21+ show are $10.

• Spiritby Arc In Round from Diagonal FieldsDownload