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Tonight’s Concert Picks: Cruisr at Ortlieb’s, Tift Merrit at World Cafe Downstairs, and Lily Mae at World Cafe Live upstairs stage

CRUISR
CRUISR | photo by Melissa Tilley | courtesy of the artist

Local indie-pop favorites Cruisr will headline an ACLU Benefit show tonight at Ortlieb’s. Though the trio’s been taking some time away to work on their new album, their single “Take That” is playfully peppy enough to keep fans jamming until the release. Rounding out the lineup for the night will be local synth-pop extraordinaires, Suburban Living, and beachy-punk outfit, Cold Fronts. Get more info on the 21+ show here, and listen to Cruisr’s infectious track “Take That” below. Continue reading →

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Queen of Jeans, Lily Mae and more will benefit A Woman’s Place at Siren Records’ Women’s Showcase

Queen of Jeans | photo by Joe Del Tufo for WXPN
Queen of Jeans | photo by Joe Del Tufo for WXPN

This Sunday, January 22nd, Doylestown’s Siren Records will host a Women’s Benefit with live performances from Queen of Jeans, Lily Mae, and Julia Hudak. The event will also feature food and drink from local vendors Perfect Day Coffee, Manoff Market Gardens and Small Batch Kitchen — the proprietors of which all happen to be women as well. The event is free to the public, but that doesn’t mean you should come with an empty wallet. If you donate $5 or more, you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a $100 Siren Records Gift Card and t-shirt — and all funds from the raffle will go to A Woman’s Place, an organization that combats intimate and domestic abuse. For more information, consult the Facebook event page. Continue reading →

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Tonight’s Concert Pick: Lily Mae at World Cafe Live

Lily Mae | photo via facebook.com/lilymaemusic

Philadelphia singer-songwriter Lily Mae is bringing her acoustic stylings to World Cafe Live tonight opening for Yael Naim. She released her sophomore record, Closer, on November 11th and its acoustic ballads you fall in love with this folk-pop all over again. If you’re a frequent reader of The Key you’ll know where to go for tickets and show info, but if you’re not just click here. You can also check out the title track for her new LP below. Continue reading →

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Lily Mae’s “Closer” is a space heater for your ears

Lily Mae | via Facebook.com/lilymaemusic
Lily Mae | via Facebook.com/lilymaemusic

The world can be a cold, scary place, and with temperatures dropping and Halloweekend on its way, it’s about to be a lot more of both. Failure to take the necessary precautions could prove fatal (or at least mildly uncomfortable), so when it all gets to be too much, take refuge in this new Lily Mae cut.

“Closer” is the title track from the Philadelphia songwriter’s upcoming sophomore album, and it basically radiates heat. With its gentle instrumental and Mae’s beautiful, soothing voice, its a perfect fit for fans of Joni Mitchell, Vashti Bunyan, or just singer/songwriter music in general. Continue reading →

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Tonight’s Concert Picks: Edison at Kung Fu Necktie, You Do You at Boot & Saddle and Lily Mae at Tin Angel

Michael James Murray of Edison | Photo by Colin Kerrigan

Philadelphia psych-pop outfit Edison is back with a new line-up and some new material to showcase. The band’s last EP, Living Room, released early last year, is comprised of six songs that evoke so much emotion through soothing, ambient soundscapes reminiscent of Robert Francis and S. Carey (of Bon Iver). Check them out tonight at Kung Fu Necktie. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the door.

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Download The Key Studio Sessions Vol. 9 (feat. Amanda X, Balance and Composure, Mean Lady and more)

The Key Studio Sessions Volume 9
Album cover photo by Tiffany Yoon | tiffanyyoon.com

Today we bring you our latest Key Studio Sessions compilation, pulling together the best of what we’ve recorded in the final four months of 2013. I’m always psyched about these comps, but The Key Studio Sessions Vol. 9 in particular presents a tremendous variety of musicians from around the Philadelphia region that I’m excited to showcase for you. Bucks County has a healthy showing, from the acoustic alt-punk swagger of Balance and Composure and the retro-grunge of Daylight to the booming Americana of Levee Drivers and the flower child folk stylings of Lily Mae. Continue reading →

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The Week’s Best Free MP3s, incl. The GrooveBarbers, Lily Mae, Jenny Owen Youngs

It's A King Thing | Photo by John Vettese
It’s A King Thing | Photo by John Vettese

Christmas week brought us two holiday sessions to enjoy.  Veteran a cappella group The GrooveBarbers stopped by to record 10 classic holiday tunes in celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Night Before with Robert Drake.    The second session came from Arbor Christmas All-Stars, an annual gathering of local bands at Gradwell House to record some original holiday songs.  Check out a couple below and get the rest here and here.

This year’s final Folkadelphia session featured singer-songwriter Jenny Owen Youngs.  The Brooklyn musician performed four tracks, including a cover of “Colors of the Wind” from Disney’s Pocahontas.  Listen to the full session below and don’t forget to pick up a free download of Folkadelphia Sessions: Vol. 1 here.

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The 12 Days of Local Christmas: “Winter Lullaby” by Lily Mae

Photo by Tony Oppenheim
Photo by Tony Oppenheim

Wrapping up this year’s edition of the 12 Days of Local Christmas is emerging Bucks County singer-songwriter Lily Mae with her new “Winter Lullaby.” The song begins quiet and contemplative with a guitar and plaintive vocal melody, but swells with the gradual introduction of a marching drum beat and melodic ukelele. In the end, it’s warm like a crackling fireplace; listen and download below, and download the entire XPN Local 12 Days of Christmas 2013 album for free here. Enjoy, and have a happy holiday!

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The Week’s Best Free MP3s, incl. Stephen Kellogg, Lily Mae, Leverage Models

Photo by Tony Oppenheim
Photo by Tony Oppenheim

Bucks County’s Lily Mae was the focus of this week’s Key Studio Session.  Mae performed on the Philly Local Stage at the Philadelphia Folk Festival this August and released her debut EP Early Days last year.  Download the title track below and get the full set here, which includes a few unreleased songs and a duet.

Stephen Kellogg (of Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers) stopped by Folkadelphia to record a few live songs.  Taken from his recent solo album Blunderstone Rookery, the four songs are intimate, personal and sincere.  Stream and download the session below.  Kellogg plays World Cafe Live on November 29th; tickets and information can be found here.

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The Key Studio Sessions: Lily Mae

Photo by Tony Oppenheim
Photo by Tony Oppenheim

Chances are it won’t take you too long to think of Joni Mitchell once Bucks County’s Lily Mae starts singing. But keep listening. The talented young guitarist and songwriter has just as much admiration for the mood-setting complexity of Laura Marling – even if her own songwriting takes a very positive, optimistic outlook – and as we see in the video shot at this session, she’s not ashamed to work some of the pop music world into her style. (Hint: it’s a cover. And it will probably take you a minute to recognize it.) Lily’s debut EP Early Days was self-released earlier this year, and she made a spash performing at Helen Leicht’s Philly Local stage at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in August. Coming up she has an impressive string of opening slots, performing at World Cafe Live on Friday the 4th of October with Toby Lightman; Bucks County Playhouse on the 6th with Joan Osborne; and on the 10th at Ardmore Music Hall with Amy Helm. Stream and download this week’s Key Session below – it includes an outstanding duet with singer-songwriter Alexandra Veltri called “Don’t You Hear,” an ode to Lily’s 90-year-old activist grandmother.