Miles Davis would have celebrated his 87th birthday on Sunday.  Check out some live footage of the legendary trumpet player’s 1970 show at the old Electric Factory [link]

Diplo curated a summer playlist featuring James Blake, Daft Punk, Laura Mvula and more for Vulture [link]

XPN’s Gotta Hear Song of the Week is Mavis Staples‘ cover of the Funkadelic track “Can You Get to That” [link]

Singer-songwriter / fiddler Sara Watkins recorded a session for Folkadelphia [link]

Birdie Busch will be releasing her recent PledgeMusic-funded album on vinyl and donating proceeds to the IHM Literacy Center in West Philadelphia [link]

Dock Street Beer Run announces the line-up for their June 9th 5k / music festival event, including On the Water, Norwegian Arms and Post Sun Times [link]

Sonja Sofia is profiled in the latest installment of Kettle Pot Tracks’ On the Hill series [link]

Local power rockers Lantern unveiled a new song called “Evil Eye” and the cover art for their upcoming LP Rock ‘N’ Roll Rorschach [link]

Watch a video of The Districts performing at The Porch at 30th Street Station yesterday for XPN’s Philly Local Busker series [link]

Folk duo Arborea shared a new video for their song “Pale Horse Phantasm”; they’ll be at the Highwire Gallery on June 9th for a Folkadelphia Presents show [link]

The Photon Band is back with a new album and a show at Johnny Brenda’s on July 6th [link]

Newish Philly outfit Divers were the subject of this week’s Key Studio Session [link]

The Districts busking at The Porch at 30th Street Station from WXPN FM on Vimeo.

Photos and design by Chetroy Productions

This Wednesday afternoon we’re happy to have the Lancaster County rock and soul four-piece The Districts join us for the WXPN Philly Local Buskers’ series at The Porch at 30th Street Station. The band came on our radar last summer when they took top honors in World Cafe Live at The Queen‘s Beta Hi-Fi competition. They’ve since made a splash on the local live music scene, recorded a Key Studio Session that channeled Spoon and Cold War Kids, and been brought on to the lineup of the 2013 XPoNential Music Festival.  They’ll perform at The Porch tomorrow from noon to 1 p.m.; below, get a taste of what’s in store with a video of “Telephone” from their appearance on the HotBox Studio sessions series.

Market East shared a new song called “To Walk With You” ahead of the release of Children of Summer, out May 27th [link]

The 52nd annual Philadelphia Folk Festival line-up is jam packed with sets by Richard Thompson, Toy Soldiers, Black Prairie and more [link]

Alo Brasil brought tropical sounds and rhythms to their Key Studio Session earlier this week [link]

The National debuted the first video for their upcoming LP with the song “Sea of Love” [link]

XPN’s Gotta Hear Song of the Week featured San Francisco’s John Murry and his deeply personal song “Southern Sky” [link]

Get ready for tonight’s Peter Murphy show at The Trocadero with a video-playlist of five songs we hope he plays [link]

The Swollen Fox and WXPN have announced a show with The Districts, Goodnight, Texas and Satellite Hearts on 7/19 [link]

Sunday morning marked Keith Brand’s final Sleepy Hollow show on XPN; listen back to the full broadcast [link] and check out the song he chose to close out his 27-year run [link]

In a special Folkadelphia Session, we meet Nadia Sirota and Valgeir Sigurdsson and a mix of reinterpretations and original material [link]

Download a 44-track mixtape from 100 Years of Solid Dudes featuring samples of Elvis Costello, Bowie and more [link]

Get a glimpse inside The Breeders‘ Sunday night show at The Trocadero with a photo recap and set list [link]

Joining the already-announced Saturday night SBC lineup of The Lumineers, Dr. Dog and Polica is Vancouver ethereal roots act Wake Owl. In addition, local acts on the bill include Aaron and the Spell, DRGN King and The Districts.

Weekend passes to the XPONential Music Festival are available now through WXPN membership. New and renewing members will get a pair of weekend passes to Wiggins park and lawn seats to the SBC show for a pledge of $24 month. More information can be found here.

The Lumineers (Sat 7/27 @ Sus. Bank Ctr.)
Dr. Dog (Sat 7/27 @ Sus. Bank Ctr.)
Polica (Sat 7/27 @ Sus. Bank Ctr.)
Wake Owl (Sat 7/27 @ Sus. Bank Ctr.)
Dawes
John Butler Trio
Dr. John
Trampled By Turtles
Michael Kiwanuka
Brett Dennen
Lianne La Havas
Justin Townes Earle
Jose James
Last Bison
Kopecky Family Band
Lord Huron
Phosphorescent
Fleeting Ends
DRGN KING
The Stray Birds
The Districts
Aaron & The Spell
Alo Brasil

Local roots-rockers The Lawsuits head out to Lancaster’s Chameleon Club tonight for a sure-to-be-rowdy show with Toy Soldiers, The Districts and People’s Blues of Richmond.  Taking a cue from Philly music leaders Dr. Dog and Man Man (just to name a few), The Lawsuits worked with local engineer Bill Moriarty on their forthcoming LP, following up November’s Numbers EP.  Don’t let the laidback and introspective nature of that recent release fool you though, The Lawsuits are just as loud and lively as always, as evidenced by their on-going collaboration with Philly hip hop outfit Ground Up.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 18+ show can be found here.  Watch The Lawsuits video for “Ebony Rose” below.

New York’s Double King play Kung Fu Necktie tonight.  Formerly of Philly band The Powder Kegs, Double King frontman Ryan Dieringer moved to New York after the band broke up and quickly started work on his new project, which released their debut self-titled LP on Kill the Messenger Records last September.  With a solid rock & roll sound, Double King take jaunts into the many facets of the genre over the albums eight tracks including the surfy “Runaway” and the twangier “Hurricane & Harriet.”  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Cold Fronts and TJ Kong can be found here.  Below, watch Double King’s video for “Monsters.”

Double King – “Monsters” [Official Video] from Couple 3 Films on Vimeo.

Local roots-rock band The Districts play Fergie’s Pub tonight for the Ron Gallo Revue.  Things haven’t slowed down one bit in 2013 for the young band – after a busy 2012 that saw the release of their debut LP Telephone, a win at the Beta Hi-Fi Emerging Artist competition surrounded by a slew of shows, the four-piece took home the Best Central PA Band title at last week’s Tri State Indie Awards.  They’ve quickly become one of the city’s most sought-after live acts thanks to their rousing energy on stage.  More information for tonight’s free show with People’s Blues of Richmond can be found here.  Stream and download “Went to the City” from The Districts’ October 2012 Key Studio Session below.

• Went to the Cityby The Districts from The Key Studio SessionsDownload

Ross Bellenoit heads out to Puck Live with Auctioneer tonight.  Bellenoit is a local musician with a long list of collaborative partners, including Birdie Busch, Ben Arnold and Sun Airway.  His most recent solo record was 2012′s Home Songs, Volume 3, the third part of an EP trilogy released over the course of last year.  The multi-instrumentalist will be joined by Philly’s Auctioneer, the experiemental pop project of Craig Hendrix that began in 2011. Auctioneer participated in Weathervane Music’s Shaking Through series last year, recording the sonic mosaic “Our Future Faces.”  Check out the full episode here, and watch Ross Bellenoit’s video for “Besides” below.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show in Doylestown can be found here.

Philadelphia’s Leather play Kung Fu Necktie tonight.  The hardcore quartet have been slowly spilling details for their upcoming album, hinting at twenty minutes of music and artwork by a local photographer.  What we also know is that the record is going to be a heavy-hitting punch of rock, based on the tracks uploaded to the band’s YouTube account.  Stream “Zek” from 2011 below.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Antwon and Heathen Reign can be found here.

Noise rockers Dope Body have a free show at The Depot in York, PA tonight.  The Baltimore outfit are touring behind 2012′s Natural History LP, an effort that showed growth from the Drag City signees and somehow managed to walk a line between headbanging thrash rock and colorful bursts of angular (and at times dance-able) math rock.  Tonight they share the stage with Roomrunner and Peals at the 21+ up show – more information can be found here.  Below, stream “Twice the Life” from Natural History.

Phoenixville indie blues rock band Riley Road return to World Cafe Live at The Queen tonight.  After taking first place at the Beta Hi Fi Emerging Music Festival in Philadelphia this past summer, the local trio has continued to work on their already-impressive, classic rock-influenced foundation that was started when the band members met at Phoenixville’s Rock and Roll After School program.  Tonight Riley Road will be joined by Wilmington Beta Hi Fi winners and local favorites The Districts.  Tickets and information can be found here.  Stream Riley Road’s new single “Better Man” below.

XPN welcomes Tommy Conwell to The Blockley tonight.  Conwell was a focal point of the 80s rock scene in Philadelphia when he fronted The Young Rumblers.  The leather-clad heartthrobs reunited this past holiday season for their third annual post-Thanksgiving concert, but not before Conwell stopped in for a Key Studio Session where he recorded an acoustic set including Young Rumblers’ hit “I’m Not Your Man.”  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Jeffrey Gaines can be found here.  Below, watch the original video for “I’m Not Your Man” and stream / download the acoustic Key Studio Session version (along with three other tracks) here.

Over a dozen local favorites are joining to together for a go at Song Reader: Twenty New Songs by Beck tonight at World Cafe Live upstairs.  As previously reported, influential music man Beck Hansen released his latest album in the (not so) traditional format of sheet music, intended for individual interpretation by those who wanted to hear the otherwise-unrecorded songs.  Tonight’s bill is a near-comprehensive list of Philly’s major players including Sean Hoots, Andrew Lipke, The Districts, Toy Soldiers and Kuf Knotz.  Tickets and information for the event can be found here.  For a full list of participating bands go here.  Below, watch local singer-songwriter Ben Smith perform his take of “Last Night You Were a Dream” from the Reader.

Elk Rhythms will perform tonight at the North Star Bar‘s New Music Showcase.  The folk project of Andy Ellison, Elk Rhythms’ audible influences on 2012′s self-titled EP range from The Grateful Dead (“Forty Days“) to Fleet Foxes with some unexpected Animal Collective playfulness thrown in (“Sleepwalking“).  Also playing tonight are Twenty Minute Tango, The Pretty Dittys and Devil’s Triangle.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Below, stream and download Elk Rhythms’ “Gone Away.”.

Looking for more? Visit WXPN’s Soundcloud page to download The Key Studio Sessions Vol. 1 through Vol. 5.

Lititz faves The Districts are making their way to town for a rousing New Year’s gig at Fergie’s with Toy Soldiers. It’s been a huge year for this brand new band, from their impressive album Telephone to their Beta Hi-Fi win, their Key Studio Session and all the gigs they’ve played since. The 21+ party begins at 9 p.m., more info here. Below, listen to The Districts’ Key Session take on “Long Distance.”

• Long Distanceby The Districts from The Key Studio SessionsDownload

If you find yourself in a northwesterly direction of the city tonight (what’s up, Boyertown?), don’t overlook perennially great roots rock combo Frog Holler , who are ringing in the New Year at Union Jack’s Inn on the Manatawney. Information on the party is available here. Below, download “To Turn Back Now” from Frog Holler’s most recent LP Believe It Or Not.

• To Turn Back Nowby Frog Holler from Believe It Or NotDownload

And like the headline says, there are so many other shows going on tonight. The War on Drugs might be sold out, but you have your options cut out for you. Have fun, be safe, and happy 2013!

The Broad Street Ministry

One of the many wonderful things about the Philadelphia music community is its desire to rally around causes and make a difference in the city.  As cliched as that sounds, its true – the latest example being hometown musician John Francis‘ new City of Love Festival, benefiting Broad Street Ministry and their “Breaking Bread” hospitality initiative.  Amidst debate over whether or not outdoor meal services for the homeless should be allowed in Philadelphia, the Broad Street Ministry has created its own safe haven for the city’s homeless men and women where they can receive a hot meal and a variety of services (including medical attention, art therapy and assistance for veterans) every Thursday afternoon.

Francis founded the secular City of Love Festival to help Broad Street Ministry pastor Bill Golderer reach his goal of increasing servings to nine hot meals a week in 2013.  The festival will be a bi-annual event, with the first concert happening on Friday, January 12th at Underground Arts.  The bill for the evening includes sets from The Districts, Levee Drivers, The Lawsuits, Caleb Hawley, Sean Hoots (of Hoots & Hellmouth), Kuf Knotz, Ross Bellenoit Band, Ryan Tennis, Blayer Pointdujour & The Rockers Galore, Zach Djanikian and John Francis & The Midnight Choir, plus special surprise guests.

The City of Love Festival is presented by the Philadelphia Folksong Society and is free for PFS members, with a suggested donation to aid in the Broad Street Ministry’s efforts, and $12 for non-members.  The event is 21+; more information can be found here.  Below, watch John Francis perform “Who” in Nashville.

• Went to the Cityby The Districts from The Key Studio SessionsDownload

On October 16th, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne will release a new collection of live songs called Live At McCabe’s as part of a Pledge Music-funded Revelation Road Deluxe Edition Box Set.  To celebrate the upcoming release, Lynne has made the live version her classic song “Your Lies” available as a free download in exchange for your email address.  Shelby Lynne will be performing at World Cafe Live on Tuesday, November 27th.  Go here for tickets and information.

Local art-rock band Dangerous Ponies released a live take of their new track “Gave UP” earlier this week, and it’s up on their Bandcamp as a free download.  “Gave UP” comes as a preview of Dangerous Ponies’ forthcoming record and it is accompanied by an in-the-studio video, which you can watch below. Go here to grab your free download.

Reef the Lost Cauze has become somewhat of an institution in the local rap scene over his ten-year career and on his latest track he pays homage to another local institution, the long-time and beloved Eagles safety Brian Dawkins.  Reef’s track “B. Dawk” begins with a sample of Dawkins motivating his team before a game and the intensity only increases from there, though the subject becomes more about Reef and less about Dawkins.  Stream and download the track below.

Former Cold Fronts member Jake Hammill branched out on his own this summer, embarking on a solo project called Shaky.  He’s released a few things under that moniker so far including The San Bernadino Sessions, which you can download for free over on his Bandcamp.  This week, Shaky dropped a new track called “Head Over Heels” and it’s as rocking, catchy and “guitarmonious” as you could ever hope for.  Stream and download the track below.

Reef The Lost Cauze will be performing at the Balcony at the Trocadero tonight with Faez One, Rockie Reyes, I-Know Brasco, and Jawnzap7. The show begins at 8:30, and more ticket information can be found here. Reef The Lost Cauze was recently here to do a Key Studio Session with us back in September; download his track “The Sound of Philadelphia” from that session below.

• The Sound of Philadelphiaby Reef the Lost Cauze from The Key Studio SessionsDownload

XPN Welcomes The Mountain Goats to the Theatre of the Living Arts tonight. The Mountain Goats’ fourteenth album, Transcendental Youth, was released last week as a follow-up to 2011′s All Eternals Deck. The all-ages show tonight starts at 7 PM; more details can be found here. Below, watch the brand new video for “Cry For Judas” from Transcendental Youth. 

Bluesy Lancaster boys The Districts are opening for Red Wanting Blue tonight at World Cafe Live. Check out The Districts’ Key Studio Session, recorded here last weekend to promote their latest album, Telephone, which came out in June. Tickets for the show start at $12; more information can be found here. Below, you can download a recording of The Districts’ “Lyla” from their Key Studio Session.

• Lylaby The Districts from The Key Studio SessionsDownload

Photo by Marley McNamara

Sometimes, it’s exciting to go indepth and tell you all about the bands we profile every week for these Key Studio Sessions. And sometimes, it’s just as exciting to sit back and let the music speak for itself. In the case of Lancaster County rock n’ soul four-piece The Districts, it’s definitely one of those latter cases. The band recorded five songs in our studio last weekend – three from its impressive 2012 debut Telephone, one from the more recent While You Were in Honesdale EP (“Dressed to Kill”) , and one new track – the impressionistic, evocative swell of “Went To the City.” That one’s often their set-closer, the one they bring down the house with when they play live, and it had the same chilling effect in the studio, and later still in my headphones as I was editing the music to present to you today. Listen below, draw your own conclusions, and most importantly, see this band live. They play tomorrow night at World Cafe Live, opening for Columbus rockers Red Wanting Blue (tickets and information here). If you miss that show, they’ve got an all-ages appearance in Fort Washington on October 20 and an appearance at Fergie’s early next month. Tune in.

• Callboxby The Districts, from The Key Studio Sessions, Oct. 10, 2012Download

• Long Distanceby The Districts, from The Key Studio Sessions, Oct. 10, 2012Download

• Dressed To Killby The Districts, from The Key Studio Sessions, Oct. 10, 2012Download

• Lylaby The Districts, from The Key Studio Sessions, Oct. 10, 2012Download

• Went To The Cityby The Districts, from The Key Studio Sessions, Oct. 10, 2012Download

Field Report entranced the audience at this year’s XPoNential Music Festival and recently released their self-titled debut full-length.  Frontman Christopher Porterfield visited Folkadelphia in early 2011 when he was performing under the moniker Conrad Plymouth, and while in the studio Porterfield, along with keybordist Nick Berg and Strand of Oaks’ Tim Showalter, recorded a beautiful version of “Fergus Falls.”  Download the track here and stream it below.

This week, The Key’s Unlocked series highlighted the 1980s rock band Informed Sources.  They have a new album called Fun Under the Sun and you can download “Imagined Fears” for free below.

• Imagined Fearsby Informed Sources from Fun Under the SunDownload

Tuesday’s My Morning Download featured country rocker Dwight Yoakam.  The musician and actor is back with a new album called 3 Pears, his first new album in seven years.  You can download and stream “Long Way to Go” below.

• Long Way To Goby Dwight Yoakam from 3 PearsDownload

York, P.A. favorites Kingsfoil stopped by the XPN studios on Monday for a live broadcast on The Leicht Lunch with Helen Leicht.  The quartet, complete with recent addition Frankie Muniz on drums, played a couple of tracks off of their latest album A Beating Heart is a Bleeding Heart.  You can download the song “American Veins” below.  

• American Veinsby Kingsfoil, recorded Live on the Leicht Lunch, September 24, 2012Download

In addition to the notably different vibe of the setting, the lineup at The Queen’s Beta Hi-Fi finals was something else altogether from its northerly equivalent. While competing bands in Philly were chosen solely by audience vote, The Queen determined its last round through a mix of audience vote and panels of judges throughout the week – meaning some acts vying for top honors were unconventional and experimental, rather than purely being crowd-pleasers.

Walking away with first place was The Districts, an impressive young four-piece from Lititz, in Lancaster County. The band channeled the rock-and-soul vibe of Cold War Kids and Spoon; singer Rob Grote’s searing voice cut across the concert hall, blending with the band’s smartly-arranged instrumental interplay. They do the very Pixies loud-quiet-LOUD thing, but in a more textured way than simply turning their overdrive pedals on and off. A thundering swell cuts, leaving a clean guitar arpeggio floating in space as Grote catches his breath; the verses build in waves, with the heaviness sometimes derived just from Braden Lawrence’s drums. Grote is an intense, emphatic, occasionally bewildering stage presence – he kicks, stomps and snarls, both at the mic and far away – but guitarist Mark Larson and bassist Connor Jacobus hold their own, shuffling and bobbing and giving the overall band a dynamic stage presence. Check out “Four and Four” from their album Telephone below, and watch these guys close – they’re moving fast.

In second place was Bethlehem duo XVSK, an unconventional collaboration of cellist Trevor Exter and drummer John Morgan Kimock (son of jazz guitarist Steve Kimock). Initial impressions: Exter plays his cello while standing, which I’ve never seen before. And they strongly reminded me of Morphine, which is always sure to catch my ear. But let’s not pigeonhole here – these guys had no saxophone (Morphine’s signature instrument), their melodies and phrasing were more folksy, and they embarked on sound-loop excursions and freak-outs, always returning to Exter’s suave vocal delivery. Both top bands won promo packages from festival sponsor Tri-State Indie; in addition, The Districts won a copy of ProTools 9 from Drexel University. XVSK returns to Philadelphia on September 30 to play a live / improvised score to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind at PhilaMOCA.

Other bands in the running included Political Theatre, a West Chester three-piece whose dramatic delivery and arty tones took cues from Radiohead’s In Rainbows and Jeff Buckley’s Grace; South Jersey’s The Quixote Project, a feel-good folk-pop ensemble and possibly the first band to pair bluegrass stylings with bongo drums; and Glim Dropper, an energetic prog-pop trio from Philadelphia. For more on the competition, its prizes and sponsors, visit the festival website here.