XPN welcomes Charles Bradley to Union Transfer tonight.  The “Screaming Eagle of Soul” entertained the crowd during a recent Free at Noon performance with his exuberant showmanship and knock-out funk / R&B songs.  Following up his 2011 full-length debut, the 64-year-old crooner released Victim of Love earlier this year.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show with Paul & the Tall Trees can be found here.  Watch the former James Brown impersonator perform “Why Is It So Hard?” live on the Public Radio Rocks stage at SXSW below.

Morning River Band celebrate the debut of their new album at MilkBoy tonight.  The Philadelphia-based country group recorded To Suzie at Gradwell House in New Jersey and will release it on May 21st as the follow-up to 2011′s Between the Ocean and the Blues.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ release show with The Miners and John Train can be found here.  Stream “Lefty’s Last Blues” below and check out their Folkadelphia session here.

XPN welcomes Mary Chapin Carpenter to the Keswick Theatre tonight.  With her long-time friend and cohort Shawn Colvin by her side, Carpenter continues to tour in support of her 2012 LP Ashes and Roses.  The singer-songwriter made a name for herself with a string of of successful country / folk crossover records in the nineties and five Grammy Awards over the course of her career, resulting in her induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame last October.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show can be found here.  Below, watch a performance of “Chasing What’s Already Gone.”

MAD Dragon Records caps off its 10th anniversary festivities with a show at The Trocadero tonight.  The Drexel University label has been celebrating all week with block parties, free live music and a special 10th anniversary compilation featuring bands that will be performing at tonight’s event.  Among those scheduled are Cheers Elephant, Wild Rompit and Matt Duke.  Tickets and information for the 18+ concert can be found here.  Check out the compilation here and watch Cheers Elephant’s video for “Doin’ It, Right” below.

Billy Bragg

The Ladyfest Philly benefit concert presented by Girls Rock Philly is happening tonight at Little Berlin.  With sets by Bad Braids, Cayetana, and Girls Rock Philly bands Wrong Castle and Barracuda Club House Band, the event was organized by participants in the after school program who are learning the ins and outs of putting on a DIY show.  Ladyfest, a summer festival celebrating women in arts, culture and activism, will take place at The Rotunda on June 7-9.  Tickets and information for tonight’s benefit show can be found here.  Stream “Clover” off of Bad Braids’ forthcoming LP Supreme Parallel below.

British singer-songwriter Billy Bragg performa at The Keswick Theatre tonight. A political activist and influential folk musician, Bragg released his first studio album of original material in five years last month with Tooth & Nail. Tickets and information for tonight’s show can be found here.  At noon today, Bragg will be performing at Main Street Music in Manayunk for Record Store Day. Below, watch Bragg’s video for “No One Knows Nothing Anymore.”

Also:
WXPN Welcomes Graham Parker and The Rumour at World Cafe Live at the Queen in Wilmington, Delaware.
Work Drugs at Buzz Ware Village Center in Arden, Delaware.

XPN welcomes legendary reggae band Toots and the Maytals to The Trocadero tonight.  Known for their contributions to the ska and rocksteady genres, The Maytals have released 28 studio albums over the course of their 50 year career.  Like their countrymen Bob Marley and The Wailers, Frederick “Toots” Hibbert and his band signed a record deal with Island Records after establishing themselves as one of Jamaica’s most popular music groups, leading to international recognition fronted by the success of 1969′s “Monkey Man.”  The band has stayed active in recent years, recording an album of best hits called True Love with special guests in 2004 (among them No Doubt, Trey Anastasio and Keith Richards) and in 2012 releasing their first acoustic album (Unplugged On Strawberry Hill ) in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence Day.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show with Steppin’ Razor and Spokey Speaky can be found here.  Below, listen to Toots and the Maytals perform “Funky Kingston” with Bootsy Collins and The Roots from True Love.”

XPN welcomes The Mavericks to The Keswick Theater.  Taking eight years off to pursue individual projects (and with out any real thought of getting back together), Raul Malo surprised fans by reuniting his country rock band last year to record a new album.  According to Malo, In Time picks up right where their 2003 self-titled effort left off in terms of universality and genre direction.  The Cuban-American frontman comments that he “… [sees] this as a record everyone’s invited to…. It’s a mix of different rhythms, different places and times.”  Tickets and information for tonight’s show withe Seth Walker can be found here.  Below, watch The Mavericks perform “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.”

XPN welcomes Alejandro Escovedo to World Cafe Live.  The longtime listener-favorite will be performing a special acoustic set with his band The Sensitive Boys.  Continuing to tour in support of his eleventh studio album Big Station (released last June), Escovedo has managed to blend all facets of his music career into a unique, far-reaching sound that carries his early days as a punk rocker into his current country / Americana incarnation.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show can be found here.  Below, watch Escovedo and his band perform “Man of the World” from Big Station.

Canadian electronic outfit Shout Out Out Out Out play Kung Fu Necktie tonight.  The six-piece crafts lighthearted synth, drum, bass and vocal compositions that blend disco melodies with math / chiptune sensibilities resulting in music that instantly makes you want to dance.   Shout Out Out Out Out have released three full-lengths over their near ten year career, most recently putting forth Spanish Moss and Total Loss in 2012.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Funeral Flowers can be found here.  Watch Shout Out Out Out Out’s video for “Coming Home” from last year’s Spanish Moss and Total Loss below.

Reggae great Maxi Priest comes to The Keswick Theatre tonight.  The British singer released Maximum Collection this past summer, a collection of songs from the ’80s and ’90s.  Finding immediate success with his debut album You’re Safe in 1985, Priest went on to become the only UK reggae singer to top the U.S. charts thanks to his 1990 hit “Close to You.”  Tickets and information for tonight’s show can be found here.  Below, watch the video for “Close to You.”

Help celebrate Joey Sweeney‘s 40th birthday at Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  ”Joey Sweeney You’re Life is Calling: The Best of Joey Sweeney, 1992-2012 Performed Live” is the all-inclusive headline for tonight’s bash.  Featuring a reunited The Trouble With Sweeney and The Barnabys, as well as Sweeney’s current hard-rocking outfit Arctic Splash, tonight’s is just as much about nineties Philly rock as is it as about the man himself.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Below, watch a live BITBY video of Arctic Splash performing “Denim Tuxedo.”

Smooth-vibing Work Drugs continue their record release shenanigans with a Christmas party at Ortlieb’s Lounge tonight.  The Philly tropi-synth band released a retrospective record called Delta this month, featuring hand-picked favorites by Tom Crystal and Ben Louisiana and pressed on sweet yellow vinyl.  Tonight’s show is sure to be a unique one at the 100-capacity Ortlieb’s with the band promising new tunes and Christmas songs.  Opening slots will be filled by Shark Tape (who rocked XPN’s Free at Noon last week), Ellis Island and DJ Young Mariah Carey.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Below, watch the video for “The Art of Progress” and stream Delta via The Hype Machine here.

XPN Welcomes Ra Ra Riot to The Chameleon Club in Lancaster tonight.  The indie rock band is prepping for the release of their third full-length, Beta Love, which will be out on January 22nd.  With a slightly different line-up (cellist Alexandra Lawn left the band earlier this year), Ra Ra Riot are also trying out a new sound, trading in the baroque pop of earlier hits like “Dying is Fine” and “Boy” for a more synth-pop style on Beta Love.  Tickets and information for tonight’s all-ages show with Ton-Taun can be found here.  Below, stream the title track from Beta Love.

XPN Welcomes perennial favorite Dar Williams to The Tin Angel this evening. The indie folk songstress released her ninth studio album, In The Time of Gods, in April. The album can be purchased here, and you can listen to Williams’ performance at World Cafe Live from our Free-At-Noon series last May here. The 21+ performance starts at 7 PM; go here for more information. Below, watch Williams perform “I Am The One Who Will Remember Everything” from In The Time of Gods. 

Jazz/pop orchestra Pink Martini is playing at the Keswick Theatre tonight. The eclectic Portland group has released seven studio albums since forming in 1994, their latest being 2011′s 1969, which showcases a unique interpretation of influences from world music, classical music, and jazz. Tickets to tonight’s all-ages show are available here; doors open at 6:30. Below, watch the video for Pink Martini’s “Let’s Never Stop Falling in Love” from 2006′s Hang On Little Tomato.

Public Enemy hits the stage with Whodini tonight at the Liacouras Center. Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and the rest of the hip-hop collective are touring in support of their latest album, The Evil Empire of Everything, which was released in conjunction with Most of My Heroes Still Don’t Appear On No Stamp, released earlier this year. Whodini, who haven’t released an album since 1996′s Six, hold authority as pioneers of the hip-hop realm, having been the first rap act to tour in Europe. Tickets for tonight’s show can be found here; the show starts at 7:30. Below, watch Public Enemy’s 1990 hit “Fight the Power.”

XPN Welcomes folk singer Arlo Guthrie to the Scottish Rite Theatre in Collingswood tonight. Guthrie, whose politically-themed songs have carried his career for nearly half a century, was born into a family of other folk artists, being the son of the renowned late Woody Guthrie and protege of his father’s friends, Pete Seeger and “Ramblin’” Jack Elliott. Tickets and information for the all-ages performance this evening can be found here. Below, watch Guthrie perform “Amazing Grace.”

XPN Welcomes Matt Duke to Steel City Coffeehouse tonight. The New Jersey singer-songwriter is touring supporting the release of his latest EP, Love On a Major Scale. You can listen to a single, “The Eyes,” from Love On A Major Scale here, and tickets for tonight’s all-ages performance can be found here. Below, watch Duke and Tony Lucca cover “99 Problems.”

British rockers Graham Parker & The Rumour will be performing at Theatre of the Living Arts this evening as part of their reunion tour. Last week the band released their first record in 31 years, Three Chords Good, which has been received well among critics and fans alike. Tonight’s all-ages show begins at 8 p.m.; go here for tickets. Below, watch Graham Parker & The Rumour perform the title track from 1977′s Stick To Me. 

Eighties new wavers Men Without Hats dance their way to The Sellersville Theater tonight.  The Canadian group had global hits with “The Safety Dance” and “Pop Goes the World” and in May released their seventh studio album, Love in the Age of War.  Right the Stars will open tonight’s show and the Cabaret section of the theater will be cleared for dancing.  Tickets and more information can be found here.  Below, watch the video for “Pop Goes the World.”

XPN Welcomes Gary Clark, Jr. to Theatre of the Living Arts tonight. Clark’s third full-length album, Blak and Blu, showcases his demi-god guitar skills and blues rock roots. Tickets for the all-ages show can be found here. Below, watch the brand new video for “Ain’t Messin’ Round.”

Massachusetts singer/songwriter Jonah Matranga will be playing tonight at First Unitarian Chapel. Matranga, who was part of Far, New End Original, and Gratitude, also performs under the name Onelinedrawing. Tickets and information for tonight’s 8 o’clock show can be found here. Check out Matranga’s cover of Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” below.

Philly rock band Lefty’s Deceiver is playing tonight at Milkboy Philly. The band, who were among Philly’s top artists of the early ’00s, went on a hiatus in 2003, which continued until 2011. Their retrospective EP LD101 can be streamed below and downloaded for free here. Tickets for their 21+ show can be found here.

XPN Welcomes David Bromberg Big Band back to his native Philadelphia tonight for a performance at Keswick Theatre. Bromberg’s jack-of-all trades music career includes mastering rock and roll, jazz, blues, and even folk, having been nominated for a 2008 Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Folk Album for 1990′s Try Me One More Time. His diverse career is also the subject of Beth Toni Kruvant’s 2012 documentary, Unsung Treasure. Tickets for tonight’s show are available here. Below, watch the David Bromberg Big Band perform their hit ”Sloppy Drunk.”

Touring in support of his debut solo effort Former Lives, Benjamin Gibbard performs at The Keswick Theatre tonight.  This solo project is not the first time the Death Cab for Cutie frontman has struck out on his own; in 2001 Gibbard teamed up with producer Jimmy Tamborello for The Postal Service and released one album, though he was simultaneously working on material for Death Cab for Cutie.  As previously reported, Gibbard will be donating $1 from each ticket sold for this show to the ATC Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund to help those who were impacted by last week’s storm.  The all-ages show will begin at 8:00 p.m. with Advance Base opening.  Tickets and information can be found here. Below, watch the new video for Gibbard’s single “Teardrop Windows”.

Local rock outfit The Fleeting Ends play a show at The Fire tonight.  The trio has taken over MilkBoy Studios in the recent months to work on their next record, which is expected to be released in mid-November.  The new album is a follow-up to 2011′s EP Goldmine in the Gutter.  Meanwhile, the Philly band has been busy playing shows, including March’s Key Studio Sessions Live at MilkBoy.  Tickets and information for The Fleeting Ends’ show with Mansions on the Moon and Hott Tubb can be found here; the 21+ show will begin at 8:00 p.m.  Watch The Fleeting Ends’ video for “Return Address” below.

WXPN welcomes Los Lobos to The Keswick Theatre tonight.  The Latin-American band will be performing the 1992 fan and critic favorite Kiko in its entirety to celebrate the record’s 20th anniversary.  Kiko marked an innovative turning point for Los Lobos and its anniversary comes one year ahead of the band’s 40th year together, an achievement compounded by the fact that Los Lobos’ lineup has remained the same since 1984. Tickets are $38 to $48 here and the doors open at 7:30 p.m with opening music from Amy Helm.  Below, watch a video of “Kiko and the Lavender Moon” from the 20th anniversary live DVD.

Carsie Blanton performs at The Psalm Salon tonight in partnership with Americans United for Separation of Church and State.  Blanton’s music has been labeled everything from folk to jazz to rock, but she calls it “classic American pop” and serves it with a generous scoop of nostalgia.  Tickets to the 8:00 p.m. show are $16 in advance here, $20 at the door.  Below, stream Carsie Blaton’s name-your-own-price album Idiot Heart and then download it here. 

English new-wave rockers Psychedelic Furs have been relishing in the music scene since 1977. They created a buzz from their song “Pretty in Pink” (used in the 1986 Molly Ringwald film of the same name) as well as their smash hit “Heartbreak Beat” (watch the music video below). The Furs are coming to The Keswick Theatre this October, and co-headlining from our side of the pond will be The Lemonheads. They have been rock and rolling since the mid 1980′s. On this tour, founding member Evan Dando will be joined by past collaborator Juliana Hatfield. Listen to their cover of “Mrs. Robinson” below. Tickets to the show go on sale this Friday at noon.

Photo by John Vettese

Indie chanteuse Beth Orton today announced her latest release, Sugaring Season, due out Oct. 2 on ANTI- Records, according to reports by Consequence of Sound and Under the Radar. Her first release since 2006′s Comfort of Strangers and her sixth overall, the album will reportedly feature collaborations with Sam Amidon, an emerging name in the new folk scene, as well as notable jazz drummer Brian Blade. Orton supports Sugaring Seasonwith an appearance at the Keswick Theater in Glenside on September, 25th. There will be a pre-sale Wednesday, July 11th through Thursday, July 12th at 10 PM. Go here to purchase tickets. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 13th at Noon. Below, check out the tracklisting and watch the music video for lead single “Something More Beautiful” below.

01. Magpie
02. Dawn Chorus
03. Candles
04. Something more Beautiful
05. Call me the Breeze
06. Poison Tree
07. See through Blue
08. Last Leaves of Autumn
09. State of Grace
10. Mystery