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PHILADELPHIA CONCERTS

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Dropkick Murphys

March 8 & 9, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $39.45  |  Electric Factory |  215.627.1332

Dropkick Murphys formed in 1996 in Boston, MA. The band was originally just a bunch of friends looking to play music for fun. They started playing in the basement of a friend's barbershop and theirr goal was to blend the musical influences we had grown up with (Punk Rock, Irish Folk, Rock, and Hardcore) into one loud, raucous, chaotic, and often out of tune mix that they could call their own.

To their surprise people seemed to like it and they began to record music and tour constantly. To date they have released over ten singles, two EP CD, and four Full Length albums and have had the good fortune of being able to play across a large portion of the world. They are truly grateful to the many friends and bands that have helped us them and supported them along the way in the US, Canada, Europe, U.K. Ireland, Scandinavia, and Australia as well as the many countries they look forward to playing in the next century.

The bands' main goal is to play music that creates an all for one, one for all environment where everyone is encouraged to participate, sing along, and hopefully have a good time. In the true spirit of punk rock they view the band and the audience as one in the same; in other words their stage and their microphone are yours.

Men Aloud!

March 9, 2011  |  7:00 PM  |  $40.00 - $50.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

Men Aloud!, a 20 member male choir from Wales stepped into the spotlight when they were selected from more than a thousand choirs around the UK to audition for the BBC show Last Choir Standing. In their short career, Men Aloud! have already worked with big names including Aled Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Bryn Terfel, Michael Ball and Karl Jenkins, and were the first live act to perform in the Wales Millennium Centre, at a dinner for Shirley Bassey.

Pete Yorn with Ben Kweller

March 10, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $24.00  |  Trocadero Theatre  |  215.922.6888

Pete's new record titled "BACK AND FOURTH" will be released on June 23rd, 2009. It was produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes/Cursive). More details to come soon regarding the record and tour. Pete has been writing and recording a respectable amount of new material to be released in 2009. The producers are Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes) and Frank Black (The Pixies). Two new songs have been released, on various fan pages including here on MySpace, that are expected to be included on the new albums; "Shotgun"and "Sans Fear," respectively. "Can't Hear Anyone" is also available on the MySpace player. It was recorded during the Nightcrawler sections and was released as a very rare B Side.

Pete will be appearing on Canadian artist Matthew Good's upcoming album ''Vancouver'' performing backing vocals. The album is expected to be released summer 2009.

In 2008, Pete Yorn recorded and released a new song, entitled "American Blues Vol. 1." A music video was shot for the single, and the mp3 is available free HERE

Concerning the song, in a pre-election message, Yorn said "I wrote American Blues Vol. 1. on the 4th of July 2008 after reading the morning paper. It's unlike any song I've ever written. I was moved by how much negativity I was reading about and how even groups were boycotting Independence Day because they were so disgusted with the state of our Nation. I was hoping things would improve...they obviously haven't yet...but I know they will in time."

A Day to Remember

March 10 & 11, 2011  |  7:00 PM  |  $32.70  |  Electric Factory |  215.627.1332

A Day to Remember were formed in 2003 and mix emo, hardcore, and metal into a blend affectionately referred to by their fans as "pop mosh." Hailing from Ocala, FL, vocalist Jeremy McKinnon, guitarists Neil Westfall and Tom Denney, bassist Joshua Woodard, and drummer Bobby Scruggs financed their first EP themselves, then signed with Indianola Records for the release of their full-length And Their Name Was Treason in spring 2005. The record went on to sell over 8,000 copies through word of mouth alone, and a year later the guys were signed to Chicago powerhouse Victory Records. Work quickly began on their label debut; For Those Who Have Heart appeared in January 2007, featuring new drummer Alex Shellnutt. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide

Get the Led Out The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute

March 11, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $25.00 - $32.00  |  Scottish Rite Auditorium  |  856.216.2170

From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, Get The Led Out have captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the big concert stage. The Philadelphia-based group consists of six accomplished musicians intent on delivering Led Zeppelin's studio recordings with all the bells and whistles. Utilizing the multi-instrumentalists at their disposal, Get The Led Out re-create the songs in all their depth and glory with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed live.

Dubbed by the media as "The American Led Zeppelin," Get The Led Out present a two hour + set each night that spans the mythic career of the legendary British supergroup. With a strong focus on the early years, they also touch on the deeper cuts that were seldom, if ever heard in concert.

The group is achieving strong box office scores in the Mid-Atlantic. Not uncommon are return-visits and sell-outs at a number of the region's most prominent venues and PACs including House of Blues (Atlantic City), Pennsylvania’s Sovereign Center and Keswick Theatre, and Oswego New York's "Harborfest" (two years in a row) as well as countless other theaters and national concert venues.

Get The Led Out's approach to their performance of this hallowed catalog is not unlike a classical performance. "Led Zeppelin are sort of the classical composers of the rock era," says lead vocalist Paul Sinclair. "I believe 100 years from now they will be looked at as the Bach or Beethoven of our time. As cliché as it sounds, their music is timeless."

A Get The Led Out concert sort of mimics the "light and shade" that is the embodiment of "The Mighty Zep." Whether it's the passion and fury with which they deliver the blues-soaked, groove-driven rock anthems, or the delicate nature of their intimate, sit-down acoustic set (complete with special guest female vocalist for "The Battle of Evermore"), it's their attention to detail and nuance that makes a Get The Led Out performance a truly awe-inspiring event! (Jambase.com)

Susan Werner

March 11, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $27.00 - $30.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

Susan Werner composes skillful songs that effortlessly slide between folk, jazz, and pop, all delivered with sassy wit and classic Midwestern charm. Throughout her expansive career, boundless versatility has emerged as a hallmark of Werner’s talent, and has proven to be a quintessential ingredient of her engrossing musical persona.

Englebert Humperdinck

March 12, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $49.50 - $75.00  |  Keswick Theatre  |  215.572.7650

The ultra-smooth balladeer who has sold over 50 million records worldwide returns to Keswick Theatre! Join the "King of Romance" as he woos us with his legacy of hits including "Release Me", "The Last Waltz", "A Man Without Love", "Winter World of Love", "After the Lovin'" just for starters.  Order early so you are in the "swooning section"!

Kenny Vance & The Planotones

March 13, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $35.00  |  Sellersville Theater  |  215.257.5808

An evening with Kenny and the boys at ST94 is simply unforgettable – and always quickly SOLD OUT! These Vocal Group Hall Of Famers have voices of original & inviting dimension. They redefine oldies with vocal authority and freshness. Kenny shares his expansive musical history and knowledge from the early days of doowop to his years with Jay & The Americans. Our “all Planatones” show is a rare treat you won’t want to miss.

Robyn Hitchcock & Joe Boyd "Chinese White Bicycles"

March 14, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $33.00 - $45.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

Live and Direct from 1967! Legendary producer Joe Boyd reads from his book, White Bicycles about the musicians he discovered, nurtured, and produced in the last 1960s: The Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention, Pink Floyd, Nick Drake and others.

Robyn Hitchcock, a teenage fan then who would go on to become one of the great torchbearers of psychedelic folk, plays some of their songs and asks Joe about them in wide-eyed wonder. "One wishes literary-musical fusions were always this riveting as Boyd sold out of books in just five minutes, leaving this reviewer wanting, but by no means empty-handed." Sfist.com

Crystal Castles

March 15, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $38.00  |  Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA)  |  215.922.1011

Fusing low-res electronic noise and pop hooks so effortlessly that it can seem accidental, Crystal Castles began as producer/multi-instrumentalist Ethan Kath's solo project in late 2003. Kath got the moniker from the name of She-Ra's dwelling in the He-Man and Masters of the Universe cartoon series; it's also the name of a 1983 Atari video game, which is oddly appropriate, considering that one component of the band's distinctive sound comes from a keyboard modified with an Atari 5200 sound chip. When Kath collaborated with singer Alice Glass on some songs in spring 2005, Crystal Castles' lineup was complete. One of the songs the pair recorded, "Alice Practice," was something of an accident: it was intended to be a demo of Glass testing out a microphone, but its presence on MySpace piqued record labels' interest. "Alice Practice" was released as a limited-edition 7" in summer 2006 on Merok Records, also home to Klaxons; its 500-copy run sold out in three days. Kath and Glass worked on their own songs and also honed their remixing skills, tweaking songs for Klaxons as well as GoodBooks, Uffie, Health, and Bloc Party. Tours with the Presets and Metric in 2007 set the stage for the release of Crystal Castles' self-titled debut album, which Last Gang released early in 2008. The duo returned in 2010 with another self-titled album; when it leaked onto the Internet in late April of that year, the band released it digitally soon after, with a physical release following that May. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi

Celtic Crossroads

March 16, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $33.00 - $45.00  |  Sellersville Theater  |  215.257.5808

An explosion of youthful energy & dazzling musicianship, Celtic Crossroads is one of Ireland's best critically acclaimed & exhilarating stage shows. It abounds with fusions of traditional roots through other genres of its music family including bluegrass, gypsy & jazz whilst pulsating with the rhythms of exciting Irish dance percussion. The cast of all-Ireland champion performers incorporates world-class musicians playing an array of both traditional & non traditional instruments into a truly incredible and unforgettable experience!

Solas

March 17, 2011  |  7:00 PM & 9:30 PM  |  $30.00 - $42.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

Solas has been loudly proclaimed the most popular, influential and exciting Celtic band to ever emerge from the United States. Since its inception the band has continually pushed the envelope and charted new territory for Celtic music and wholly established themselves as the most pioneering Celtic band of their time.  And in the past ten years their infectious energy and sound has caught the attention of listeners and fans worldwide.

Solas is Philly born & Ireland raised Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistle, guitar and bodhran), Winifred Horan  (fiddle), Mick McAuley  (accordion and concertina), Eamon McElholm (guitar and keyboards) and vocalist Niamh Varian-Barry from Country Cork, Ireland.

Will Downing + Lalah Hathaway

March 18, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $46.50 - $56.50  |  Keswick Theatre  |  215.572.7650

Will Downing plus special guest Lalah Hathaway now happily re-scheduled (after the postponed original December date), the urban crooner tours in support of his new Lust, Love & Lies - An Audio Novel release!

The Saw Doctors with AM Taxi

March 17, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $42.00  |  Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA)  |  215.922.1011

The Saw Doctors are an Irish rock band. Formed in 1986 in Tuam, County Galway, they have achieved eighteen Top 30 singles in Ireland, including three number ones. Their first number one, "I Useta Lover," topped the Irish charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1990, and still holds the record for the country's all-time biggest-selling single. Renowned for their live performances, the band has a cult following, especially in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. On 15 February 2008, they received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards. (Wikipedia.com)

Kansas with Kyle Turley

March 18, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $29.00 - 49.00  |  Scottish Rite Auditorium  |  856.216.2170

Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind".  They have remained a classic rock radio staple and a popular touring act in North America and Europe.

Loretta Lynn

March 18, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $62.50 - $72.50  |  Temple Performing Arts Center  |  800.298.4200

Country Music Superstar Loretta Lynn performs live with The Secret Sisters. The Coal-Miners Daughter, Loretta Lynn celebrates her 50thyear in country music with a new tribute album, special Grammy salute and a concert in Philadelphia. The Tribute album, “Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn,” is due out November 2010 on Columbia Records and features a diverse group of contributing artists including Jack White, Reba McEntire, Kid Rock, Carrie Underwood, Paramore, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Gretchen Wilson and Alan Jackson and Martina McBride.

Henry Rollins "50"

March 18, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $27.00 - $50.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

Henry Rollins (born Henry Lawrence Garfield; February 13, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, publisher, actor, radio DJ, and activist.

After performing for the short-lived Washington D.C.-based band State of Alert in 1980, Rollins fronted the California hardcore punk band Black Flag from August 1981 until early 1986. Following the band's breakup, Rollins soon established the record label and publishing company 2.13.61 to release his spoken word albums, as well as forming the Rollins Band, which toured with a number of lineups until 2003 and during 2006.

Since Black Flag, Rollins has embarked on projects covering a variety of media. He has hosted numerous radio shows, such as Harmony in My Head on Indie 103, and television shows such as The Henry Rollins Show, MTV's 120 Minutes, and Jackass. He had a recurring dramatic role as a white supremacist in the second season of Sons of Anarchy and has also had roles in several films. Rollins has also campaigned for various political causes in the United States, including promoting marriage equality for LGBT couples, World Hunger Relief, and an end to war in particular, and tours overseas with the United Service Organizations to entertain American troops. (Wikipedia.com)

Prince Royce

March 18, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $28.50 - $37.00  |  Trocadero Theatre  |  215.922.6888

There are but a handful of young, solo artists who dare to tackle the challenge of performing bachata music at the international level. And there are fewer still who embody the drive and determination of the great old bachata performers, when the genre was consigned to the smaller rural areas of the Dominican Republic.

But “it is much overdue” as Prince Royce explains, we need a new talent whose name symbolizes both performing excellence and Latin pride. Singing in both English and Spanish, it is easy to see this gifted young man quickly becoming one of the genre’s hottest new stars.

Geoffrey Royce Rojas was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, and this city has remained a key influence in developing his unique musical style, which not only sets him apart from the rest, but has also added to the growth of his career. His inclination towards bachata is not just a coincidence. His parents who are both from the land of the bachata, the Dominican Republic, always instilled in him a strong sense of cultural identity and pride.

“I feel one hundred percent Dominican,” he reveals with a smile, although his strong Caribbean accent has already given him away.

Still, he promises that what will set him apart will “not be purely bachata,” but rather more of an urban experience within the tropical genre. “I want to take the bachata to the next level, to break away from the traditional sound that is familiar to everyone”, he emphasizes.

With a fun-loving, energetic personality typical of a Latin youth, topped with ambition and a fervent determination to achieve his objectives, Royce firmly believes in his music and says that he will not let his fans down by offering more of the same thing.

His debut album, titled “Prince Royce”, features mostly bachatas fused with other contemporary rhythms like pop and rhythm and blues, all written by Royce himself.

So how did you come up with the title? “I discovered that my name ‘Royce’ means ‘The King’s son’, or someone of royal birth, so naturally I felt that Prince Royce would be in tone with that and be catchy at the same time”.

He was joined in the recording studio by a select team of industry experts that sealed the production with the outmost care and professionalism. “This was an incredible experience for me and I felt very excited to see the entire project come together to perfection with each recording”, says Royce with a look of evident satisfaction.

The album’s first single is “Corazón sin Cara”, a romantic ballad “that relates how true love isn’t about physical beauty; it’s about feelings that come straight from the heart”.

He is part of the music catalogue for the Top Stop Music Label, headed by distinguished music producer Sergio George, who has worked with renowned music superstars like Marc Anthony, Jennifer López, Celia Cruz, India and Christina Aguilera, to name a few.

Undoubtedly, his creative fusion of styles, melodious voice and charisma, added to steady tenacity make it obvious from the very first note that in no time at all this talented young man will be taking over the tropical music market by storm, earning the international recognition he deserves.

An Evening with Furthur

March 18 - 23, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $62.50 - $77.25  |  Tower Theatre  |  215.222.1400

Furthur is a rock band founded in 2009 by former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh. The band's lineup also includes John Kadlecik of the Dark Star Orchestra on guitar, Jeff Chimenti of RatDog on keyboards, and Joe Russo of the Benevento/Russo Duo on drums. Jay Lane left Furthur after the March 12, 2010 show to rejoin American funk metal/rock band, Primus.

An Evening with Linda Eder

March 19, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $38.00 - $68.00  |  Scottish Rite Auditorium  |  856.216.2170

Linda Eder is an American singer and actress. She made her Broadway debut in the musical Jekyll & Hyde, for which she received 1997 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Nominations, as well as the Theatre World Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Eder is also featured on the concept albums of several other Broadway shows, such as The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Civil War.

John Gorka

March 20, 2011  |  5:00 PM & 7:30 PM  |  $25.00  |  Tin Angel  |  215.928.0770

Edison New Jersey's John Gorka is a contemporary American folk musician. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine called him "the preeminent male singer-songwriter of what has been dubbed the New Folk Movement.

The Temptations

March 20, 2011  |  7:00 PM  |  $29.50 - $49.50  |  Scottish Rite Auditorium  |  856.216.2170

The Temptations are an American vocal group that achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.

Formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1960 as The Elgins (not to be confused with another Motown group with the same name), the Temptations have always featured at least five male vocalists/dancers. Known for its recognizable choreography, distinct harmonies, and flashy onstage suits, the Temptations have been said to be as influential to soul as The Beatles are to pop and rock.  Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are one of the most successful groups in music history. As of 2010, the Temptations continue to perform and record for Universal Records with its one living original member, Otis Williams, still in its lineup.

The original lineup included members of two local Detroit vocal groups: from The Distants, second tenor Otis Williams, first tenor Elbridge "Al" Bryant and bass Melvin Franklin; and from The Primes, first tenor/falsetto Eddie Kendricks and second tenor/baritone Paul Williams (no relation to Otis). Among the most notable future Temptations were lead singers David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards (both later solo artists), Richard Street, Damon Harris, Glenn Leonard, Ron Tyson, Ali-Ollie Woodson, Theo Peoples, and G. C. Cameron. Like its "sister" female group, the Supremes, the Temptations' lineup has changed frequently over the years.

Over the course of their career, the Temptations have released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles and 14 Billboard R&B number-one singles. Their material has earned them three Grammy Awards, while two more awards were conferred upon the songwriters and producers who crafted their 1972 hit "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". The Temptations were the first Motown act to earn a Grammy Award. Six Temptations (Dennis Edwards, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Otis Williams, and Paul Williams) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Three classic Temptations songs, "My Girl", "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", are among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. (Wikipedia.com)

The High Kings

March 22, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $35.00 - $45.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

For centuries, Ireland was ruled by High Kings. As their reign came to an end, their deeds and stories merged into the world of legend and myth and the High Kings of Ireland were no more except in story, music and song. Until now. Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden, renowned vocalists and musicians, have come together to create the most exciting Irish ballad group to emerge since The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem electrified the worldwide folk revival of the 1960s. Coming from accomplished musical pedigrees, The High Kings grew up in households soaked in the Irish musical tradition and each member of the band witnessed firsthand the power of well crafted Irish music on an audience.

J. Mascis with Kurt Vile & The Violators

March 23, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $21.00 - $41.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

It’s all but inconceivable that J Mascis requires an introduction. In the quarter-century since he founded Dinosaur (Jr.), Mascis has created some of the era’s signature songs, albums and styles. As a skier, golfer, songwriter, skateboarder, record producer and musician, J has few peers. The laconically-based roar of his guitar, drums and vocals have driven a long string of bands—Deep Wound, Dinosaur Jr., Gobblehoof, Velvet Monkeys, the Fog, Witch, Sweet Apple—and he has guested on innumerable sessions. But Several Shades of Why is J’s first solo studio record, and it is an album of incredible beauty, performed with a delicacy not always associated with his work.

Recorded at Amherst Massachusetts’ Bisquiteen Studios, Several Shades… is nearly all acoustic and was created with the help of a few friends. Notable amongst them are Kurt Vile, Sophie Trudeau (A Silver Mount Zion), Kurt Fedora (long-time collusionist), Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), Paulo Zappoli (Black Heart Procession), Matt Valentine (The Golden Road), and Suzanne Thorpe (Wounded Knees). Together in small mutable groupings, they conjure up classic sounds ranging from English-tinged folk to drifty, West Coast-style singer/songwriterism. But every track, every note even, bears that distinct Mascis watermark, both in the shape of the tunes and the glorious rasp of the vocals.

“Megan from Sub Pop has wanted me to do this record for a long time,” J says. "She was very into it when I was playing solo a lot in the early 2000s, around the time of the Fog album [2002’s Free So Free. She always wanted to know when I’d do a solo record. Several Shades of Why came out of that.

“There are a couple of songs that are older, but the rest is new this year. And it’s basically all acoustic. There’s some fuzz, but it’s acoustic through fuzz. There’re no drums on it, either. Just one tambourine song, that’s it. It was a specific decision to not have drums. Usually I like to have them. But going drum-less pushes everything in a new direction, and makes it easier to keep things sounding different.

“The album comes out around the time of South by Southwest, so I guess I’ll play there. It would be cool to have a band, but I don’t know. Some of the songs have a lot of musicians on them. I might start out solo then add people as it goes along. I don’t like playing solo so much. It’s weird. You have to try and keep the show going. If you break a string you have to come up with banter, like Richard Thompson does. He’s the master of the one man show. For me it’s stressful.”

There is little evidence of stress on Several Shades of Why. The title track is a duet with Sophie Trudeau’s violin recalling Nick Drake’s work at its most elegant. “Not Enough” feels like a lost hippie-harmony classic from David Crosby’s If I Could Only Remember My Name. “Is It Done” rolls like one of the Grisman/Garcia tunes on American Beauty. “Very Nervous and Love” has the same rich vibe as the amazing ruralist side of Terry Reid’s The River. And on and on it goes. Ten brilliant tunes that quietly grow and expand until they fill your brain with the purest pleasure.

What a goddamn great album.

—Byron Coley

Diplomats Reunion Tour featuring Cam'ron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana and Freaky Zekey

March 24, 2011  |  9:00 PM  |  $32.50 - $34.00  |  Trocadero Theatre  |  215.922.6888

The Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 1997. The original members of the group were Cam'ron, Freekey Zekey, and Jim Jones ; who all grew up together in Harlem. Juelz Santana would later be added to the group in 2000. (Wikipedia.com)

Caravan Festival featuring DeVotchKa & More

March 25, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $32.70  |  Electric Factory |  215.627.1332

DeVotchKa is a four-piece multi-instrumental and vocal ensemble that fuses Romani, Greek, Slavic, Bolero, Mariachi music with American punk and folk roots. They take their name from the Russian word devotchka (де́вочка), meaning "girl". Based in Denver, Colorado, the quartet is made up of Nick Urata, who sings and plays theremin, guitar, bouzouki, piano, and trumpet; Tom Hagerman, who plays violin, accordion, and piano; Jeanie Schroder, who sings and plays sousaphone and double bass; and Shawn King, who plays percussion and trumpet. (Wikipedia.com)

Al Jarreau with The George Duke Trio

March 25, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $39.50 - $59.50  |  Scottish Rite Auditorium  |  856.216.2170

is an American singer. A seven-time Grammy Award winner, and is the second artist in history (Michael Jackson being the first) to win in the three separate categories: Jazz, Pop, and R&B. He also won the Grammys within a span of four consecutive decades — the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

His top hits include, "Breakin' Away", "Mornin'" and the theme song to the 1980s hit TV show "Moonlighting".

Elton John

March 25, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $29.00 - $149.00  |  Wells Fargo Center  |  215.336.3600

Elton John and his band will appear in concert at Wells Fargo Center on Friday, March 25th performing their “Greatest Hits Live” concert, featuring number one chart hits and classic album tracks from throughout Elton’s incredible five-decade career.

Elton John’s band includes Davey Johnstone on guitar, Bob Birch on bass, John Mahon on percussion, Nigel Olsson on drums, and Kim Bullard on keyboards. One of the most successful live acts on the road today, Elton and his band put on the kind of concert you will never forget: the entire audience standing, dancing and singing along with much-loved classic songs such as “Your Song”, “Daniel”, “Rocket Man”, “Bennie and the Jets” and many more including selections from The UNION, Elton and Leon Russell's critically acclaimed album on Decca Records, available now. It features a variety of musical genres from R&B, Soul, Gospel, Pop and Rock. Rolling Stone Magazine gave The UNION 5 stars.  In addition Elton and Leon are nominated for a 2011 Grammy, Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for “If It Wasn’t for Bad”.

All Time Low with Yellowcard, Hey Monday and Summer Set

March 26, 2011  |  7:00 PM  |  $32.70  |  Electric Factory |  215.627.1332

All Time Low is an American pop punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2003. The band consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alexander Gaskarth, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Jack Barakat, bassist and back vocalist Zachary Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson. The band's name is taken from lyrics in the song "Head on Collision" by New Found Glory.

Formed while still in high school, All Time Low started out covering pop punk bands such as Green Day. They signed their first record deal with Emerald Moon Records in 2004 and released their first EP, titled The Three Words to Remember in Dealing with the End later that year. Their first studio album, The Party Scene, was released July 2005. Before graduating high school in 2006, they signed a record deal with Hopeless Records and re-recorded songs from their debut album and included two new songs for their EP Put Up or Shut Up. The EP entered both the Independent Albums and Top Heatseekers charts.

In 2007, All Time Low released So Wrong, It's Right, which entered the Billboard 200 at number 62. The band was eventually selected as Alternative Press Magazine's Band of the Year for 2008. Their third album Nothing Personal was released in July 2009, debuting at number four on the Billboard 200. (Wikipedia.com)

Lil Wayne "I'm Still Music" Tour

March 26, 2011  |  7:00 PM  |  $49.75 - $99.75  |  Wells Fargo Center  |  215.336.3600

The iconic rapper and owner of the Young Money record label, Lil Wayne is in the midst of a continued run of success with his current radio single “6 Foot 7 Foot” and his recently released 9th studio album I Am Not a Human Being.
 
Lil Wayne, who has sold over 10 million records and whose multi-platinum 2008 album, The Carter III, shattered records by selling over one million copies in its first week of release, will be joined by protégé Nicki Minaj, a top selling rapper signed to his Young Money imprint, whose critically acclaimed debut album Pink Friday has since gone Platinum.
 
In addition to main support act Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne will also be joined by hip hop heavyweight Rick Ross, whose latest effort, Teflon Don, debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified Gold. Rounding out the stellar line up are Travis Barker and Mixmaster Mike.
 
Lil Wayne recently released “6 Foot 7 Foot”, the first single off his heavily anticipated The Carter IV album, slated for a Spring 2011 release via Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown. Produced by Shondrae 'Bangladesh' Crawford and featuring a verse from Young Money newcomer Cory Gunz, "6 Foot, 7 Foot" is a dynamic exercise in word play and flow in which Lil Wayne rhymes over a sample of Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song (Day-O)."

The Wood Brothers with Seth Walker

March 26, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $20.00 - $32.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

Oliver and Chris Wood grew up in Boulder, Colorado. Sons of a poet and a microbiologist, they both instead took up music. Oliver moved to Atlanta and became a southerner while Chris moved to New York City and became a Yankee. While in Atlanta, Oliver soaked up the roots of blues, the soul of the south, and found he had a talent for writing and singing songs. His band, King Johnson toured mostly in the southern states. Meanwhile, Chris was living in Manhattan playing everything from free jazz to rock and roll. This is where he met his band mates to form Medeski Martin & Wood. Now, the Wood Brothers have begun a collaboration that combines their shared childhood influences with everything they've learned since leaving home. Their music has a rootsy feel that blends blues, folk and rock music in a guitar/bass duo.

Vanilla Fudge Farewell Tour

March 27, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $33.00  |  Sellersville Theater  |  215.257.5808

Embarking on their farewell tour, psychedelic-rock super-group Vanilla Fudge returns to Sellersville Theater. They’ve influenced a generation of musicians while creating a legion of loyal fans… and feature original members Guitarist Vinnie Martell, Keyboardist Mark Stein and Drummer Carmine Appice. Vanilla Fudge hit it big with “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”, “Take Me for a While” & "Season of the Witch."

Over the Rhine

March 30, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $27.00 - $40.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

The Long Surrender, the new studio album from the southern Ohio-based husband-and-wife team of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Linford Detweiler and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Karin Bergquist, otherwise known as Over the Rhine, is something rare and wondrous — an intimate epic. Shot through with the joys and sorrows of modern-day existence and the unchanging fundaments of the human condition, the album has the feel of a living thing, senses alert, feet planted firmly on terra firma.

The fan-funded record, to be released on OtR's own Great Speckled Dog label (named after the couple's Great Dane, Elroy), will see the light of day 20 years after their 1991 debut. It's the bountiful result of a collaboration between the couple and producer Joe Henry, whose songs and recordings they've long admired.

Kaki King

March 30, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $19.00 - $27.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

Espionage, particularly the idea of living a double life, was the basis for Kaki King’s brand-new, stunning album Junior. And like a tantalizing spy novel that’s full of surprises, Junior delivers twists-and-turns: lyrically from exuberance and anger to heartbreaking melancholy; and sonically from experimental pieces to accessible pop. While there is some of the dazzling musicianship King has been renowned for, Junior showcases her further maturation as a well-rounded artist that defies categorization and expectations.

Johnny Clegg

April 1, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $29.00 - $45.00  |  Keswick Theater  |  215.572.7650

The Platinum-selling singer/songwriter who formed South Africa's first multi-racial band and brought the white English-speaking society and black African culture together.

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes

April 1, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $29.50 - $49.50  |  Scottish Rite Auditorium  |  856.216.2170

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes are an American band from the Jersey Shore and led by Southside Johnny. They have been recording albums since 1976 and are closely associated with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. During the bands formative years Steve van Zandt (sometimes known as Miami Steve Van Zandt, sometimes as Little Steven) acted as the band’s co-leader, guitarist, songwriter, arranger and producer while other E Streeters including Clarence Clemons, Max Weinberg, Garry Tallent, Ernest Carter, Patti Scialfa and Soozie Tyrell have all performed, toured and/or recorded with the Jukes. The band’s horn section - The Miami Horns - has also toured and recorded with Springsteen. More than one hundred musicians can claim to have been members of The Asbury Jukes, including Jon Bon Jovi who toured with the band as a special guest during 1990.

Southside Johnny (real name John Lyon, born December 4, 1948 in Neptune, New Jersey) is an American singer, harmonica player, and songwriter, who usually fronts his band The Asbury Jukes. (Last.FM)

The Seldom Scene

April 1, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $29.50 - $40.00  |  Sellersville Theater  |  215.257.5808

Since it's inception in 1971, the Seldom Scene has thrived on playing bluegrass a little differently than everyone else. Through skilled musicianship and an urban approach to bluegrass, the Seldom Scene has become one of the most influential - if not the most influential - bluegrass bands of the last 30 years.

Chris Smither

April 1, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $29.50 - $40.00  |  Sellersville Theater  |  215.257.5808

With his long-standing tradition of playing other writer’s works by the likes of Mississippi John Hurt & Lightnin' Hopkins, along with his own compositions, Chris Smither engages concert audiences like no other live performer!

“[Smither] taps his foot to keep the rhythm, much like the late blues legend John Lee Hooker. His finger-picked guitar lines are sleek, unhurried and insistent. And then there’s the voice equal parts gravel and molasses, Smither’s singing sounds like a distillation of the folk and blues heroes he grew up listening to in New Orleans.” - NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
“Bathed in the flickering glow of passing headlights and neon bar signs, Smither’s roots are as blue as they come. There is plenty of misty Louisiana and Lightnin’ Hopkins in Smither’s weathered singing and unhurried picking. So fine.” - ROLLING STONE

The Residents

April 1, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $25.00 - $50.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

Over the course of a recording career spanning several decades, the Residents remained a riddle of Sphinx-like proportions; cloaking their lives and music in a haze of willful obscurity, the band‘s members never idenitified themselves by name, always appearing in public in disguise -- usually tuxedos, top hats and giant eyeball masks -- and refusing to grant media interviews. Drawing inspiration from the likes of fellow innovators including Harry Partch, Sun Ra, and Captain Beefheart, the Residents channelled the breadth of American music into their idiosyncratic, satiric vision, their mercurial blend of electronics, distortion, avant-jazz, classical symphonies and gratingly nasal vocals reinterpreting everyone from John Philip Sousa to James Brown while simultaneously expanding the boundaries of theatrical performance and multimedia interaction.

Willy Porter

April 3, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $22.00  |  Tin Angel  |  215.928.0770

Like Greg Brown, John Hammond, Leo Kottke, Stephen Fearing, Richard Shindell, Kelly Joe Phelps, and so many others, Willy Porter is often at his strongest as a solo act. He does work with a band periodically, but given the economics of touring in recent years, he seems to perform more frequently accompanying himself with guitar and mandolin. Porter honed his chops the natural way, busking across Europe and playing every little coffee house and dive bar on both sides of the Mississippi. He's a veteran performer who takes his audiences with him on the journey. He elicits a rare kind of communication between artist and audience, mostly because he's able to read his audiences so well.  Richard J. Skelly, Rovi

Orla Fallon

April 5, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $40.00 - $50.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

“I have been privileged in the places that music has brought me," says Órla Fallon.
Given the places she’s been these past years, it would be difficult to disagree. The Pope, US Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and Irish President Mary McAleese, have all been a part of Órla's audiences throughout these past five years, both as a young solo artist and with the phenomenally successful group Celtic Woman.
Since leaving Celtic Woman at the end of 2008, Órla has been charting a solo path that is launching with her very own American Public Television holiday special – Órla Fallon’s Celtic Christmas. Her career is set to take off.

Rod Stewart & Stevie Nicks

April 5, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  Call for Ticket Prices  |  Wells Fargo Center  |  215.336.3600

In a career spanning five decades, with an estimated 250 million album and single sales, Rod Stewart is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and indisputably one of the most successful performers of all time. He finished 2010 at the top of both the touring and album charts - highlighted by his critically-heralded, sold-out first run of concerts at The Colosseum in Las Vegas, a “Boxscore,” chart-topping, 33-date European summer tour which included 4 sold-out dates at London’s O2 Arena. Throughout his prolific career, he’s garnered16-Grammy nominations, including his current for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album," and sales of more than one million albums worldwide for his 2010 album FLY ME TO THE MOON…THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK, VOLUME V.
 
Stevie Nicks, Rock and Roll's reigning queen, will be releasing her highly anticipated new CD “IN: YOUR DREAMS” on May 3, 2011. The new album, her first album of new material in a decade, was co-produced by former Eurythmic Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard. The new album is now available for fans to pre order at stevienicks.warnerreprise.com. Fans who pre-order the CD will receive an instant download of the record's first single, the Nicks’ penned "Secret Love”. The official release date of the single is February 3rd. Nicks is a multi-Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and member of Fleetwood Mac.

Amos Lee with The Secret Sisters

April 5, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $29.50 - $35.00  |  Merriam Theatre  |  215.732.5446

Amos Lee is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His musical style encompasses folk, soul, and jazz. He has released four albums on Blue Note Records, Amos Lee, Supply and Demand, Last Days at the Lodge, and Mission Bell. He has been on tour with musicians such as Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, John Prine, and Dave Matthews Band. Lee performs with drummer Fred Berman and bassist Jaron Olevsky. Some of his musical influences include Stevie Wonder, John Prine, Bill Withers, and James Taylor. (Wikipedia.com)

Marcia Ball

April 6, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $30.00 - $40.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

Singer/pianist Marcia Ball knows how to raise roofs and tear down walls with her infectious, intelligent and deeply emotional brand of southern boogie, rollicking, roadhouse blues and heartfelt ballads. Over the course of her three-decade career, Ball has earned a huge and intensely loyal following all over the world. Her exquisite piano playing and passionate, playful vocals fuse New Orleans and Gulf Coast R&B with Austin's deep songwriting tradition into a sound No Depression described as "a little rock, a lot of roll, a pinch of rhythm and a handful of blues."

"Still Something Big Tour" with BeBe and CeCe Winans & Mary Mary

April 8, 2011  |  6:00 PM  |  $49.50 - $62.45  |  Tower Theatre  |  610.352.2887

BeBe & CeCe Winans are an American Gospel music brother and sister duo. BeBe (Benjamin) and CeCe (Priscilla) Winans are the seventh and eighth of "Mom" and "Pop" Winans' ten children, most of whom have had successful Gospel music careers.

While BeBe and CeCe were in high school, four of their elder brothers formed the successful Gospel music group The Winans. Initially known as The Winans Part II, BeBe and CeCe first appeared in the public eye when they debuted in 1982 as part of the singing group The PTL Singers on the long running popular Christian television show Praise The Lord.  They were introduced by Jim Bakker by their childhood nicknames and recorded their first album Lord Lift Us Up as a duo for PTL Records. (Wikipedia.com)

Phil Vassar

April 8, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $29.00 - $42.00  |  Scottish Rite Auditorium  |  856.216.2170

Phil Vassar’s unbounded energy and limitless talent have proven him, again and again, as one of Nashville’s most prolific and versatile stars. His resume boasts six #1 hits for country artists including Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, and Collin Raye, and three more as an artist in his own right. He’s been named the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year twice and has taken top honors from the Academy of Country Music, Billboard and MusicRow. Now releasing his sixth album, Traveling Circus, Vassar approaches his uniquely piano-based, rhythm and blues-infused, infectiously buoyant brand of country music from the back-to-basics school of thought.

Black Lips with Vivian Girls and Moon Women

April 9, 2011  |  9:00 PM  |  $28.00 - $30.00  |  Trocadero Theatre  |  215.922.6888

The Atlanta, Georgia-based garage rock revivalists the Black Lips established their reputation in the early 00s with a live act that bordered on the fringes of legality, and indeed led the band to being banned from several venues in their home state. Forming in 2000, the original line-up comprised Cole Alexander (vocals/guitar), Ben Eberbaugh (b. 1980, USA, d. 1 December 2002, Georgia, USA; guitar), Jared Swilley (bass/vocals) and Joe Bradley (drums/vocals), and made its recording debut in 2002 with the single "Ain't Comin' Back". A succession of independent releases followed before the band was signed to Greg Shaw's Bomp! Records label. Tragedy struck shortly before the release of their self-titled debut album, when guitarist Eberbaugh was killed in a car accident. The remaining trio vowed to continue to honour their friend's memory, and recruited Hines as their new guitarist. Black Lips! demonstrated a keen musical understanding beneath the band's raucous rock 'n' roll swagger, and the album was given an enthusiastic welcome by the US alternative scene.

Following the release of the slightly less essential We Did Not Know The Forest Spirit Made The Flowers Grow, the Black Lips relocated to the Californian independent label In The Red Recordings for the release of 2005's Let It Bloom. By this point Ian Brown aka Ian St. Pe had joined in place of Hines, but there was little musical progress evident on the album with the band sticking true to the limited but highly enjoyable garage punk blueprint established on their earlier releases. A further label change saw the quartet switch to Vice Records for two 2007 releases, the live Los Valientos Del Mundo Nuevo and the studio set Good Bad Not Evil. Alexander, Swilley and Bradley also play together in the Spooks, while the former has released solo material under the title Old King Cole Younger.

Imagination Movers "In a Big Warehouse" Tour

April 10, 2011  |  1:30 & 4:30 PM  |  $47.20 - $57.60  |  Tower Theatre  |  610.352.2887

In a Big Warehouse is more than the title of the Imagination Movers’ new album of smartly crafted children’s pop songs. The Warehouse holds the secret to the Movers themselves.

“The Warehouse has always been a metaphor for the human imagination, our ability to dream,” says Rich Collins (also known as Imagination Mover Rich), one of the four founding members of the band. “It’s a physical representation of the idea that anything is possible.”

The Movers’ own story provides a good example of the power of imagination. In 2003, four New Orleans friends – Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche and Scott “Smitty” Smith – started gathering after their kids’ bedtimes to write songs and brainstorm ideas about a children’s television show. Two years later, they had become the latest sensation of their musical city, attracting parents and children alike with an eclectic pop sensibility and lyrical turns about healthy snacks and playing catch and conquering childhood fears of bedtime. Lines to the Movers’ shows stretched down blocks.

When the levees broke after Hurricane Katrina, the far-reaching disaster turned the Movers’ world upside down, but it didn’t put an end to their dream. Even while band members salvaged their belongings from flooded homes – and Smith reported to his day job as a fire fighter and first responder – they never stopped living according to the Movers’ motto: “Reach high, think big, work hard, have fun!”

This motto has served the band well. Not even the Imagination Movers could have fully imagined the band’s current break-through success. Now filming their third season of their hit music-and-comedy series for Playhouse Disney, the Movers have sold more than 200,000 CDs and DVDs to date. Critical acclaim includes nods from Entertainment Weekly and the New York Times, which reported the Movers are “prized by many parents for non-condescending lyrics and music that evokes the Beastie Boys or Red Hot Chili Peppers.” Parenting magazine praised the band’s “dash of rebellion” and songs that are “fresh and treacle-free.” National television appearances include The View, Live with Regis & Kelly, and Good Morning America. In 2009, the Imagination Movers won a Daytime Emmy Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for outstanding original song in the children’s show/animation category.

For the Movers, it all starts with the songs. “Above all, we love following our muse and trying to write the best songs possible,” says Collins. “We’re proud of the hooks and production on songs like “Butterfly,” “Up, Up, Up,” “Bounce” and “Getting Stronger.” The band never sets out to target songs to specific age groups, Collins adds. Instead, a typical Movers set is “a collection of catchy pop/rock songs that we hope reflects our love and respect for the art form.”

WXPN Welcomes Loudon Wainwright III

April 10, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $33.00 - $47.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

Loudon Wainwright III wrote his first song in 1968, "Edgar", about a Watch Hill, RI lobsterman, and was soon signed to Atlantic Records by Nesuhi Ertegun. Several years later, Clive Davis lured him to Columbia Records, where 1972's "Album III" yielded the top 20 hit "Dead Skunk". His recording career spans a total of 23 albums, including 2009's Grammy-winning "High Wide & Handsome", a musical tribute to Charlie Poole (1893-1931), the legendary, yet obscure NC singer and banjo player. (Awarded 'Album of the Year' status by Entertainment Weekly editor and NPR contributor Ken Tucker.) Wainwright has collaborated with songwriter /producer Joe Henry on the music for Judd Apatow's hit movie "Knocked Up", written music for the British theatrical adaptation of the Carl Hiaasen novel "Lucky You", and composed topical songs for NPR's "Morning Edition ", "All Things Considered" and ABC's "Nightline". Loudon Wainwright songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, Rufus Wainwright, and Mose Allison, among others.

Loudon's acting career includes an early recurring role as Capt. Calvin Spalding, the singing surgeon, in TV's M.A.S.H. and a stint in "Pump Boys & Dinettes" on Broadway, and more recent work in films directed by Hal Ashby, Tim Burton, Cameron Crowe, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Guest, and Judd Apatow. He also appeared as a regular in Apatow's critically acclaimed TV series "Undeclared".

Loudon's latest CD release is 2010's "Songs For the New Depression", a collection of topical songs on his own label, Cummerbund Records.

Chris Cornell "The Songbook Tour"

April 1, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $39.50 - $49.50  |  Keswick Theater  |  215.572.7650

Chris Cornell is a rock icon who thrives on contradictions. An innovator who resists genre labels, he was nonetheless the chief architect of the 90s grunge movement. Frequently ranked as one of the best voices in music history, he has successfully maintained his own unique identity over more than two decades as a multi-Grammy award winning musician and universally acclaimed singer, songwriter and lyricist.

Seattle trailblazers Soundgarden were a law to themselves, edgy, dark and deeply individual. Their savage soundscapes, coupled with Cornell’s incisive lyrics and predatory roar, seduced audiences hungry for musical depth and complexity while leading trends in street fashion and iconic design. In 1989, they became the first Seattle band to sign to a major label. Their sound continued to change and evolve over the course of five pioneering albums.

Celebrated side project Temple of the Dog had already shown Cornell’s more soulful side and introduced future Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder to the world. Later, Cornell shocked the business once again with richly melodic, critically acclaimed solo album “Euphoria Morning”, swiftly recognized for its alienation and despair. And as the millennium turned, he joined with three other musical pioneers from rap-rock’s Rage Against The Machine to create Audioslave - a multi-platinum supergroup which lived to deny its detractors, producing three top-selling albums, touring the world and becoming the first American band to bring rock to Castro’s Cuba.

Since then, Cornell has redefined his sound and vision to encompass new music, new collaborations and new activities. Having contributed solo songs to movie soundtracks from “Great Expectations” to “Mission Impossible II”, he became the first American male singer to write the theme song for the James Bond franchise in “Casino Royale.” His bold and bluesy reinvention of Michael Jackson dance classic “Billie Jean” courted controversy and attracted imitators. And his triumphant world tour brought together songs from every stage of his career, reinterpreting them for new audiences and blending their original fire with the shock of the new. Cornell fronted fashion designer John Varvatos’s Spring 2006 collection, helped revive a historic Parisian restaurant/nightclub, the stylish Black Calavados, and forged the first-ever multimedia partnership between an artist and a commercial airline, Virgin America.

Accept with Sabaton, Season of Mourning and Kennedy Red

April 14, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $22.50 - $24.00  |  Trocadero Theatre  |  215.922.6888

After quite a few years away from the visible hard rock scene, Germany’s legendary ACCEPT have returned to the metal forefront with an elated new singer, a euphoric new album, and global tours. Yes, ACCEPT are back to carry on the timeless tradition of the infectious, immediately identifiable ACCEPT sound, but with fresh ideas and a matured outlook on music and life. A new era begins!

Tower of Power & Average White Band

April 15 & 16, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $41.50 - $49.50  |  Keswick Theater  |  215.572.7650

Funk it up with the two classic bands as they double-bill at one of their favorite venues in the world – truly a "Funky Friday and Saturday" like no other!

BJ Thomas

April 16, 2011  |  3:00 PM & 8:00 PM  |  $39.50 - $55.00  |  Sellersville Theater  |  215.257.5808

Best know for the classic “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”, BJ Thomas is one of the most recognized & respected voices of the American musical landscape; he’s impacted many areas of popular music with 15 Top 40 hits, 10 Top 40 country singles, 5 Grammys, 2 Dove awards, 15 Gold & Platinum Records – all selling over 70 million copies! His other chart topers include “Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song”, “I Just Can’t Believing”, “Rock and Roll Lullaby”, "I'm So Lonesome, I Could Cry" & “Hooked on a Feeling”

Black Veil Brides & More

April 16, 2011  |  6:00 PM  |  $23.00  |  Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA)  |  215.922.1011

Black Veil Brides is an American rock band formed in 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The group is composed of Andrew Biersack ("Andy Six") (vocals), Ashley Purdy (bass, backing vocals), Jake Pitts (lead guitar), Jeremy Ferguson (guitar, violin) and Christian Coma (drums). Currently signed to the label StandBy Records, the band's debut album, We Stitch These Wounds was released in July 2010 and sold nearly 11,000 copies in its first week, ranking at #36 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and #1 on the Billboard Independent chart.[1][2][3] Black Veil Brides are known for their distinct appearance, mainly being inspired by Kiss's infamous stage persona as well as numerous 1980s glam acts. (Wikipedia.com)

?uestlove of The Roots

April 17, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $30.00 - $56.00  |  Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts  |  215.790.5800

An unconventional drummer, DJ, and producer, ?uestlove launched to stardom as a member of Grammy® winning band The Roots. He is internationally recognized for his expressive style, infused with hip-hop and multicultural elements. ?uestlove has collaborated on dynamic projects with musical artists spanning every genre—from pop to Broadway—including Christina Aguilera, John Mayer, Jay-Z, and Iggy Pop. Catch ?uestlove's spin on Paris of 100 years ago as he joins forces with surprise special guests!

An Evening with Cake

April 17 & 18, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $36.50 - $43.50  |  Keswick Theater  |  215.572.7650

The multi-Platinum iconoclasts who epitomize the post-modern, irony-drenched aesthetic of '90s geek-rock, freely mixing widely-varying genres with a particular delight in the aural clashes that result.

Symphony X with Nevermore and Soilwork

April 21, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $26.00 - $28.00  |  Trocadero Theatre  |  215.922.6888

Symphony X is an American progressive metal band.

Founded in New Jersey in 1994 by guitarist Michael Romeo, their albums The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite have given the band considerable attention within the progressive metal community.

Hayes Carll + Jason Isbell

April 21, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $20.00 - $39.00  |  World Cafe Live  |  215.222.1400

Hayes Carll hasn’t been resting on his laurels since topping critics polls and winning awards for his 2008 album, Trouble in Mind. Instead, he’s been on the road nearly nonstop with his band, "The Poor Choices" blasting through honky tonks and rock clubs across the U.S. and beyond. Along the way, he’s been inspired to write a crop of new tunes that the acclaimed songwriter says are “a layman’s take on our country – a snapshot of America in some small way.” The result: the sharply drawn collection KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories), his second release from Lost Highway. A military acronym that stands for “Kiss My Ass Guys, You’re on Your Own,” fiery rock, twangy country, pensive folk and even a touch of gospel comprise KMAG YOYO’s sonic palette.

An Alabama native, Jason Isbell comes from a tradition of Southern music. He proudly embraces his roots, which shine through in his songs and even in the title of the new album. Here We Rest, the title of his newest album, was Alabama’s original motto. However, instead of resting comfortably within its boundaries, Isbell, along with keyboardist Derry deBorja, guitarist Browan Lollar, drummer Chad Gamble and bassist Jimbo Hart transcend them. His thoughtful songwriting and warm, soulful voice are genuine, natural abilities that come through in the music.

Get the Led Out The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute

April 22 & 23, 2011  |  8:30 PM  |  $33.00  |  Electric Factory  |  215.627.1332

Get a double shot of Led with one of the most creative & influential bands in rock history. With the exception of a few “must play” Led Zeppelin classics, expect a different set of songs each night! Get your tickets early as GTLO always sell-out their only intimate venue public performance!

James Blunt with Christina Perri

April 23, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $45.50 - $69.50  |  Tower Theatre  |  610.352.2887

“I’ve been on a bit of a roller coaster,” says James Blunt, in his typically dry, British understatement. Two albums, two world tours and 18 million records sold later, Blunt has taken a journey that few ever experience. Now, with his compelling new Custard/Atlantic album “Some Kind of Trouble”, he’s back home.

The album is delightfully upbeat and uncynical. “It captures a bit of the mood of the early ‘80s. There was a global atmosphere in the West that we could do anything – the same optimism we felt as teenagers,” says Blunt,. ‘Some Kind of Trouble’ really captures that same sense of freedom and excitement and naivety.”

Blunt’s first album, “Back to Bedlam,” catapulted him into worldwide superstardom on the strength of such massive songs as “You’re Beautiful,” “High” and “Goodbye My Lover.” His second album, 2007’s “All the Lost Souls,” debuted at No. 1 in 10 countries, selling nearly 5 million copies globally and featuring such hits as “1973,” ”Same Mistake” and “Carry You Home.”

The five-time Grammy nominee now sees the first two albums as a pair of book ends –action and reaction. “Some Kind of Trouble” starts a new chapter. “The second album was quite introverted. It was about perception. But these new songs are not about fame and celebrity – they’re about reality,” Blunt says. “I’ve been hanging out with my friends, writing songs about the world we live in, and where we want to go.”

Produced mainly by Steve Robson, key tracks include the bittersweet “These are the Words,” the trenchant, pointed “Superstar” and the infectious “Stay the Night,” a sexy, acoustic-guitar driven, party song about “singing ‘Billie Jean’ and mixing vodka and caffeine.” Written by Blunt, Robson, and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, the song also shouts-out to the legendary Bob Marley, referencing the reggae master’s “Is This Love.” In addition to collecting his first (and likely last) co-write with Marley, “Stay the Night” marks the first time Blunt has written with two other songwriters in the same room or started songs from scratch.

Indeed, a sense of freshness and spontaneity pervades “Some Kind of Trouble,” which Blunt recorded largely in London. “Previously, I would write a song and we’d go and record it later. This time, it was very much come in with nothing,” Blunt recalls. “There was a sense of energy and excitement, to just have fun in the studio and make a noise. We did that and felt natural.” In addition to Robson, with whom he wrote the majority of the album, Blunt also wrote with The Bird & the Bee’s Greg Kurstin, Better Than Ezra’s Kevin Griffin, Wayne Hector and “All the Lost Souls” collaborator Eg White, with whom he wrote the brash “Turn Me On,” which will probably dispel the idea of Blunt as “Mr. Sensitive”. “People expect me to be quite a serious person, who takes life and myself seriously, and that’s not really the case,” he says. “Maybe they’ll see another side in this album?”

That doesn’t mean the “Some Kind of Trouble” is scared to tackle some heavy topics. The album’s anchor is “No Tears,” an unsentimental ballad about “the summing up of a life,” Blunt says. “There are certain songs along the way that are milestones - that define a writer to themselves. Goodbye My Lover was that song on the first album. Same Mistake was from the second. No Tears is my milestone on this album.”

In this tabloid-driven age of overexposure, Blunt fervently wants the music to have the first and final word. “I have a Twitter account which my label and management want me to do and I can’t engage with it in a way they want me to,” he admits. “They want me to say ‘I’m eating this for breakfast’ and I’m upset about this in the world today.’ The world wants public figures to over-share and I don’t feel comfortable doing it, so I kind of enjoy the way the songs try to speak for themselves.”

It’s not that he’s not concerned about world events, it’s more that in this self-absorbed world, he is an artist who realizes the world does not revolve around him. “With so much attention, it’s easy for musicians to think too much of themselves and their position in the world,” he says. “We’re not worthy of that kind of self consideration.” In fact, Blunt feels the best use of celebrity is to use it to shine the spotlight with those doing good. As he had done on previous concert treks, on his 2008-2009 globe-spanning tour Blunt raised funds for Doctors Without Borders, the international medical humanitarian organization whose work the Sandhurst graduate witnessed first hand as a British military officer stationed in Kosovo. He also works closely with Friends of the Earth to increase awareness of climate change.

Indeed, as much as he loves making new music, for Blunt, the ultimate joy comes from playing the songs live and sharing them with an audience. And with a new tour starting in 2011, he’s looking forward to getting back out there. As the recording process comes to a close, he’s waiting to climb back on the bus. “Put the album out and get me on tour,” he says. “We’re going to have the time of our lives playing these songs.”

Sepultura with Belphegor, Hate, Keep of Kalessin, Neuraxis and Bonded By Blood

April 24, 2011  |  6:00 PM  |  $23.00 - $25.00  |  Trocadero Theatre  |  215.922.6888

Sepultura is a Brazilian thrash metal band formed in 1984. Brothers Max Cavalera, Igor Cavalera, formed the band with Paulo Pinto, Jairo Guedes and Wagner Lamounier though Lamounier left the band before they recorded anything, being replaced by Max on vocals.

Their debut album Morbid Visions was released in 1986 after which Guedes left and was replaced by Andreas Kisser. Schizophrenia won them a contract with Roadrunner Records and secured their entry into the metal mainstream, a success they consolidated with the release of Beneath the Remains in 1989.

Chaos A.D. (1993) and Roots (1996) introduced groove metal into their arsenal and won them new fans, though old fans were disappointed by this shift. By this time the band were experiencing inter band tensions which was not helped by their decision to dispense with their manager, Gloria Cavalera, Max's wife. Max left and formed Soulfly, leaving the remainder of the band to find new vocalist, Derrick Green.

The next three releases were Against (1998), Nation (2001) and Roorback (2003) which failed to achieve the commercial success of their predecessors.

Dante XXI was released in 2006 and marked a return to form, with fans ignoring the media's criticism. (SoundUnwound)

Asia

April 29, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $39.00 - $59.00  |  Keswick Theater  |  215.572.7650

John Wetton (King Crimson), Carl Palmer (Emerson Lake & Palmer), Steve Howe (Yes) & Geoff Downes (The Buggles) re-unite to present their classic hits – "Heat of the Moment", "Don't Cry", "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" and many more!

Down

April 29, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $24.00 - $27.00  |  Trocadero Theatre  |  215.922.6888

Most typical southern band bios start with the cliché and overused phrase "from the murky swamps" or "bayou born and bred". Those sentiments, while holding some air of truth, are too redundant for Down. Down isn't your typical 'Southern' band. This is a band, however, molded and twisted by their environment. Passionate, focused, hanging on to their NOLA pride and upbringing, much like Louisiana's Spanish moss drifting and swaying from hurricane and termite damaged Magnolia trees. The war torn history of the brotherhood is a tribute to stubbornness and retribution that belies all combined groups before and concerns an introspection in rock, blues and metal as an inspiration/instigation for the ages. Down has risen a certain flag high for every piss poor jealous fool to see. They wear their influences on their ragged sleeves as well as personify despair and display agony very accurately. Imagine early Southern Rock squeezing through a Geezer Butler strainer in these post punk modern days. There is no label for what Down does, as are there no labels for the "thousand miles from New York" bands that share members with them; Crowbar, Corrosion of Conformity, EyeHateGod, and Pantera. This is chemistry. This is the solution. This is the band people will lie about and say that they were into from the beginning. I don't know if anyone remembers there's a war going on in Iraq, but there's a war going on here on the home front, in your head, with late night reconnaissance missions called "Temptation's Wings" and "Losing All". The southern hemisphere, primarily New Orleans, has much to offer by way of paralyzing roots music these days. In these dark times of cookie cutter paint-by-numbers wastes of recording contracts, an air of originality unseen anywhere else lives below the Mason-Dixon line. This is post-Katrina New Orleans.Through the wreckage and wretchedness, the third Down--Over The Under is poised fanatically on the edge

Of Montreal

April 29, 2011  |  9:00 PM  |  $30.50  |  Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA)  |  215.922.1011

It has been said that an original artist is not a person who emulates no one, but rather is somebody that no one can emulate.

Over the last fifteen years, of Montreal has imitated everyone (86 covers and counting), while developing its own inimitable sound -- a unique mixture of indie-pop, glam-rock, funk, and R&B.

Though private and reserved, frontman Kevin Barnes wears his fame like a feathered fedora: on the children's show Yo Gabba Gabba, in collaborations with Spike Jonze, on stage spanking pigs with Susan Sarandon, on horseback in NYC's Roseland Ballroom, and even spontaneously performing six songs nude during a concert in Las Vegas.

And yet, perhaps the most shocking aspect of Barnes' career is something he has NOT done during his previous 15 years as a musician: entered the studio. As Barnes puts it, of Montreal’s first nine albums were made with “just one man, a computer, and a dirty dream."

"You really could describe Kevin as somebody like Prince," says of Montreal lead guitarist Bryan Poole. "He can play everything and view everything all on his own. There's a kind of magic when you've done it all yourself."

As such, Barnes' decision to eschew his customary Athens-based home studio was one that could only be made once the ideal scenario presented itself. He was waiting for the perfect place, Ocean Way Recording, the world's most awarded studio ( Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra), and the perfect producer, Jon Brion (Kanye West, Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright).

"You know, I was so lucky and privileged to have Jon step in and offer his services and open up all these doors for me sonically,” says Barnes. “There's no way I could buy this sort of education. I think he saw me and thought, 'Okay, here's this guy, he's got good ideas, he's got good songs, but the way he goes about recording is not the best way as far as getting the highest, or most satisfying audio fidelity.'"

And so, just as Jon Brion convinced Kevin to ditch his laptop, you should ditch it too. If you hear the band’s new album in your headphones, you won't hear the half of it. False Priest is of Montreal at its most bumping, with falsettos so high and bass so low, you need to blast it in the car or in the club if you want the full-body massage, a CinemaScopic sound that only Brion could lend.

Together they have created of Montreal's masterpiece -- a fully liberated marriage of mind and body, a perfectly executed sonic delight. In place of midi instruments and endless laptop tinkering, Barnes and Brion re-tracked guitars and basses, and fleshed out the album's songs with live drums, pianos, and entire string sections.

With unlimited access to Brion's extensive collection of near-impossible-to-find analog gear, they were able to capture a sound that is as timeless as the songs Barnes has penned.

Take, for example, "Coquet Coquette" -- a driving, groove-oriented rocker punctuated by a Morricone-style guitar and dexterous bassline amid walls of cinematic noise. Or the propulsive and eclectic dance floor track "Like a Tourist," which is reminiscent of Prince's brightest moments and showcases some of the album's most intriguing experiments with sub-bass.

In addition, the album walks a paper thin line between rock and funk/R&B due in part to guest spots by Solange Knowles (Beyonce's sister) and Janelle Monae (whose latest record, The ArchAndroid, Barnes guests on).

"Our Riotous Effects," the first of two appearances by Monae, is a slice of bombastic funk that finds Barnes channeling the classic Gap Band track "You Dropped The Bomb On Me." The song features an inspired spoken word turn that features Barnes musing about a "Crazy Girl" who, among many other things, kills his beta fish. Monae also contributes to "Enemy Gene," a warm, futuristic disco duet about hope and love in an apocalyptic world.

With Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye in their ears, Barnes and Knowles team up on "Sex Karma," a boogie-on-reggae-woman, got-to-give-it-up, funky-space-reincarnation: you look like a playground to me, player.

Barnes has described working with Knowles and Janelle Monae and her Wondaland Arts Society as a "new inspiration, the greatest gift you could ask for." The feeling is certainly mutual, with Knowles declaring in a recent interview: “Kevin's a musical genius; there are just so many layers to work with."

This notion of allowing your layers to be peeled away – as of Montreal does with each new album, with each elaborate stage performance, with each crazy exploit – is one that Barnes addresses through the title False Priest.

Despite the connotations it evokes, the name is not a diatribe against organized religion. Instead, as Barnes explains, "False Priest is not a person. It's a self-delusion, putting restrictions on self that don't need to be there."

Assuredly, the first step toward shedding these inhibitions is to experience of Montreal’s new record in the company of others. In an age when we too often listen to music alone, False Priest gives us a reason to call up friends, family, lovers, haters, even strangers on the street.

The album is a surrealist treasure that must be shared to be understood. Because, as the album closes, "if you think some prophet’s words are more important than your brother and your sister, you’re ill and you’re wrong."

Watcha Clan

April 30, 2011  |  7:30 PM  |  $22.00  |  Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts  |  215.790.5800

'Controlled chaos in concert,' says National Public Radio. Watcha Clan's high-octane grooves and distinct electronic sound defy classification. True musical nomads, the Marseille-based French-Algerian foursome juggles the rhythms and languages (French, Arabic, Hebrew, and English) of their Mediterranean roots and sounds picked up during global wanderings. Dub and reggae, electronica and hip-hop, every style is fair game and all become part of the Clan's musical language at PIFA's frenetic live dance party. We dare you not to dance!

'The overall effect was like 'Fiddler On A Roof' goes to a rave…and the take-home message was one of peace through finding common ground on the dance floor.' —San Francisco Weekly

Radio 104.5 presents Thirty Seconds to Mars

April 30, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $44.85 - $52.00  |  Susquehanna Bank Center  |  856.365.1300

30 Seconds to Mars is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1998. Since 2007, the band has been composed of actor Jared Leto (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, songwriter), Shannon Leto (drums, percussion) and Tomo Miličević (lead guitar, keyboards). Following the departure of Matt Wachter (now of Angels & Airwaves) in 2007, Tim Kelleher became the bassist for the group, performing live only with both Jared and Miličević recording bass for studio recordings, while Braxton Olita (keyboards) was added to the touring lineup in 2009. Previously, the group also featured guitarists Solon Bixler (now of Great Northern) and Kevin Drake.

To date, 30 Seconds to Mars have released three studio albums – 30 Seconds to Mars (2002); A Beautiful Lie (2005); This Is War (2009) and two extended plays – AOL Sessions Undercover (2007) and To the Edge of the Earth (2008). (Wikipedia.com)

Skrillex

April 30, 2011  |  9:00 PM  |  $25.00  |  Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA)  |  215.922.1011

Sonny John Moore (born January 15, 1988), professionally known as Skrillex, is an American electronic musician from Los Angeles, California, well known for his role as the former frontman for the post-hardcore band From First to Last. In late fall of 2007 he embarked on his first tour as a solo artist, the Team Sleep Tour with Team Sleep, Strata, and Monster in the Machine. After recruiting a new band lineup, Moore toured North America on the Alternative Press Tour, supporting bands such as All Time Low and The Rocket Summer, and appeared on the cover of Alternative Press' annual 100 Bands You Need to Know issue.[2] In June 2008, Moore went into recording for his debut album, titled Bells, alongside producer Noah Shain. He recently released the Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites EP as a co-release between mau5trap and Big Beat record labels, and runs an imprint label called Owsla, named after an organization in the book Watership Down. (Wikipedia.com)

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