This week in Philly music features a Motown legend, a reunited prog-rock arena band, a country star turned yacht rock enthusiast, two terrific power-pop triple bills, and a two-night residency with one of the most acclaimed of contemporary jazz artists.
Thursday Aug. 20
Mon Laferte & Silvana Estrada
One of the coolest double bills of the summer, if not the entire year. Chilean Mexican singer and songwriter Mon Laferte mixes pop and alternative rock with cumbia, bolero, ranchera, and electronic music. And she does it with a dramatic flair that feels wholly her own. She’s also a visual artist and starred as Sally Bowles in Cabaret in Mexico City last year. Opening for Laferte on her “Femme Fatale” tour is Silvana Estrada whose Vendrán Suaves Lluvias is a luminous mixture of folk, jazz, and traditional Mexican musical forms. 8 p.m. Met Philly, 858 N. Broad St., themetphilly.com
Marion Meadows
Smooth soprano sax player Marion Meadows’ story dates to the late 1980s, when Star Trek TV composer Jay Chattaway heard Meadows playing in Grand Central Station while the two were waiting for the same train. Chattaway introduced Meadows to pianist composer Bob James, who then helped Meadows kick off his career. His latest album is Just Doing Me, on New Jersey’s Shanachie label. He’s playing a John Coltrane tribute show with Gerald Veaskley as part of the Jazz Under the Stars series. 8 p.m., Presser Foundation Stage, the TD Pavilion at the Highmark Mann, 5201 Parkside Ave., highmarkmann.org
Friday Aug. 21
Gregory Alan Isakov
Horticulturalist-slash-musician: That’s a label you don’t hear too often. Gregory Alan Isakov, who plays guitar and owns a small farm in Colorado, makes simple, quiet, ruminative music that has earned him a growing audience. He’s been playing with big bands and orchestras lately, and this show is with the Philly Pops. 8 p.m., Highmark Mann, 5201 Parkside Ave., highmarkmann.org
Kiwi Jr.
Canadian quartet Kiwi Jr. makes super-catchy guitar-pop music and its streak of excellence continues on its fourth album, Blowin’ Up, whose title may or may not be a predictor of an upcoming explosion in popularity. Who knows? But no matter what happens, you can say you saw the band early in its nascent stardom if you check out either of its two Friday shows. First, singer-guitarist Jeremy Gaudet and crew are playing Free at Noon. Then they’re headlining a triple bill in Fishtown that night with Philly’s own like-minded bands, 2nd Grade and Log Flume, opening. Noon, World Stage, 3025 Walnut St., xpn.org and 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., johnnybrendas.com
Masego
Jamaican-born multi-instrumentalist Masego — born Micah Davis — calls his R&B-based genre-fluid sound “traphouse jazz.” His newest, Fix Your Face, has a seductive, insinuating groove seasoned with his saxophone playing and assisted by guests that include Leon Thomas, Keyshia Cole, Buju Banton, and Philly neo-soul singer Musiq Soulchild. Lekan opens. 8 p.m., Met Philly, 858 N. Broad St., themetphilly.com
Friday Aug. 21 and Saturday Aug. 22
Diana Ross
Indomitable Motown queen Diana Ross is out on her “Diana in Motion” tour. She has plenty of hits to choose from, going back to the Supremes’ “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Someday We’ll Be Together” to solo songs like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Love Hangover,” and “I’m Coming Out,” which has become her signature song as well as an anthem of gay pride. 8 p.m. Friday, Ocean Resort, 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, theoceanac.com and 8 p.m. Saturday, Wind Creek Event Center, 77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem, Pa., windcreekeventcenter.com
Keith Urban
Keith Urban has gone yacht rock. The Australian country star’s new album, Flow State, includes 10 covers and one original: “We Go Back,” which features yacht rock godhead Michael McDonald and was cowritten by South Jersey-raised country artist Breland. Other guests include Little Big Town and John Mayer, and the song selection covers the soft-rock bases, from Walter Egan’s “Magnet and Steel” to Seals & Crofts “Summer Breeze” and Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers’ “Just the Two of Us.” 8 p.m., Etess Arena at Hard Rock Live, 1000 Boardwalk, casino.hardrock.com/atlantic-city
Friday Aug. 21 and Sunday Aug. 23
Rush
Cynicism about Canadian prog-rockers Rush touring again, for the first time in 11 years and for the first time ever without virtuosic drummer Neil Peart, who died in 2020, has evaporated. That’s because Rush’s famously predominantly male audience, who so admired Peart’s technical proficiency, have found itself in awe of Anika Nilles, the woman who now sits on the Rush drum throne and has earned universal praise from fans. Nilles and bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson play two South Philly shows on their “Fifty Something Tour.” 8 p.m., Xfinity Mobile Arena, 3601 S. Broad St., xfinitymobilearena.com
Saturday Aug. 22
Chance the Rapper
A decade ago, Chance the Rapper was riding high, having followed up his 2013 breakthrough Acid Tap with the widely praised mixtape Coloring Book. That collection, which included collaborations with Saba, Lil Wayne, and 2Chainz, is the focus of a 10th anniversary tour. 8 p.m., Fillmore Philly, 29 E. Allen St., thefillmorephilly.com
Chime School / Hurry / Te Vista
A terrific triple bill of melodic power pop bands, headlined by San Francisco’s Chime School. It’s joined by Philly’s Hurry, which just got back from a tour of the UK in support of its excellent, new Zoned Out. Plus, South Jersey’s Te Vista is definitely a band to watch. What’s more: The show is at a South Philly typewriter shop! 8 p.m., Philly Typewriter, 1735 Passyunk Ave., r5productions.com
Monday Aug. 24
Will Calhoun
Drummer Will Calhoun is a two-time Grammy winner and member of Living Colour. That’s him you hear pounding the skins when the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber walks up to the plate to “The Cult of Personality.” Calhoun will lead an all-star band in this free show that celebrates the 100th anniversary birthday year of jazz giant Miles Davis, along the Delaware River. Free. 8 p.m., Roland Traynor River Stage at Wiggins Park, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden, camdencounty.org
Tuesday Aug. 25 and Wednesday Aug. 26
Esperanza Spalding
One of my favorite Grammy-watching moments of all time was back in 2011 when Esperanza Spalding was named best new artist, and Justin Bieber fans, who had no idea who the jazz bassist and composer was, lost their minds in outrage. (Amazingly, she also beat out Drake, Florence + the Machine, and Mumford & Sons.)
Since then, Spalding has always been up to something interesting, with projects like the 2021 album Songwrights Apothecary Lab, which was designed as healing music made after consultation with neuroscientists and music therapists. She followed that up with a live album with pianist Fred Hersch in 2023, and a team-up with octogenarian Brazilian musician Milton Nascimento in 2024. These shows will be career-spanning, with Spalding leading a trio with Matthew Stevens on guitar and Eric Doob on drums. 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert St., citywinery.com/philadelphia
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