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The Bacon Brothers haven’t lived in Philadelphia for decades, but the music duo’s 215 credentials are impeccable.

Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael are sons of teacher Ruth Hilda Bacon and architect-city planner Edmund Bacon, who directed the design of Independence Mall and Penn’s Landing and was known as “the Father of Modern Philadelphia.”

The Bacons grew up at 2117 Locust St. in a house previously owned by Leopold Stokowski during his early 20th-century tenure as conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Their first-ever show was a one-off charity gig in 1995 at the Theatre of the Living Arts on South Street that they played at the urging of Kevin’s childhood friend Harry Spivak, whose family cofounded Electric Factory Concerts.

On Thursday and Friday, the Bacons play the SunnyBrook Ballroom in Pottstown on their “People of the World” tour, named after a 2025 duet between Michael Bacon and Philly singer Mare, recorded with producer Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo.

In 2013, the brothers teamed with author Sandra Boynton for “Philadelphia Chickens” from her children’s book of the same name. In 2023, the brothers’ single “Philly Thing” raised money for Kevin Bacon’s SixDegrees.org, which funds nonprofit charities. That same year, they were inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame.

“Philly Thing” rhymes “Smokin’ Joe, touch of class, just like Teddy Pendergrass” and celebrates Philly music heroes: “Coltrane, LaBelle, Jill Scott, The Roots,” and “Boyz II Men in matching suits.”

Thirty-one years since their first show, Kevin, 67, and Michael, 76, an Emmy-winning film and composer and music professor who plays dozens of instruments, have released 12 albums, including the 2011 best-of Philadelphia Road.

This month, they joined a Zoom call from their homes in New York to reminisce about growing up in Center City and talk about their music, which they call “forosoco.”

“That’s a Kevin witticism for sure,” said Michael, of the invented shorthand for folk, rock, soul, and country which the brothers used as the title to their first album in 1997.

The brothers’ musical education began while living with four sisters in a crowded house, said Michael, who teaches music at Lehman College in New York.

Their parents loved music, Michael said. “World music, Odetta, the Weavers. They loved opera and classical music. No rock and roll, but our sisters would bring home all the 45s so we had that, too.”

“One of my favorite memories is that my mother had six kids in that little townhouse,” he said, “and she took in these two Mexican boys who were 12 and 14. One played violin and one played piano. They were living in an apartment in Center City. And they had dinner with us every night of the week.”

Kevin, too, got a music education from his family members.

“My brother and sister had a jug band, so I would sit on the steps and listen to them practice in our pretty disgusting basement,” he said.

Tastykake Jelly Krimpets and a Rittenhouse Square childhood

Michael, who is nine years older than Kevin, remembers Rittenhouse Square as “not a beautiful gentrified neighborhood when I grew up.” He recalled an unsupervised childhood; “It was: Go do what you need to do, be safe, get home for dinner.”

He would walk across Rittenhouse Square to his cello lesson at the Curtis Institute, often stopping to climb on Billy, the 1914 bronze statue by Albert Laessle that was moved to the Free Library and replaced with a replica in 2018. “It had a very pronounced backbone,” he recalls. “It was most uncomfortable.”

And sometimes, he would stick his hand into the mouth of Antoine-Louis Barye’s sculpture Lion Crushing a Serpent, which has stood in the square since 1892.

“It had giant teeth. Very scary.”

When in Philly, Kevin prioritizes looking at his favorite spot of the family home: the stoop.

“I spent so much time on that stoop. Just hoping to see something happen. We also played stoop ball, where you would throw the ball against the stoop and get singles or doubles, like a version of baseball, depending where the ball landed, which was basically out in the street.”

The future star of movies such as Diner (1982), Footloose (1984), Apollo 13 (1995), and The Woodsman (2004), in which he acted alongside his wife Kyra Sedgwick and Philly rapper Eve, made his first public performance in a preschool holiday pageant in the basement of the nearby First Unitarian Church.

When Kevin — who splits his time with Sedgwick in Manhattan and on their farm in Connecticut — is in his hometown, he likes to reenact a childhood ritual.

“I go to Wawa and get a Tastykake Jelly Krimpet,” he said. “The secret to eating a Jelly Krimpet is you delicately peel back the cookie dough, and extract a jelly ball. You actually hold the jelly ball in your hand, and pop it in your mouth. And then you can eat the rest of it.”

Michael went to Central High School in Olney, but Kevin stayed closer to home, attending Masterman at 17th and Spring Garden for elementary school and then the experimental Parkway Program.

“I had classes at Drexel, the Academy of Natural Sciences, all over the place,” Kevin said, “I was also able to get out early and take acting classes elsewhere, which is what I really wanted.”

As a teenager, he acted at the Plays and Players Theatre on Delancey Street, was an apprentice at the Walnut Street Theatre, and took classes at Settlement Music School. He then headed to Bucknell University at 17 — and landed a role in Animal House two years later.

Eating out with belly dancers

Dining out with parents was a rare occurrence, the brothers said.

“I always like going out to dinner because we would go out literally twice a year,” said Kevin. “We would go to this place called Freddie’s on 21st and Chestnut that was in the basement. They had red and white tablecloths, and candles on the table. It seemed so exotic.”

The other Bacon family haunt was the Middle East, the Lebanese restaurant co-owned by Philadelphia City Councilman Jimmy Tayoun, that was originally in South Philly and later in Old City.

“I remember I loved it there, because they served rose water and the food was amazing,” Michael recalls.

“And they had belly dancers. One night in South Philly, my father took a $10 bill and put it in the belly dancer’s top,” he said with a laugh. “And that was the end for our mother, who was very Victorian. She didn’t like that. And we never went back.”

Michael, who is agnostic about cheesesteaks, just goes to “to the closest one,” when it comes to picking a spot. Kevin’s current favorite brunch spot is Sabrina’s Cafe on Callowhill.

“It is so good,” he said. “I sat at the counter there. I got a Mexican egg thing, huevos rancheros, I think.”

Kevin Bacon’s first band

Kevin has fond memories of perfect Philly days he spent at an alternative arts space in 1970s Germantown called Togetherness House, where he continued his education.

“I would take the bus,” said Kevin. “It was an abandoned space that kids had turned into a community center. They had drug counseling and draft counseling and people were forming bands. I went up there and I was a percussionist.”

He played in a band led by a vocalist named Chet Brown. “He was a great singer,” Bacon said of Brown, who still performs with the Last Thursday Band. “The name of the band was Chet Brown & Footloose.”

The name did not inspire the movie in which Bacon’s rebellious teen teaches a Midwestern town to dance to a Kenny Loggins song. But the experience “was inspirational for me in that I loved being in a band.”

Siblings without the rivalry

As bandmates, the Bacons seem free of sibling rivalry. On TikTok, the singer-guitarists have posted a series of covers by squabbling brother acts such as the Kinks’ “A Well Respected Man” and Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova.”

Kevin and Michael appear puzzled as to why other musical siblings don’t get along as well as they do.

The title song of the duo’s most recent album, 2024’s Ballad of the Brothers, is a mythical tale about “two Philly boys” from Fishtown who travel to legendary Texas venue Gruene Hall with Eagles stickers on their station wagon.

That song has a “Devil Went Down to Georgia”-like country feel to it. But true to their “forosoco” approach, the album freely moves between genres.

“One of the things we’ve learned over the years,” Michael said, “is that we’re a songwriter’s band. We let the songs drive the arrangements.”

The model, he says, is the Band, who, in a career highlight, the Bacons once opened for at Carnegie Hall.

“They were just all over the place. A lot of harmonies, and some beautiful, beautiful pieces, and also some really rocking pieces. So we try to not limit ourselves as to what we consider our sound and let the stuff flow where it might.”

The Bacon Brothers with Kendal Conrad at SunnyBrook Ballroom, 50 Sunnybrook Road, Pottstown at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 and 21. souljoels.com

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