18 concerts to see this week, including Elvis Costello, First Aid Kit, Sheila E, Cosmic Guilt and more

Elvis Costello | photo by Mark Seliger | courtesy of the artist

From stadiums to small clubs, from the Lehigh Valley to Delmarva, this week’s concert picks cast a wide net.

It’s another very busy week in the regional concert scene, and we’ve got a wide range of recommendations for your showgoing pleasure. Here are 18 concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly. Tickets and more information on all of them can be found at WXPN’s Concerts and Events page.

Put down your phones and go see Erykah Badu at The Mann’s TD Pavilion tonight. Her 2023 summer tour is titled “Unfollow Me,” which she interprets as “discovering yourself and finding your own way,” as clarified in an interview with CBS Boston. The tour is supported by Yasiin Bey, the artist behind the exemplary 1999 album Black on Both Sides, and member of the duo Black Star. Despite having not released a new album since 2015, Badu has recently featured on songs with Teyana Taylor, RM of BTS, and DRAM. // 7:30 p.m., $43, AA

Local alt-rock group Grocer will be Johnny Brenda’s tonight along with Brooklyn duo Washer, and Philly band Golden Apples. To start this year, Grocer scored their largest hit to date with their eclectic song “Downtown Side,” which they shortly followed with a new EP titled Scatter Plot. Grocer’s recent work consists of drummer Cody Nelson, bassist Danielle Lovier, and guitarist Nicholas Rahn, who all contribute vocally as well. This unique setup will most definitely be fun to watch in concert. // 8 p.m., $12, 21+

The shoegaze tour of the summer lands at Philly’s Ukie Club on July 9th. The three up-and-coming indie groups Teethe, waveform*, and Philadelphia’s own They Are Gutting a Body of Water (TAGABOW) have joined forces to bring gloomy vocals and unsettling guitar harmonies across the USA. waveform*’s newest album Antarctica was released in May through Run For Cover Records, home to Philadelphia favorites Another Michael and Sadurn. This is your chance to see three rising acts at once before their prices and notoriety go up. // 7:30 p.m., $20, AA

As a woman who helped define 2000’s pop and adult contemporary music, Alicia Keys needs no introduction in 2023. The icon’s Keys To The Summer tour will arrive at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Monday, and it is Keys’ first tour to ever be staged as a 360 “in-the-round” viewing experience. Since 2020, the singer has released a self-titled series of albums, with ALICIA in 2020, KEYS in 2021, and the deluxe KEYS II in 2022. Labianca and Simi will open for Keys on her summer 2023 tour. // 8 p.m., $50, AA

Sheila E., aka the Queen of Percussion, is on tour this summer, stopping by Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden, NJ on Monday. Hailing from the music Escovedo family, Sheila kicked off her solo career with the 1984 album The Glamorous Life, which scored her the eponymous hit song. Prior to this, she was Prince’s longtime drummer and musical director, and recorded with artists such as Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, and Diana Ross, and held a spot in the George Duke Band. This concert is part of the Wiggins Park’s Sunset Jazz Series, and is free to the public. // 8 p.m., free, AA

Dani Disotelle and Skyler Garn are Discotelle, a Philadelphia-based indie rock project that dates back to 2017. The band will be performing at Bread Box Philly on July 11th with Salamander, Meet the Bug, and Love? Said the Commander. Discotelle returned on May 19th to release “Therapy,” their first single in nearly two years. This show marks one year since Dani’s move to Philly, and their second performance at Bread Box. // 7 p.m., $14, AA

Acclaimed indie folk band The Head and The Heart comes to The Mann this Wednesday as part of their Every Shade of Blue tour. Every Shade of Blue released in April of last year and acted as a return to form for the band, offering a solid batch of pleasant pop hooks and relatable ballads that draw from classic Americana as much as they do modern pop. The six-piece ensemble teamed up with both The Revivalists and Father John Misty for select shows on the tour, including their Philly stop, doubling down on their mainstream folk appeal and subsequently creating a stacked lineup that fans won’t want to miss. // 5:00 p.m., $55, AA

Roll out the red carpet because Queen Bey is coming to Philadelphia. The Renaissance world tour began this past May with grand performances throughout Europe and Canada, however, this Wednesday kicks off the U.S. leg of the tour, so it’s sure to be a memorable homecoming at Lincoln Financial Stadium. 2022’s Renaissance earned the pop idol nine Grammy nominations and four awards including Best Dance/Electronic Album, making Beyoncé the most awarded person in Grammy Awards history. Previous shows have featured stage designs with everything from metallic tanks and mannequin-horses to monumental robotic arms, pyrotechnics and ultraviolet lighting technology, so for Beyhive members that haven’t gotten tickets yet, a word of advice…cuff it. // 7:00 p.m., $255, AA

Two years after winning the 2021 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for her song “Kiss You,” singer-songwriter Brittany Ann Tranbaugh embarks on her first solo tour, appearing at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem this Wednesday. The Philly based lyricist released her latest EP, Quarter Life Crisis Haircut, back in April of 2022, but has hit 2023 hard, delivering four back to back singles including the heartbreaking yet hopeful “Almost Ready To Be Friends” in early June. Fans can expect three more singles before the year is over, as well as an EP this fall. Tranbaugh’s energetic expansion and unwavering love for her musical community have us excited for both her subsequent performances and new music to come. // 7:00 p.m., $20.50, AA

Bassel & The Supernaturals grooves on two ideals: Syrian heart and Chicago soul. Bandleader and frontman/singer Bassel Almadani is a first generation Syrian-American, telling his story through funk and soul, falling on tight grooves and tender melodies to talk about love, loss, and the ongoing war in Syria. The band released their sophomore LP, Smoke & Mirrors in April of 2020, and after 3 years of international touring with artists such as Brother Ali and Aesop Rock, they returned to the studio in February of 2023, dropping “Alone At Night”, a trippy and romantic love song perfect for slow dancing under the city lights. That being said, put on your dancing shoes because Bassel & The Supernaturals are playing a free, all ages show this Thursday evening at Bethlehem’s SteelStacks. // 7:30 p.m., free, AA

Gulf Coast soul band The Suffers play Ardmore Music Hall Thursday night, returning to Philly for the first time since XPoNential Music Festival in 2022. The Suffers have been a station favorite since their first XPNFest appearance in 2016 thanks to their beautiful blend of soulful R&B, funk, reggae, and hip-hop; eloquently balancing each genre while creating a sum greater than its parts. The 10-piece troupe hit the road in June in celebration of the deluxe release of 2022’s It Starts With Love, featuring brand new remixes, live performances, and a special collaborative reimagining of “Could This Be Love” with producer BlackNintendo. // 7:15 p.m., $20, 21+

Noel Gallagher is soaring above the clouds with his high flying birds, celebrating last month’s Council Skies release with a US/UK tour. Council Skies is the group’s 4th LP, the first since 2017’s Who Built The Moon, both of which debuted in the top 5 of the UK charts upon release. This latest album reflects the elder Gallagher’s glory days in Manchester while still showing profound acceptance and maturation from his sophomoric stardom as one half of Oasis. With lush introspections on songs like “Dead To The World” and driven punk rockers on songs like “Pretty Boy,” the band delivers a dedicated and listenable group of songs specially crafted for live performance. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds land at The Mann this Friday for an all ages show with this week’s Free at Noon stars Metric — listen to their new song here — and alt-rock faves Garbage. // 7:00 p.m., $29.50, AA

Elvis Costello’s been a noteworthy figure in the rock world since the mid-’70s, and he’s clearly not going anywhere. His 2023 compilation album release, The Songs of Bacharach & Costello, showcases his collaborations with the late Burt Bacharach over the years, demonstrating Bacharach’s impact on Costello’s compositions throughout his career and highlighting their 1998 album Painted from Memory. Make sure to go see Elvis Costello & The Imposters wrap up their We’re All Going On A Summer Holiday Tour this week, especially since they’ll be joined by Charlie Sexton and Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets. // 7:30 p.m., $125 and up, AA

Massachusetts-born indie giants The Magnetic Fields will be returning to Philly on the 14th as a part of their 2023 East Coast tour. The band’s most notable project, their 1999 release 69 Love Songs, will be turning 25 years old next year and celebrated through a limited run of shows in which the 69-song album is played all the way through with the original band, which goes to show that for a band that’s been active since the early ‘90s, their impact on the alternative music scene is just as long-lasting as the subject of the album itself. See them on Friday at World Cafe Live, where you can hear just what makes them a staple in the scene. // 8 p.m., $45 and up, AA

Philly’s own Korine will be heading home for one night only, so you’d better get your tickets quickly. The dark pop duo just finished touring North America to promote the release of their third album, Tear. On the album, Korine provides a sense of familiarity coupled with a refreshing new take on a classic ‘80s new wave sound. For instance, on songs like “Train to Harlem” and “Mt. Airy” these elements and references are on full display, and seeing them live would likely solidify them as a new favorite for fans of darkwave and modern synth-pop as well. Check them out at The Dolphin Tavern to kick off your weekend. // 9 p.m., $10, 21+ and up

Comprised of sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg, First Aid Kit is a folk act hailing from Stockholm, Sweden. Last Friday, the band released Palomino (Child of Summer Edition), a new take on some of the songs on their late 2022 album Palomino just in time for the warm weather months ahead. You can catch them at The Fillmore this week to get a taste of their summer sound. Not only that, but their show at The Fillmore is being live-streamed via Veeps and will be available on demand for 24 hours afterward in case you want to relive your experience at the show. // 8 p.m., $32.50 and up, AA

It’s opening night at a brand new venue in Delmarva, and a pair of local faves are breaking the stage in. Originating in Fishtown, Cosmic Guilt is an amalgamation of sorts, drawing a new sound from some of Philly’s best musicians. This, of course, includes the ex-guitarist of Low Cut Connie, James Everheart, whose vocal prowess is exposed through this project. With a mix of folk and psychedelic sonic references, Cosmic Guilt will surely appeal to anyone with an ear for classic rock, or to anyone who’s in the mood to chill out. With the venue situated between Philly and Baltimore, with the nation’s capital not too much further down I-95, funk rock faves Oh He Dead will rep D.C. at the show this Saturday. // 7 p.m., $39.86 and up, AA

On your way to Elkton on Saturday, make a stop in Delaware, where Shady Grove Music Fest is coming back for yet another annual show at Arden Gild Hall. Since its conception, Shady Grove Fest has been home to indie acts new and old, highlighting the best in the Philly Metropolitan Area. This year, from “noon to dusk,” you’ll be hearing from the likes of Purling Hiss, Toby Leaman (of Dr. Dog – but don’t be fooled, he’s his own artist), Slot, Wasted Arrows, and more. Additionally, by attending this festival, you can contribute to the greater cause of keeping live music alive at Delaware’s longstanding Gild Hall. So, be there or be square. // noon, $29, AA