When Kurt Vile first signed to Matador Records, the amount of buzz that surrounded him seemed like a heavy burden for any young artist to shoulder. However, with the arrival of his latest LP Wakin on a Pretty Daze, the long-haired “constant hitmaker” is at the top of his game with his best label release to date. Vile will finally get a chance to celebrate his most recent success with his hometown friends, fans and family headlining a sold-out show this Saturday at Union Transfer. He’ll also be accompanied by emotive Chicago songbird and indie darling Angel Olsen, NYC guitar virtuoso Steve Gunn, and of course, the Violators so be prepared for one special evening. (Also don’t forget to swing by R5’s Punk Rock Flea Market this Saturday and Sunday!) Union Transfer, 1024 Spring Garden St., 8pm, $18, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
Other things that might strike your fancy this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Telequanta, SAT Spaceship Aloha, Andrew Jeffery Wright, Surgeon, Swarm of Arrows, Ominous Black
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI (Downstairs) Bad Side, (Upstairs) Suicide Loop, Spinechain, SUN Timouth
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) SAT War Emblem
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI The Fractals, Ben O’Neil, Matt McAndrew, Ill Doots, SAT Ladder Devils, Kvelertak
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI St. James & The Apostles, Swedeland, Full Blown Cherry, Mr. Unloved, SAT Cocktail Party Phenomenon
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Joe D’Amico, Up The Chain, The Barren Wells, Jeanette Lynne, SAT Heroes In Error, Zymotic Flow, Of The Sea, Little Miss Love Jones, SUN (All Ages) Leoce, The Static Locals, Secondhand Touch, Halved Dreams, (Late) The Division, I.M. Ivan, Listening Ritual
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Morning River Band, The Miners, John Train, SAT The National Rifle, Instamatic, Son Step
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Blessed Muthas, Doomed To Obscurity, SAT The Sparklers, Creem Circus, Riff Mountain, SUN Julie Charnet Quartet
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) SAT Matt Portella
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Mad Dragon Records 10th Anniversary Concert w/Cheers Elephant, Hoots & Hellmouth, Kuf Knotz, Andrew Lipke & The Prospects, Matt Duke, Wild Rompit, SAT EveryOtherDay, Could’ve Been Kings, Tenth Amendment, Stare Syndicate, Peartree Place, The Big Black Night, SUN Courtney Jansen, The Silent SIgnals, Audio Impulse
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Start Making Sense, The Great White Caps, Close To Good, SAT Long Miles, SUN The Philadelphia Songwriters Project Contest Finals Show
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT A Fistful of Sugar, The Sun Flights
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT The Dukes of Destiny, SUN Avi Wisnia
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Kill The Broadcast, The Big Empty, Your Persona, The Power, SAT Mr. Matt Rivers, The Jawn
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Whitewater Pass, SAT Railroad Fever, SUN Wooden Hez, The Way Home
Rebel Rock Bar (100 Spring Garden St.) SAT Hammer Down Rocks
Field House (1150 Filbert St.) SAT Free Parade
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SUN Mo The General, Death DaVinci, Rob Stashiz
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Matt Gauss, Connor Hansell and The Grits, Ryan Conroy, The Rivals, SAT Venice Sunlight, Dylan McGuire, Rodger Delaney, Brett Talley, The Slot Cars
Christ Church Neighborhood House (20 N. American St.) SUN Spring Trilogy: Part III "An Evening of Blind Dates" w/Jaamil Kosoko + Chris Forsyth, Leah Stein + Zachary Fairbrother, Olive Prince + Jeff Zeigler, Mason Rosenthal + MurMuration
Great Indoors (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Great Thunder, A Stick and A Stone
Wolf Cycles (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Swarm, Nemesisters, Teen Priests
The Crystal Palace (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Address, Vietnam
The Soup Kitchen (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT ICD9, Snoozer, Rasputin’s Secret Police, MOSS
Hausu (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Dingus, The Holidays, Retreever
161 West Gallery (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Cousin Brian, Goner, Jackie Paper