Professional secret: Writing show previews are much easier when there’s a ton of great artists in one place, which I admit is one of the reasons I’m stoked about the Kensington Picnic. The other, less selfish reason is that Saturday afternoon finds a bunch of the city’s illest talent gathered in one place. In an outdoor lot behind Liberty Vintage Motorcycles, you can see the genre-free instrumental prowess of Blues Control, the vintage garage kick of Birds of Maya, two experimental/psych duos in Chris Forsyth/Steve Gunn and Mary Lattimore/Jeff Ziegler, acclaimed singer-songwriter Meg Baird, young fingerpicking extraordinaire Daniel Bachman, and Watery Love, who Siltblog calls “Philadelphia’s best band at the moment,” and says sounds like “the gear shaft of a Kensington garbage truck,” which to me just sounds like fancy talk for kickass. It’s all good, all free, and goes from 2pm until whenever the sun goes down. The Lot behind Liberty Vintage Motorcycles, Frankford Ave. near E. Susquehanna Ave., 2pm, Free, All Ages (Illustration by Jason Killinger) – Adam Downer

Being in a band with an awesome name like Idle Idols may not always guarantee you a crowd of worshippers. In fact, it might get you a knuckle sandwich to the head from a female audience member at a neighborhood basement show who may not agree with your controversial material. But that’s all part of antagonizing the rock gods at live performances. However, the band has still won enough fans over to help them emerge victorious in our most recent Featured Artist(s) Poll. Check out what the group has to say about being Idle Idols HERE. You can also catch them performing live this Sunday at Walla Fest in Norristown, PA with The Districts, Drew Mills from Blood Feathers, Shorty boy-boy and more. Shout out to the Walla Fest crew for their efforts of bringing and exposing up-and-coming Philly artists to the burbs.

When Arrah and the Ferns hit the stage at Johnny Brenda’s tonight, it may be difficult to fit the musical byproduct into a box, to slap on a genre nametag. However, what will be easy to decipher is the quality of the sound. Arrah and the Ferns play a fusion style that is indicative of the manner many of us listen. Dabbling with a variety of genres including, but not limited to blues, country, rock, and pop. Then pulling what they like best, and welding them together to create something quite refreshing with a trace of the path traveled to get there. Arrah Fisher’s vocals are a versatile foundation, invitingly warm and fiercely powerful at the same time. This is a band that you could instantaneously fall for in a big way. Johnny Brenda’s 1201 Frankford Ave., 9pm,  $10, 21+ (Photo by Daniel Muller) – Michael Colavita

This is Hardcore Fest is bringing a bit of brutality back to Philly (ha…like we need more of that) for its seventh year, with a venue change and a slew of hardcore stars in store for fest-goers. The festival has moved from its original home at the Starlight Ballroom to the Electric Factory (except for tonight’s opener at Union Transfer), and will continue to unite hardcore’s legends (including Gorilla Biscuits, Cro-Mags and Suicidal Tendencies) with up-and-comers and some Philly/PA talent like Title Fight, Wisdom in Chains and Code Orange Kids. Although this thing tends to sell out in ridiculously short order, if you didn’t manage to snag tickets for these four days of chaos, you can live vicariously through a photobook compiled by organizer/Philly stalwart Joe "Hardcore" McKay that showcases the festival’s first six years. Thurs. August 9th @ Union Transfer – Doors 5:00pm/1st Band 5:30pm. Fri. August 10th @ The Electric Factory – Doors 5:00pm/1st Band 5:30pm. Sat. August 11th @ The Electric Factory – Doors 11:30am/1st Band 12:00pm. Sun August 12th @ The Electric Factory – Doors 11:30am/1st Band 12:00pm.

Check out the beautiful fret work and fingerpicking (in the style of late, greats Jack Rose and John Fahey) from former Virginia native turned Fishtown resident Daniel Bachman! The composition that he is performing is called “Mount Olive Cohoke,” and it was captured by the crew from Out of Town Films. You can catch him live this Saturday at the Kensington Picnic. Enjoy!

PhilaMOCA has been mixing things up a bit to try and enhance your usual concert going experience. Tuesday Tune-Out has brought together music and films – both of which I absolutely love. And tonight the local multipurpose space will be providing the tunes and the laughs with “Jokes, Jams, and Jigs,” a variety/benefit show featuring local live music from party rockers Cold Front, electronic dance-pop duo City Rain, and friendly, hook-laden indie rockers The Mendles. For the comedy portion of the event, you’ll find the host of “The Monthly Hour” at the Philadelphia Improv Theater James Hesky, winner of the WMGK stand-up comedy competition Lisa Yost, and one of the “Comics to Watch in 2012” by It’s Always Funny in Philadelphia Alex Grubard. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the organization To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. There will also be refreshments courtesy of Yards Brewing Company and Narragansett for a little social lubrication. Sounds like a good time to me! PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 7:30pm, $8 – $10 donation, All Ages – Q.D. Tran

Congrats to Restorations! It was just announced today that the band has signed with LA’s SideOneDummy Records, which houses acts like Gogol Bordello, The Gaslight Anthem and many others. They’ll begin tracking their 2nd full-length album on August 15 at Miner Street Studios with producer Jon Low. You can expect a new LP to be available sometime in early 2013.

The key to Darlingside is in their ability to calm without boring. Not to suggest that all their music is slow or quiet, which by many accounts, it isn’t. They have similar dynamics of many of the current “folk-rock” collectives that are over-saturating music these days, but they don’t fall into the traps of these acts. The band’s sweeping sound features phenomenal vocals, crisp instruments and surprising musical turns. There seems to be a bunch of “collectives” in the New England area, but this one is easily one of the best. They will be performing at the 2nd Stage on Friday of the KahBang Festival 2012. (Photo by Greg Nesbitt) – Adam G.

If you missed the conversation about ticket pricing with R5’s Sean Agnew, Josh Baron (co-author of Ticket Master and editor of Relix), and other industry folks that was held at Drexel University’s Mitchell Auditorium in November, then you still have a chance to listen in on some of the things that were discussed. Well, that is the thoughts of Agnew and Baron because they came together once again last week to talk with WHYY’s Radio Times for “a behind the scenes look at the concert industry.” Also chiming in later into the discussion is Live Nation’s Geoff Gordon. You can check out what they had to say HERE. (Photo by David Turcotte)