There is always something happening in summer. It is a time of infinite choices and less rigid structures, which can become overwhelming. Ghost Light’s songs convey that feeling of freeness, but also the sadness of not knowing what to do with that time. What started out as a solo project of Barrett Lindgren has evolved into a full band currently on the Single Girl Married Girl label. His rich voice sings of angst that he feels but has accepted with lines like “even though you are a rich kid with the poorest excuse for problems, I really thought you needed me to solve them.” Don’t let that bum you out. Ghost Light is a joyful depression, a welcomed sadness. The band will be opening tonight at Johnny Brenda’s for Saddle Creek Records’ Mynabirds, the electronic bluesy music of Laura Burhenn that is filled with primitive beats. Also on the bill is Sean Bones who shares some of the summer vibes, but with a more dazed out feeling and tinted with the sounds of surf and reggae. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Maura Filoromo

Arc in Round will be celebrating the release of their new self-titled LP (due out June 26 via La Société Expéditionnaire) a little early tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. There is a sense of continuous forward progression in their sound as the futuristic tunnel vocals meld with electric guitar, bass, synthesizer and drums in a chaotic quantum leap of musicality. The individual pieces when isolated also have a unique quality: the pulsing synthesizer, the rapid-fire hailstorm on metal roof percussions, and the guitar ringing in a far-out place. However, the combination fits together like a jigsaw puzzle where odd pieces somehow meet at awkward angles to create a perfectly streamlined picture. It will be a packed evening of sonic experimentation as pals Tadoma, Pet Milk, Beige and Pink Skull (DJ sets) help make Arc in Round’s album release party a memorable occasion. Johnny Brenda’s 1201 N. Frankford Ave, 9pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

When Russian feminist punk collective Pussy Riot staged an impromptu protest performance against the election campaign of Prime Minister Putin, they were sent to jail for “hooliganism” and could face upwards of 7 years imprisonment if found guilty. Feeling that their charges are a gross violation of human rights, the ladies of Permanent Wave Philly have risen to create a benefit for their defense fund. They’ll be hosting a concert in support at Cha-Cha’Razzi tonight. Donating their time and talents will be riff heavy rockers Dear Althea, the disturbingly beautiful lo-fi sounds of The Suicide Magnets, and delightfully quirky Single Girl Married Girl artist Kate Ferencz. Also added to the bill after City Feral dropped off at the last minute is The Pretty Greens. Cha-Cha’Razzi, (Please contact organizers or acts for more info.), 7pm, $7 – $10 donation, All Ages – Bill McThrill

Break out your tambourines, hand-drums, castanets, maracas and good old-fashioned hand-clapping for this Saturday’s R5 free concert series at Morgan’s Pier featuring Philly’s own Grandchildren and Free Energy. Grandchildren’s singular brand of head-contusion-pop, distinct in its complex layering of rhythms and unexpected, powerful percussive notes promises to seamlessly complement those drifts of (hopefully) cool air rising from the Delaware River, just as Free Energy’s light-hearted melodies and youthful lyrics will have you skipping down the sidewalks of summer nostalgia. Both bands create music that is quite danceable. Free Energy is heavy on the guitar power chords, and lead singer Paul Spranger’s voice is straight-forward and melodic, while the voices of Grandchildren pour in from all sides like last night’s rain. Get there early, and get ready to sweat out some of these red-hot summer blues! Morgan’s Pier, 221 N. Columbus Blvd., 6:30pm, Free, 21+ – Sarah Allard

Yeah, it’s uncomfortably hot so if you’re looking for some AC and badass jams, then we highly recommend that you swing by PhilaMOCA tonight for Blues Control’s album release show. The avant-garde duo made up of Lea Cho and Russ Waterhouse have been hiding out in the Lehigh Valley working on their craft, and their latest offering Valley Tangents continues to take us on their unpredictable musical journey. (You can read our review of their album HERE.) They’ll also be joined by heavy blues-infused psych-rockers Birds of Maya and ambient experimental outfit Slow Tongued Beauty. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., $7 – $10 donation, 8:30 pm, All Ages – Alexis V.

Below is a rad new music video from Family Band for their hauntingly meditative track “Night Song,” which appears on the group’s forthcoming album Graces & Lies due out July 24. It premiered earlier today via NPR’s First Watch. Enjoy!

Here’s a new music video of Ethel Cee bringing us some more heat! It’s for the track “One Fifty” off her EP Seven Thirty with Duhmi.

Tonight, it would behoove you to check out the newest installments of Fred Knittel’s Folkadelphia concert series. Started as a folk organization/radio show on XPN2, Folkadelphia is a much-needed supporter of the lush, understated folk scene in the Philadelphia area. This week’s show highlights the avant-folk “supergroup” consisting of Ben Chasny of Six Organs of Admittance and Elisa Ambrosio of Magik Markers together creating 200 Years. They released their debut, eponymous LP last November on Drag City, which is the same label that both Six Organs of Admittance and Magik Markers are on. Philly’s own Brendan Codey will be playing this stacked show. He paints himself as a Beat-era vagabond who consists solely on and for music. His dystopian, calm reserve often dissolves into a meditative hailstorm, placing the listener right in the eye of the storm looking out. You can grab a cassette of his newest record Casco, which is out on Treetop Sorbet records. Rounding out the show is Jonathan Byerley of the Brooklyn garage folk rock band Plates of Cake. All this is going down at West Philly utility space Studio 34, and don’t be that guy. Studio 34, 4522 Baltimore Ave., 8pm, $10 adv/$12 door, All Ages – Adam G.

Check out this video of The Districts performing a song called “Funeral Beds.” We were recently turned on to them by our pals at South Philly’s HotBox Studios. The band hails from Lititz, PA, and its members are still navigating their way through their teenage years. We heard that a couple of them plan on going to college in Philly while their other members finish up high school in their hometown so keep a look out for The Districts performing in a venue near you. In the meantime, enjoy a session that they did with the HotBox crew which recently went viral. Enjoy!

There is particular feeling that “Song for Next Summer” wields with its circling acoustic guitar. At first, the smooth pattern opens the mind reaching at the core of one’s thoughts, but no force is needed to enter. The clean riff carefully and consciously weaves it way from the outside toward the center and all the while Meg Baird’s angelic voice provides such a calming force that the advance becomes part of the scene and isn’t characterized as an invasion. It is rather welcomed like an old friend. Baird’s music showcases deep authentic folk roots yet also follows its own path. Each song is a map and a journey where the territory has a familiar landscape, but Baird may take you somewhere you’ve never been. Matched with indie darling Sharon Van Etten (who many Deli NYC readers should know intimately) tonight at Union Transfer, the combination will surely move even the most jaded hipster. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 8pm, $15, All Ages (Photo by Cat Stevens) – Michael Colavita

Vacationer makes ethos of what their dream-pop contemporaries only imply. Their Tumblr is filled with instagram photos of backyards, smoking grills, and sunsets, while their last.fm directs listeners to “simply settle in, relax and enjoy; Vacation from anywhere at anytime.” Vacationer is a band that literally wants nothing more than to help you chill out, and tonight they’ll be doing just that at the Theatre of Living Arts. With reverb-soaked keys and lyrics delivered almost exclusively in wistful sighs, Vacationer are sonically engineered for de-stressing, and as they support fellow pleasure-poppers Walk The Moon and Find Vienna, the TLA is set to be one of the coolest places in Philly. What better way to make this heat not suck? Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., 7pm, $12 (+Fees), All Ages – Adam Downer