WXPN’s XPoNential Fest is back for its 25th year at the Camden Waterfront, merging nationally acclaimed acts and those emerging on the local forefront. And when those two concepts come to a head and someone from the neighborhood gains wide-ranging recognition, it’s a sweet spot for the community as a whole. Such is the case with grammy-award winners and Saturday evening headliners The War On Drugs. The long-time Deli faves have the ability to lyrically cut to the core, before soaring through the skies with their guitar-fueled jams. Also, earlier in the afternoon, fresh off Thursday’s performance at Ortlieb’s, the trio of Hurry offers a breezy, open songbook that is simultaneously melodic and self-reflecting. Much like “Hanging On” from their latest LP Every Little Thought suggests, once those soothing, earnest, power-pop ditties take hold, they’ll become something that one will consistently revisit. This Sunday, Sofia Verbilla, a.k.a. Harmony Woods, showcases a keen attention to detail in songwriting, shrinking the distance and thus increasing the impact in the process. And of course, you do not want to miss the legendary David Byrne (of the Talking Heads) kicking things off tonight at this year’s XPoNential Music Festival, presented by Subaru. – Michael Colavita
Other places to hit this summer weekend…
XPoNential Music Festival (Camden Waterfront) FRI Greg Sover Band, Swift Technique, SAT The War On Drugs, Hurry &More (Donn T & Chill Moody), Katie Frank, SUN Mt. Joy, Harmony Woods
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SUN Cheap Dinosaurs
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Queen of Jeans, SAT Ill Doots (Record Release), Rover Rover, SUN Dark Thoughts
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Green Meteor/DJSC, SAT Heavy Temple, Sonja/Fame Lust, SUN Narcos Family Band
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT NAH, Kilamanzego, Ada Babar, Kasra Kurt, SUN Hallucinogenic Bulb, Yeenar
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Worriers
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI JGriff & Lil Zip
TLA (334 South St.) SAT Warchyld
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SAT DJ Lean Wit It, Swizzymack
Electric Factory (421 N. 7th St.) FRI-SUN This Is Hardcore: FRI Please Die, SAT Year of the Knife, SUN Wisdom in Chains, Jesus Piece
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) DJ Rahsaan/(Downstairs) Osler Circle: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Benefit
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The PLIBmen, SAT Tortuga, SUN Philly DJ Showcase
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Long Miles, Stella Ruze, The Tisburys, SAT The Quixote Project
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Stealing From Thieves, Turnbull Green, SAT Goodnight/Goodluck, The Standing Cinema , Rally/Suburban Living (DJ Set)
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Moonstriker, SUN The Mountain Chiefs, Countdown from Ten, Cellar Fox/Hypothetical
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay, SUN The Whiskeyhickon Boys, Darlingtyn
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Sheena and Thee Nosebleeds, The Mojo Machine, Full Bush, Thee Minks
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT DJ Marco
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SUN Gypsy Wisdom
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SAT DJ Brian Toll
Century (1350 S. 29th St.) FRI Sniper Caprice, Hashgrinder, SAT Bear/moth
The Tusk (430 South St.) SAT A Ship Named Beagle, Overcoming Gravity
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Cowbell Superstar, Naps Past Noon, Jac With No K, Brad + Nicole
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Echoes: the American Pink Floyd, Brian Fitzy
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) FRI The Lot, Seeing Snakes, Bern & the Bastards, SAT Burial Fog
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Slingshot Dakota, Ramona, SUN Supine, Binary, Computer
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Peyote Cathedral, Mirrorsigns
Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Woody
The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Pollen, Devil Master Zorn
Tundra Dome (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Fleabite
Goo Lagoon (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Beach Bod