The Music’s in Philly this Week!

Listen to some musical greats this week at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia

Music lovers, take note: no matter what you rock on your favorite Pandora station, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy at least something that’s going on in and around the city later this week. A mix of acts both local and national will hit the stages around Philly just before the weekend, ensuring that you don’t sink too far into a chilly mid-month lull.

Country innovator Junior Brown will bring his hybrid electric/steel guitar stylings to Sellersville Theater 1894 Thursday night at 8pm. Lauded by Guitar Player magazine as “unbelievable,” Brown will be accompanied by Tanya Rae Brown for what’s sure to be an evening of rollicking tunes. Brown is best-known for his 90s Billboard hits Highway Patrol and My Wife Thinks You’re Dead.

Prefer your tunes a bit more classical? Choose between the Philadelphia Orchestra’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s timeless, difficult Violin Concerto as part of their weeklong series dedicated to the Russian composer, and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra’s “spontaneous, natural” take on Latin and salsa beats. Both performances are Thursday at 8pm; the Philly Orchestra at the Kimmel Center and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra at the Grand Opera House just over the border in Wilmington. For a different spin on Tchaikovsky, check out the AVA Opera Theatre’s performance of Pique Dame (The Queen of Spades), being staged today through Saturday at the Academy of Vocal Arts’ Helen Corning Warden Theater at 7:30 each evening.

Rounding out the eclectic and awesome options is Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Marc Cohn’s set at the World Cafe Live at the Queen on Thursday night at 7:30. Cohn, who draws his soulful folk rock sound from luminous greats Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell, will be joined by opening act Rebecca Pidgeon. Go ahead and try not to hum Walking In Memphis. We dare you.