This week in Philly music features gospel-soul great Mavis Staples in Phoenixville, Philly favorites Florry and Sheer Mag returning to town, Culture Club in Atlantic City, and the Everyone Orchestra and zydeco scion C.J. Chenier on the Main Line.
Wednesday Feb. 25
Homegrown Live
This is the South Jersey edition of the free Homegrown Live concert series presented by WXPN-FM (88.5). The three-act bill is topped by Linwood quartet Fat Mezz, that blends classic rock influences with a touch of jazz: the band’s name was inspired by late clarinet player and Civil Rights advocate Milton Mezzgrow. Nicoletta Giuliani fronts Ocean City’s Polaroid Fade, whose beguiling full-length debut Chaos Into Poetry displays an affection for jangly 1990s bands like the Smiths and Sundays. The band’s sound meshes nicely with Atlantic County quartet Te Vista whose dreamy power pop recalls melodic guitar bands Nada Surf and Gin Blossoms. 7:30 p.m., The Lounge at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., xpn.org.
Thursday Feb. 26
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples’ place in music history has long been secure. Her family band, the Staple Singers, marched with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Ling Jr. during the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, and her powerful vocals anchored counterculture-era hits like “Respect Yourself” and “I’ll Take You There.”
But the 86-year-old national treasure’s creative output has continued and even increased in recent years with the Chicagoan recording a series of albums with Jeff Tweedy and Ben Harper. Her newest is the soulful and deeply moving collection Sad and Beautiful World, which was produced by Brad Cook and includes covers of Frank Ocean, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and Curtis Mayfield. The title cut is by Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse and another new song, “Human Mind,” is written by Allison Russell and Hozier. Massachusetts singer-guitarist Kimaya Diggs opens. 8 p.m., the Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, ColonialTheatre.com.
Blackwater Holylight
Portland, Ore.-born and now Los Angeles-based doom metal-meets-shoegaze heavy rock band Blackwater Holylight is touring behind its bruising fourth album Not Here Not Gone. The Sunny Faris-fronted band will be joined by like minded Austin, Tex. trio Glassing and Philly’s Cigarettes For Breakfast. 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., johnnybrendas.com
Friday Feb. 27
The Record Company & Jontavius Willis
Los Angeles blues rock trio the Record Company is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its 2016 breakthrough album Give It Back To You. Make sure to arrive on time for Jontavious Willis, the country blues singer and guitarist whose sound is shaped by regional predecessors like Blind Willie McTell. 8 p.m., Union Transfer, 1016 Spring Garden St., utphilly.com.
Marshall Allen + John Morgan Kimock
The hardest working centenarian in show biz, Sun Ra Arkestra leader Marshall Allen, makes his way to Bucks County for this noteworthy show in Henry Chapman Mercer’s Moravian Pottery and TileWorks building in Doylestown. Drummer John Morgan Kimock will also perform. The show is part of the Tileworks’ monthly “A Night of Song” series. 6:30 p.m., Tileworks of Bucks County, 130 E. Swamp Road, Doylestown, thetileworks.org.
Everyone Orchestra
Matt Butler conducts two nights of improvised music from a cast of leading lights of musicians from the jam band world, including Dave Matthews associate Tim Reynolds, Aron Magner of Disco Biscuits, Rob Mercurio of Galactic, and Camden trumpeter Arnetta Johnson, who has toured with Beyoncé. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Ardmore Music Hall, 23 East Ardmore Ave., ardmoremusichall.com
Boy George and Culture Club
Boy George and original Culture Club members Roy Hay and Mikey Craig are back together for a 2026 tour. The British New Wave era band which scored hits with “Karma Chameleon” and “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya” is playing two nights in the region. 8 p.m. Friday, Borgata Event Center, One Borgata Way, Atlantic City, Borgata, borgata.mgmresorts.com and 8 p.m. Saturday, Wind Creek Event Center, 77 Wind Creek Blvd, Bethlehem, windcreekeventcenter.com
Sunday March 1
Sheer Mag
Mighty Philly foursome Sheer Mag — most recently heard from on its 2024 album Playing Favorites, released on Jack White’s Third Man Records label — tops a four-band bill. The similarly hard-hitting acts opening are Dirty Fences, Nancy, and the Smarthearts. 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., johnnybrendas.com.
CJ Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band
Zydeco accordionist C.J. Chenier has spent his life carrying on the legacy of his father, Creole musician Clifton Chenier. That legacy got a welcome boost with 2025’s A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, featuring C.J. Geno Delafose, the Rolling Stones and Taj Mahal, winning a Grammy earlier this month. Rev. Chris and Les Garçons Crasseux open. 7 p.m., 118 North, 118 North Wayne Ave., 118NorthWayne.com.
Monday March 2
The Ike Reilly Assassination
Pugnacious rock and roll troubadour and Sirius/XM satellite radio host Ike Reilly has released 12 albums since his 2001 debut Salesmen and Racists. He’s also the star of the documentary Don’t Turn Your Back on Friday Night, which was produced by Tom Morello, who he shared a bill with last month at the anti-ICE benefit show in Minneapolis. It’s the same where Morello brought onstage Bruce Springsteen, who has added Morello to the E Street Band for his upcoming tour. Another cool booking at Nikki Lopez. 7 p.m., Nikki Lopez, 304 South Street, @nikkilopezphilly on Instagram.
Tuesday March 3
Ratboys & Florry
A band double bill headlined by Ratboys, the Chicago quartet fronted by Julia Steiner which was founded in 2010. The band hit its stride with 2023’s The Window. It keeps up its winning streak on the new twangy, Neil Young-ish Singin’ To An Empty Chair, produced by Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla. It is well matched with Florry, the Philly-bred loose limbed collective led by Francie Medosch whose 2025 Sounds Like… landed on this publication’s best albums of the year list. 8 p.m., First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., r5productions.com.