High Notes
A vibrant lineup of concerts and comedy delivers us to the doorstep of spring.
There's a vibrant lineup of concerts and comedy that will deliver us to the doorstep of spring. Mark your calendar for these must-see performances, coming soon to the Philadelphia area.
Lewis Black
Known for his sarcasm, cynicism, and take-no-prisoners skewering, Black will return to Philly for his current comedy tour, It Gets Better Every Day. Expect a memorable evening filled with finger-pointing and other over-animated gestures when this Grammy winner steps up to the mike at the Merriam Theater on March 6. kimmelcenter.org
Billie Eilish
She may be a household name now, but this wunderkind seemed to come out of nowhere last year with “Bad Guy” and other earworms from her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? She’ll bring her ethereal vocals, hyper-colorful attire, and energetic stage show to Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center on March 13. wellsfargocenterphilly.com
Dave Hause & The Mermaid
On the heels of 2019’s Kick album, Philly-born Hause and his band will bring their strain of punk-infused Americana—think Springsteen meets Social Distortion—back to their hometown on March 14. Their destination: Union Transfer in the city’s Callowhill neighborhood. utphilly.com
David Sedaris
On April 4, humorist and New York Times bestselling author David Sedaris will take the stage of the Academy of Music. Anticipate lots of laughs, memorable stories, and Sedaris’ perspective on the absurdity of American life in 2020. kimmelcenter.org
Shemekia Copeland
As her new album America’s Child makes clear, Copeland has developed a one-of-a-kind sound that marries blues with country, and Americana with rock ’n’ roll. The sultry, genre-busting artist will headline The Ardmore Music Hall on April 11. ardmoremusic.com
Lake Street Dive
Strong, smooth, and soulful, Boston-born Lake Street Dive will bring its spirited live show to the Keswick Theatre in Glenside on April 18. keswicktheatre.com
Kurt Vile and Cate Le Bon
Vile is a local son with a knack for collaborating with other recording artists of note, with remarkable results. On April 20 and 21, he’ll return to Philadelphia—this time with Le Bon, a Welsh musician and producer—for a pair of performances at World Café Live in University City. worldcafelive.com
Shawn Colvin
Few singer-songwriters have had a longer and more storied career than Colvin; she earned her first Grammy in 1991, and recently released a 30th anniversary acoustic edition of her 1989 debut, Steady On. On May 2, she’ll woo an attentive audience at Sellersville Theater. st94.com
Sting
Like fellow one-named sensations Madonna and Cher, Sting has mastered the art of reinvention. His long career began as the voice (and bass) behind The Police, and recently saw him collaborate with another artist who needs no last name, the Jamaican reggae fusion singer Shaggy. Sting will take the stage at The Met Philadelphia for two dates—May 1 and 2—as part of his My Songs tour. themetphilly.com
Photograph by Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, February 2020.
