Start your weekend Thursday night with the upbeat Tomeka Reid Quartet, then head to the Blistering Ephemera music fest on Saturday.
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Thursday, 8 p.m.
Philadelphia Art Alliance
251 S. 18th St.
$15, www.philartalliance.org
Chicago-based cellist Tomeka Reid and her band of experienced and well-rounded musicians play a kind of jazz informed by the classical concepts she learned as a young cellist. The addition of drums, guitar and upright bass to her cello’s smoothness imbues the quartet with a free spirit and upbeat groove.
Saturday, 4 p.m.
First Unitarian Church
2125 Chestnut St.
From $12, www.firstuu-philly.org
The second year of Philly music fest Blistering Ephemera features noise pop band Xiu Xiu as the headliner, with a supporting lineup that’s somehow as diverse and complex as the headliner, including Downtown Boys, PC Worship, Banned Books, Kate Ferencz and Slow Animal.
Saturday, 8 p.m
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut St.
From $12, www.worldcafelive.com
This Philly native is an internationally touring singer/songwriter who gained recognition for his ethereal cover of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” His original songs are straightforward pop ballads and bouncy numbers with digital-sounding blips accenting the pluck of guitar strings.
Saturday, 11 p.m.
Coda
1712 Walnut St.
$10, www.codaphilly.com
Best known as the official DJ for Wiz Khalifa, Philly-born Brandon Glova, or DJ Bonics, started out spinning at two Pennsylvania radio stations. Now he plays solo shows when not on tour with Khalifa, bringing the PA love with him wherever he goes.
Aiden James and three more shows to see this weekend
Neal Santos
