Over the next three days, the musical fulcrum will largely focus on XPoNential Music Fest. A balanced assemblage of established and emerging talent from near and far settle onto the waterfront. Unfortunately, inclement weather may wash over Hurry’s set. However, Friday still has plenty on its tab – the encompassing reverberating power/ease of Angel Olsen coupled with the emotionally-exposed, energy-expelling rock of Hop Along and the stellar storytelling of Conor Oberst and Wilco. Saturday will culminate with local stalwart Amos Lee digging in with Preservation Hall Jazz Band. However, the meditative reverie of The Dove & The Wolf usher in the day, while Strand of Oaks roots itself in earnest, endearing narratives that blossom and flourish, gathering anthemic reach. On Sunday, the genre-melding hip-hop collective of Hardwork Movement and the Americana trio of No Good Sister help shape the day, reinforced by the bright Americana of Hurray For The Riff Raff and the rugged alt-country of Drive By Truckers. – Michael Colavita

More places to chill out this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI DJ Lainedee, SAT DJ Emynd, Bo Bliz, SUN Power Animal, Telepathic, Queen Jesus

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Dark Thoughts, SAT Jo Kusy, Illiminati Sequence

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Oso/Grimace Federation, Tektonic, Crouse, SAT Crazy Bull/Stateschoolgirl, Ultraviolet, SUN The Lot/Geniverse

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SAT On The Water, Geb the Great Cackler, SUN Boosegumps

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Violent Society

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) SAT The Chris Paterno Band, The Last Generation On Film

Electric Factory (421 N. 7^th St.) This Is Hardcore: FRI Eaten Alive, SAT Jesus Piece, Year of the Knife, SUN Activate

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Breakwater, SAT (Upstairs) Don McAvoy & the Great Whatever, Germany Hill/(Downstairs) The Core, Brown Sugar

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Blasphemous, SUN Sunchoke

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Carroll

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd  St.) SUN Mark Lanky (Record Release), Sad Actor,  White Lighters

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Final Showcase, SUN Resilient, Alright Junior

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Juice Wax (Album Release), Cookie Rabinowitz

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI No One You Know, Jason Jeffries and the Tall Trees, Rootsetters

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT DJ Jason Weiss, SUN Thomas Curtis

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Knightlife, Andorra, The Stone Eye, Shots Called, Mike Nappi, SAT Brendan Johnson, Kate Says

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Splintered Sunlight, Steal Your Peach

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Man Like Machine, Something Like A Monument, Dweeb, SAT Honeytiger, Mavis The Dog

Trash House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT CMBC, Soft Idiot, Who Loves You

All Night Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Abi Reimold, Tutlie, Curtis Cooper

The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) Sun Organ

Camden Waterfront (2 Riverside Dr.) Xponential Fest: FRI Hop Along, Hurry, Swift Technique, SAT Amos Lee, Strand of Oaks, Dave Hause & The Mermaid, The Dove & The Wolf, Cliff Hillis, SUN No Good Sister, Hardwork Movement

Nightlands, a.k.a. Dave Hartley (The War on Drugs), recently released a new album, I Can Feel the Night Around Me, via Western Vinyl. Cruising through the streets with a behind-the-wheel and then an overhead, coastal viewpoint, the video for “You’re Silver," which was co-directed by Daniel Fox and Matthew Marchlewski, captures the smooth intensity of the surrounding environment. Soothing, soulful vocals layer as the gentle, gliding groove coasts those harmonies into gear. Nightlands will headline a bill on Saturday, May 27 at Johnny Brenda's, and will be supported by The Dove & The Wolf and The Building. 

Paloma Gil and Lou Hayat's blissful harmonies are on display with the languid, slow burn of The Dove & The Wolf's latest single, "Motion Sickness". It's one of the two new additions to the band's EP I Don't Know What To Feel, which is being reissued on March 24 via Fat Possum. The duo is currently down at SXSW, where the ladies will be performing this afternoon at Hotel San Jose and Saturday evening at Madewell. They'll also be reconnecting with Jens Lekman soon after for the European leg of their tour.

After compiling the jurors', readers'/fans' and writers' votes for The Deli Philly's Best Emerging Psych Pop/Rock artists, congrats to The Dove & The Wolf! Paloma Gil and Louise Hayat-Camard had already started making a name for themselves under the moniker with the release of their debut self-titled EP and and tours with Rachael Yamagata and Butch Walker. After a transformative experience, while being in Paris during the Bataclan terrorist attack, the ladies were eventually able to renew their visas and return home to Philly. Inspired by their experiences during those troubling times, the duo eventually teamed up with Dave Hartley (The War on Drugs) and Nick Krill (The Spinto Band) to record the moving I Don't Know What To Feel. And what was originally self-released as a five-song EP has now expanded to seven, and will be reissued on March 24 via Fat Possum so this victory looks to be just the start of what should be another memorable year for The Dove & The Wolf - hopefully in a much better way.

Runner-up Japanese Breakfast and honorable mention recipients Carroll are also worthy of your adoration, but also check out the rest of our talented nominees that made this year's list! (Photo by Sidney Bensimon)