Ed Sheeran, Zach Bryan, the War on Drugs, Boyz II Men headline this last outsized Philly music weekend of the year

This is the last outsized, outdoor Philly music weekend of the summer, with open air events that include the XPoNential and Making Time festivals, Ed Sheeran in South Philly, Zach Bryan in Delaware, The War on Drugs on the Asbury Park beach and Boyz II Men at the Highmark Mann.

The indie all star Philly Loves Wilco band, spearheaded by the Tisburys’ Tyler Asay, just did an A Ghost Is Born tribute in 2024. This time, the band will mark the 25th anniversary of Wilco’s 2001 release Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The guest list is formidable, including Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz, Maxwell Stern, Emily Drinker & Josh Steingard, John Faye, Joey Sweeney, Don McCloskey, and Grace Gardner. 8 p.m., Ardmore Music Hall, 23 East Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, ardmoremusichall.com

In 2022, before the release of its seventh album Two Dreams, Doylestown born Philly based post-hardcore progressive rock band Circa Survive announced an indefinite hiatus. Then the Anthony Green-fronted band surprised fans by re-forming. This is the third show of a three-night stand in Fishtown, before the band heads to Louisville for the Louder Than Life festival this weekend. 8 p.m., Fillmore Philly, 29 E. Allen St., thefillmorephilly.com

Earlier this year, the smooth vocalizers of Boyz II Men — Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris, and Nate Morris — reunited with the original fourth member Michael McCary at a Liacouras Center show opening for Bell Biv DeVoe. Now the trio is back as headliners, teaming with the Philly Pops. 8 p.m., TD Pavilion at the Highmark Mann, 5201 Parkside Ave., highmarkmann.org.

Fist-pumping, heart on his sleeve folk-punker Frank Turner’s most recent album is 2024’s Undefeated, a title he came up with after he had that word tattooed on his back. The English songwriter is on his “Road To Lost Evenings IX” tour, ahead of the ninth iteration of the annual festival he curates in Dallas, Tex., which happens next weekend. 7 p.m., Circus Maximus Theatre at Caesars Atlantic City, 2100 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City, caesars.com

Pioneering queercore San Francisco band Pansy Division was openly gay from its beginnings in the early 1990s, when proudly out bands in the often macho punk rock scene were rare. The witty, high energy band fronted by Jon Ginoli has remained intermittently active this century, with its latest being 2016’s Quite Contrary. With Teenage Halloween and Hot Seat. 8 p.m., PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., philamoca.org.

The War on Drugs has returned to action with “Who’s That,” the Philly band’s first new song in five years. The Adam Granduciel-fronted septet has a busy weekend. On Friday, it headlines the Queen in Wilmington, with ace Philly instrumental band I Think Like Midnight opening. Then Saturday, it heads to the Jersey Shore for Asbury Park’s Sea.Hear.Now Festival. 8 p.m. Friday, the Queen, 500 N. Market St, Wilmington, thequeenwilmington.com, and at 8 p.m. (doors open at noon) at Sea.Hear.Now on the Asbury Park beach, seahearnowfestival.com

After this weekend, the country folk superstar (who was born in Japan, grew up in Oklahoma, and lived in Philadelphia when he was writing most of the songs on his 2024 album the Great American Bar Scene) can check Delaware off the list of U.S. states that he’s played in.

Touring behind his new album With Heaven On Top, Bryan is doing two nights at the Woodlands, the bucolic site across Route 1 from Dover Speedway where the Firefly Festival used to happen. On Friday, Kings of Leon, Gabriella Rose, and Fey Fili open. On Saturday, Alabama Shakes takes the Kings’ place. 5 p.m., The Woodlands at Dover Speedway, 1131 N. Dupont Highway, Delaware, zachbryan.com/tour

Back on the Delaware River waterfront in Wiggins Park in Camden, this year’s XPoNential Music Festival presented by Subaru — that’s the official name — kicks off on Friday night with Los Angeles brother act Dawes headlining. Plus, a strong local component with Delco soul man Devon Gilfillian, South Jersey jangly quartet Te Vista, and jazz drummer and bandleader Daniel Villareal.

Saturday’s bill is topped by Alaska-born singer John Gourley’s Portugal. The Man, and includes rousing retro-soul band St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Kentucky folk-country songwriter S.G. Goodman, and WXPN 24 hour Song Challenge winners the Flying Vees. Sunday headliners are 1970s rock band Little Feat, said to be on its final tour, and an impressive under card that includes ReBirth Brass Band, Ratboys, Langhorne Slim, Sierra Hull, Tyler Ballgame, and south Jersey’s Fat Mezz. 4:30 p.m. Friday and Noon on Saturday and Sunday, Wiggins Park, 2 Riverside Park, Camden, xpnfest.com

David Pianka’s sui generis electronic music-plus fest is in its sixth year at Fort Mifflin, the Revolutionary War-era fort near Philadelphia International Airport.

Over 120 acts will perform, mostly DJ-producers like Bicep, Daphni, Skee Mask, and Jewelsea; but also live acts such as Sonic Youth bassist and solo artist Kim Gordon, Philly shoe gazers They Are Gutting A Body of Water, harpist Mary Lattimore & guitarist Jeff Parker, Bolivian American sibling band La Thuthanaka and Atlas Sound, the project of Deerhunter guitarist Bradford Cox, who is will be playing his first show in seven years.

Making Time stands out because it’s small — capped at 3000 people, with a unique site, trippy KLIP Collective lighting, and a PLURT vibe (that stands for Peace, Love, Unity, Respect and Transcendence). And the food and drink is unmatched among Philly fests, with vendors including Irwin’s, Dan’s Kitchen, Tabachoy, Two Persons Coffee, A. Kitchen, and Meetinghouse. 1 p.m., Fort Mifflin, 6400 Hog Island Road, off site parking at ARB Parking 4700 Island Ave., makingtimeisrad.com

The popular British singer-songwriter is out on his Loop Tour, in which he plays solo and builds layered tracks by triggering prerecorded instrumental parts with foot pedals.

The tour is now a center of free speech and censorship debate after rapper Macklemore was removed from all remaining tour dates, including the South Philly show. This decision came after he performed his 2024 song, “Hind’s Hall,” about pro-Palestine demonstrators at Columbia University, at Sept. 4 and 5 concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and chanted “Free Palestine” while a video screen showed footage from the war in Gaza.

Sheeran has said that dropping Macklemore was “the promoter’s decision,” and added that “I do not use my professional platform for politics.”

Previously scheduled openers Lukas Graham, Finneas, and Aaron Rowe have dropped out in solidarity with Macklemore. 5:30 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field, One Lincoln Financial Way, lincolnfinancialfield.com

Jazz guitar virtuoso Pat Metheny has won 20 Grammys and by my count, released 55 albums since his 1976 debut. The latest is Side Eye III+, which carries on his Side Eye project of working with younger musicians. For this gig, that includes Chris Fishman on keys, Joe Dyson on drums, bassist Jermaine Paul, and percussionist and vocalist Leonard Patton. 8 p.m., Miller Theater, 250 S. Broad St., ensembleartsphilly.com.

Witch is an acronym for “We intend to cause havoc.” The 1970s Zambian psychedelic “Zamrock” band melds African rhythm with the influence of the Rolling Stones and James Brown. Philly good trouble maker Ron Gallo — who in 2025 rolled out a “7AM Songs of Resistance for the internet” song series — is the opener. 8 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., johnnybrendas.com