Our weekly concert picks: July 22–July 28

It's the middle of the summer and Philly is literally exploding with music, with dozens of awesome shows and festivals. We've highlighted three fests, plus two cool bands — plus 20 more reasons to get out and about this weekend.

Thursday, July 23: Myrrias

Philly four-piece Myrrias are a band that's been simmering under the surface for almost 2 years now, drawing in fans steadily with lush, intoxicating songs. The project of Arc in Round keyboardist Mikele Edwards (whose floaty alto added planetary depth), plus April Harkansan (Downtown Club), Casey Bell (Break It Up) and Emily Robb (Lantern), Myrrias is a more a collaboration between friends than it is a super group — even if its members all represent great bands. Originally conceived by Edwards as a side project, Myrrias soon blossomed into its own dark flower, matching Edwards's echo-y vocals with Harkansan's haunting soprano, and Bell and Robb's thick, driving drums and bass — for a result that flirts with grunge, psychedelia, and dream pop, while resisting easy categorization. So far, they've released just one EP, the dreamy Endless Winter Session (which you can stream right here) — but we have the feeling there are big things to come.

9:00 at Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., $10. Tickets available here.

Thursday, July 23–Sunday, July 26: This Is Hardcore Festival

Hardcore means different things to different people — it's a type of music, an attitude, and an attitude toward music. It's about being a teenager and cramming into a sweaty basement in West Philly; it's about self-expression and suburban fury; it's about separating yourself from the masses but also being part of a community. It's about violence, and catharsis, and going hard, and never surrendering, and feeling better because of it. For 10 years now, This Is Hardcore Festival has thundered upon Philly like a ravenous beast, depositing in its midst 4 days of bone-crushing tunes, and this year is no exception. Myriad bands with intimidating names will shred face this weekend, including headliners The Misfits, who will play epic LP Earth A.D. in its entirety Saturday night. (Also on the roster: Boston legends American Nightmare and H20, playing their first East Coast show in a decade). Will it be hot and smelly and make you feel like you're 16 again? Oh yeah. But sometimes that's exactly what you need.

6:00 Thursday at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., and 5:00 Friday through Sunday at the Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., $35–125. Tickets available here.

Friday, July 24–Sunday, July 26: XPoNential Music Festival

If sweaty crowds and moshing isn't your thing, bust open your doors and catch the ferry over to Wiggins Park, where local radio station WXPN's XPoNential Music Festival takes over the West Side (of Camden that is). More than 30 acts will perform, including big names like My Morning Jacket and St. Vincent (playing Saturday at the Susquehanna Bank Center), plus Grace Potter, The Wailers, and Indigo Girls. Our top picks? Quirky Australian crooner Courtney Barnett, whose 2015 single "Pedestrian at Best" is probably my fave of the year so far, plus vibey desert rockers Calexico, and rising heart-on-sleeve screamers Hop Along — not to mention up-and-coming heartthrobs Cheerleader, psychedelic stompers Pine Barons, and mesmerizing soul-pop act Vita and the Woolf. Of course the best part is falling in love with bands you never heard of, who surprise you with their creativity — and vegging out on the lawn, local brew in hand. Add Instagram-worthy skyline views and reasonable concession prices, and you pretty much have your weekend planned out. See you out there, Philly.

Friday through Sunday at Wiggins Park, 2 Riverside Dr., Camden. $60–150, tickets available here.

Friday, July 24–Sunday, July 26: OK Fest

OK Fest is a weekend long DIY festival celebrating cool local acts. First conceived and hosted last summer at Golden Tea House (RIP), the festival now returns for a second year, featuring 3 days of essential vibes at the FU Church and PhilaMOCA. Nearly 20 bands will perform this weekend; here are our top five reasons to say "OK!" to OK Fest.

1. Frances Quinlan. There's no doubt that 2015 is the year of Hop Along, the quirky post-emo act whose new record Painted Shut is already topping many "Best Of" lists, thanks in large part to front woman Frances Quinlan's observational lyrics and ability to literally scream her heart out. Play your cards right + you can catch her twice this weekend: Friday solo at PhilaMOCA, then Saturday with a full band at XPN Fest.

2. Amanda X. You may have noticed we're big fans of Amanda X, the cool Philly fuzz punk trio whose debut record Amnesia (Stiltbreeze Records) reinvents and pay tribute to '90s lo-fi — and who will easily convert you when you see them live.

3. Eskimeaux. Eskimeaux may have won beaucoup de fans last week, opening for Mitski and Elvis Depressedly at PhilaMOCA — but the truth is, Gabrielle Smith (who's been writing tunes as Eskimeaux since 2007)—has long been on the rise, with honest pop songs that ricochet between synthy and dancey and sweet and confessional.

4. Alex G. Alex G — aka Philadelphian Alex Giannascoli — is proof that you really can get discovered on the Internet. He's also an incredibly prolific and compelling songwriter, who can shower a crowd in hooks and raw energy.

5. Girlpool. Girlpool is a Philly-via-LA two-piece who have been shredding some serious face since they arrived and show no signs of slowing down.

6:30 Friday and Saturday at PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., and 7:30 Sunday at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., single and multi-day passes available here.

Friday, July 24: Tanlines

The year was 2012, the party Making Time, the venue Bamboo Bar — when Brooklyn duo Tanlines first won me over, their bouncy dance gems inspiring endless moves, casting the whole party in a sexy, hazy light (also probably a factor: Bamboo Bar's famed fishbowls). Since then, the band has elevated its status from rising buzz-band to dance-pop stalwarts, whose ability to tap into an energy and a vibe make them pretty much required listening on any hook-up playlist. The brainchild of Jesse Cohen and Eric Emm (of Professor Murder and Don Caballero, respectively), Tanlines came together in 2008 as a remix project, then quickly evolved into a full band, drawing on chillwave, electro-pop, and laidback summer sounds. Their breakthrough came in early 2012 with debut record Mixed Emotions — which led to dates opening for Vampire Weekend and Hot Chip. This Friday, they return to both Making Time and Philly for the first time in 3 years, playing songs from 2015's appropriately titled Highlights. No fishbowls this time around, but there is free Tecate/Heineken/rum from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. As if you need another excuse!

9:00 at Voyeur, 1221 St. James St., $10. Tickets available here.

See also: Uniform and Dark Blue (Wednesday, July 22 at PhilaMOCA), Dave Hause and Rocky Votolato (Wednesday, July 22 at Union Transfer), Lightning (Wednesday, July 22 at Ortlieb's), Rise Against (Wednesday, July 22 at Festival Pier), Slingshot Dakota (Thursday, July 23 at PhilaMOCA), Halfro with The Bul Bey (Thursday, July 23 at Blue Cross Riverrink Summerfest), Primus (Thursday, July 23 at Festival Pier), Memory Tapes (Friday, July 24 at Boot & Saddle), Tommy Stinson (of The Replacements!) (Friday, July 24 at Milkboy Philly), Skylar Spence (Friday, July 24 at Johnny Brenda's), Interpol (Friday, July 24 at Festival Pier), Reggie and the Full Effect (Friday, July 24 at North Star Bar), Illinois (Saturday, July 25 at Milkboy Philly), The Bad Doctors (Saturday, July 25 at Kung Fu Necktie), Socialite and Heavy Medical (Saturday, July 25 at Everybody Hits), Beach Slang (Monday, July 27 at PhilaMOCA), R. Ring (Kelley Deal) + Joe Jack Talcum (Monday, July 27 at Johnny Brenda's), Pat Finnerty Presents: Care About Me (Tuesday, July 28 at Boot & Saddle), Delicate Steve (Tuesday, July 28 at Underground Arts), Milky Chance (Tuesday, July 28 at the Mann Center), Iron & Wine (Tuesday, July 28 at Union Transfer)