Check out who's performing in and around town this week

Live music and more, tonight through Thursday, compiled by Shaun Brady, Tom Di Nardo, James Johnson, Sara Sherr and Jonathan Takiff.

POP

Lykke Li: Oh, are those Scandinavians good at updating girly pop conventions! This Swedish darlin', pronounced Lick-ee Lee, coos and charms with her upfront shyness - a contradiction in terms until you hear her sing/confess how she's just a "Little Bit" in love wit(h) you. Electronic effects likewise (Lykee-wise?) contrast with dry-sounding studio instrumentation to interesting effect on her recorded tracks, and also should be attainable in her concert here. Wildbirds & Peacedrums open. First Unitarian, 2125 Chestnut St., 8:30 tonight, (sold out) 866-468-7619, www.r5productions.com.

Annuals: North Carolina collective could heat up the coldest night with music that's sunny and effervescent, at turns richly arranged pop rock and down-home, shuffling, fiddle-fired country. Opening acts Jessica Lea Mayfield and What Laura Says share the "high aspirations" gene. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. 9 tonight, $10, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

Peter Cincotti: He first won attention as a 19-year-old torchbearer for old-school standards. Nowadays, under the sway of David Foster, Cincotti's evolving into quite the "piano man," in a mostly Billy Joel vein. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. 7:30 tonight, $35 & $45, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Juggling Suns: Remember the band in "Runaway Bride"? That was these guys, sure to stoke your furnace with their jammy, psychedelic mix of rock, blues, Latin, funk, trance and country. This concert extravaganza is dubbed "Into the Twilight," and might last that long with support from Jim Weider's Project Percolator, Rodney Holmes, the Jugband, Dirk Quinn Band and more. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 6 p.m. tomorrow, $25/$28, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Stonethrown: Upstairs at WCL likewise boasts a full roster tomorrow, but with a local emphasis. Stonethrown wraps Judah Kim's Jeff Buckley-ish vocals in a frenzied swirl of guitars. Danceable Downtown Harvest is also on the bill, plus OSO, Moxy and DJ Shy Scruffington. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $11, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Project/Object: Original Mothers (of Invention, that is) Ike Willis, Ed Mann and Don Preston reunite to spread the authentic gospel of the late Frank Zappa. Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville, 8 p.m. tomorrow, $25, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com.

Harvey Holiday's Super Bowl of Acappella: How can these guys possibly live up to the hype? Listen and learn. Featured are Cornerstone with Golden Voice Harry, the Larkings, Quiet Storm and Now & Then. TLA, 334 South St. 8 p.m. tomorrow, $25, 215-922-1011, www.livenation.com.

Sharon Katz & the Peace Train: African-rooted but long Philadelphia-based, Katz and friends serve up their bouncy, Afro-pop/folk/jazz hybrid music in a benefit to help build a school in South Africa. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 11 a.m. Sunday, $55, includes brunch, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Antony and the Johnsons: A true underground cult phenomenon, this swooning art pop tenor sounds like a cross between Bryan Ferry and Rufus Wainwright. He's sure to feature material from his new album of waltzy, string- and woodwinds-enhanced contemporary chamber music, "The Crying Light." Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 8 p.m. Monday, $25 & $29.50, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com.

Coryell-Auger-Sample Trio: Funky, jazz-rocking trio was surely born to the mission. It boasts offspring of three noted scene veterans - guitarist Julian Coryell (son of Larry), drummer and keyboardist Karma Auger (son of Brian) and bassist Nicklas Sample (offspring of Joe). They also go by the collective name CAST! Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St., 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, $20, 215-928-0770, www.tinangel.com.

Sonya Kitchell: Seasoned songstress always has good stuff up her sleeve. Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St. 8:30 p.m. Thursday, $10, 215-928-0770, www.tinangel.com.

HIP-HOP

Joell Ortiz: Local acts Fel Sweetenberg, 2ew Gunn Ciz and Sick Six welcome Brooklynite Ortiz for a night of great indie hip-hop. Hosted by the always entertaining Big O, with DJ Jim Redz spinning between sets. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 10 tonight, $10, 21+, 267-671-9298, www.iourecords.com/thefire.

Lyrically Fit: Bassador, Soulkwest, Phil Nash, Nancy V., Mzery Loves Company, Unique, Angelz of Death, Brandoe, ET's and LSM are scheduled to perform at this huge showcase for underground hip-hop. Hosted by The 11Hourshow with DJ Trubb on the wheels of steel. Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 9 tonight, $10, 21+, 215-922-5483, www.thetroc.com.

Dinner Is Served: Nico the Beast, one half of Clean Guns with partner Zilla Roca, celebrates the release of his latest mixtape by putting on a show with Fours, Slim DSM and King Syze, hosted by Beat Garden's "un-slim shady," Big O, while DJ No Phrillz holds it down on the ones and twos. Liquid Charm, 1207 Race St., 9 p.m. tomorrow, $8, 21+, myspace.com/liquidcharms.

Black Landlord: Rent's usually due on the first of the month, but MAxx and the rest of Black Landlord are coming a day early to collect. Joining the Philadelphia-based hip-hop/rock outfit will be power-pop group Spinning Lucy and DJ Guy. Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St., 9 p.m. tomorrow, $8, 21-plus, 215-238-5888, www.thekhyber.com.

Philadelphia Slick: Known among local live music aficionados for their energetic stage shows and complex and compelling lyrics, hip-hop band Philly Slick will be joined by Tony-Two-Step and DJ John F. Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 9 p.m. Wednesday, $5, 21-plus, 215-592-8838, www.silkcityphilly.com.

Mic Check Thorsday: Get it it? Thorsday? That's a play on words, but local label T.H.O.R. Takeover's monthly open mike is no joke. Come show your skills or watch others get their chance to shine. Liquid Charm, 1207 Race St., 9 p.m. Thursday, $5, 21+, myspace.com/liquidcharms.

'The Seven': Will Power play updates Aeschylus classic Greek play "Seven Against Thebes" for the hip-hop generation. Think of it as a theater remix of a 2,500-year-old classic. Tomlinson Theater, 1301 W. Norris St., 7:30 p.m. Thursday, performances continue through Feb. 22. $20, $15 discount for students, seniors, Temple staff and alum, $5, www.temple.edu/sct, 215-204-1122.

ALTERNATIVE

Decontrol: Philly punk legends rock with excellent punk-and-rollers the Prisoners and garage-punk newcomers the Midnight Beat. Connie's Ric Rac, 1132 S. 9th St., 8 tonight, $10, all ages, 215-279-7587, www.myspace.com/hellundertheel.

Prowler: Philly punk-funk band will get you dancing, along with Man Like Machine and Wild Yaks. Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St., 9 tonight, $8, 215-238-5888, www.thekhyber.com.

Amebix: Crust-punk legends top a matinee that includes Kylesa, Mischief Brew, Behind Enemy Lines, Parasytic and Lost Cause. Trocadero, 10th and Arch streets, 3 p.m. tomorrow, $15, all ages, 215-922-LIVE, www.thetroc.com.

Iron Man: Maryland band plays an all-metal bill with Stinking Lizaveta, Pale Divine (13-year-old metal trio from Glen Mills) and Misstallica (all-female Metallica tribute from the Paul Green School of Rock). Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Avenue, 9 p.m. tomorrow, $10, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

BC Camplight: Fronted by pop genius Brian Christinzio, this band tops a bill full of local indie-pop charms, including the Bye Byes and Surefire Broadcast. 941 Theater, 941 N. Front St., 9 p.m. tomorrow, $10, all ages, 215-235-1385, www.941theater.com.

Gemini Wolf: Electro-folk band plays at the recently opened Roxborough venue, with the film-noir vibe of Circadian Rhythms. Blinkin Lincoln, 6080 Ridge Avenue, 9 p.m. tomorrow, $5, www.blinkinlincoln.com.

Josh Wink: Legendary Philly DJ makes a rare area appearance to celebrate the release of "When a Banana Was Just a Banana." With Jamie Morris, Thomas Scheiber and Pandemix. Inciting HQ, 940 N. Delaware Avenue, 11 p.m. tomorrow, $10, all ages, http://incitingaction.com.

Punk Rock Flea Market: Rescheduled date and a new location. Electric Factory, 7th and Willow streets, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, $3, all ages, 215-627-1332, www.r5productions.com.

Semi Precious Weapons: Flamboyant Justin Tranter fronts the Chicago glam-punk band making its first Philly appearance. With Von Iva and Nico Vega. Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St., 8 p.m. Monday, $10, 235-238-5888, www.thekhyber.com.

English Beat: Classic UK new-wave ska band returns with Bad Manners. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, $25-40, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Wavves: San Diego-based Nathan Williams' sundrenched noise pop would fit right in between Jay Reatard and Times New Viking. With Woods and Weyes Bluhd. The Marvelous Music, 208 S. 40th St., 8 p.m. Tuesday, $5-$10, all ages, 215-386-6110, www.myspace.com/themarvelousmusic.

Millionaires: Hyper teen rap about boys and money joins Cash Cash, Miami pop-metal duo I Set My Friends on Fire, and Watchout! There's Ghosts. Barbary, Frankford and Delaware Avenues, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, $12, all ages, www.r5productions.com.

Starling Electric: Michigan power-pop band plays with Grammar Debate (members of the Rarebirds and Village Green booking guy Joe Lekkas) and the Moneynotes (formerly Okay Paddy). M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 9 p.m. Wednesday, $8, 215-739-5577, www.themanhattanroom.com.

Metalbeard VII: Decibel Magazine's monthly metal night features Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, Gloominous Doom and La Resistance. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9 p.m. Wednesday, $5, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

High Places: Catch this enchanting shoegaze, glitch-pop group from Baltimore while you can. With Soft Circle, Kyle H. Mabson, Hermit Thrushes, Reading Rainbow and King Kong Ding Dong. Danger Danger Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave., 8:30 p.m. Thursday, all ages, www.myspace.com/dangerdangergallery.

JAZZ

Justin Faulkner: It's dangerous to raise the specter of Tony Williams at the outset of any drummer's career, but Philly's Faulkner mirrors Williams in his achievements at a staggeringly young age. At 17, the age Williams was when he joined Miles Davis' group, Faulkner has already been garnering accolades – and gigs – for years. His explosive style seems to ensure his continued success. He'll have a "surpise guest" for this performance. (Hint: His work with Roy Hargrove suggests a funky hard-bop turn for the show.) Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street & Ben Franklin Parkway, 5:45 and 7:15 tonight, free with regular museum admission of $14, 215-763-8100, www.philamuseum.org.

Junior Jazz Festival: Please Touch Museum kicks off its 17th annual fest for the young 'uns, the first in the new digs at Memorial Hall. Arpeggio Jazz Ensembles, perennials at the event given leader Warren Oree's natural connection with his audience and urge to educate, are the first weekend's performers. Please Touch Museum, Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park (4231 Avenue of the Republic), 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. tomorrow, 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, free with museum admission of $15, 215-581-3181, www.pleasetouchmuseum.org.

Thurston Moore & Mats Gustafsson: Ars Nova Workshops duo series continues with this raucous pairing: Sonic Youth guitarist Moore, an avid follower of free jazz and improvised music, with Swedish saxophonist Gustafsson, who if anything is even louder and more aggressive than his rock-star partner. International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $25, 215-387-5125, www.arsnovaworkshop.com.

Tim Ries: Touring saxophonist with the Rolling Stones for nearly a decade recently released his second CD of jazz interpretations of his bosses' music, with the whole gang sitting in at one point or another. He'll bring the Jagger/Richards songbook to Philly with a killer band, including guitarist Ben Monder and drummer Clarence Penn. Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., 8 and 10 p.m. tomorrow, $25, 215-568-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com.

Sci-Fi Philly: Weekly avant-jazz showcase hosts Little Women, a blaring, wall-of-noise quartet from New York; and the electronic duo of Charles Cohen and Dan Tague. Gojjo, 4540 Baltimore Ave., 8 p.m. Sunday, $5, www.scifiphilly.com.

Simon Shaheen: Palestinian oud player and violinist and his five-piece band blend traditional Arabic sounds with jazz and Western classical music. Kimmel Center Perelman Theater, Broad and Spruce streets, 3 p.m. Sunday, $45 & $35, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.

CLASSICAL

Anton Kuerti: Since his Curtis days as a student of Rudolf Serkin and Mieczyslaw Horszowski, Kuerti has been recognized as a great talent, especially in his readings of Beethoven. So this all-Beethoven recital should be a real touchstone for this series. He's programmed two Sonatas, the early Op. 2/1 and the middle-period Op. 31/1, as well as the monumental challenge of the "Diabelli" Variations. Independence Seaport Museum, Columbus Boulevard and Walnut Street, 8 tonight, $23, 215-569-8080, www.pcmsconcerts.org.

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops: Multi-media presentation "Visions of America" features Nero's crack ensemble plus photographs by Joseph Sohm. There's music by Roger Kellaway with lyrics by the famous team of Marilyn and Alan Bergman. Grammy-winning thrush Patti Austin will also be on hand for this tribute to our supercharged national identity. Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad and Spruce streets, 8 p.m. tonight, 3 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday, $27-$104, 215-893-1999, www.phillypops.org.

Philadelphia Singers & Tempesta di Mare: Tempesta's Baroque ensemble and our well-known Singers perform music of deep feelings: John Blow's New Year's ode "With Cheerful Hearts," Vivaldi's thrilling Magnificat and the "Trauer" Ode by J. S. Bach. Old St. Joseph's Church, 321 Willings Alley, near 4th and Walnut streets, 8 p.m. tomorrow and 3 p.m. Sunday, $10-$40, 215-755-8776, www.tempestadimare.org.

Voices Chorale: "Sing for the Cure," with texts assembled from the stories of patients, spouses, children, medical community and others affected by breast cancer, with conductor J. A. Kawarsky and piano accompanist Ryan Brechmacher, plus the Voices Chorale and choirs from Pennsbury High School, narrators and soloists from Congregations Beth El and Kol Emet, plus mezzo Lucia Bradford and "American Idol"'s Anwar Robinson. Congregation Beth El, 375 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, 8 p.m. tomorrow, $18, 609-462-4984, www.voiceschorale.org.

"Love Machines and Shameless Hussies": Chamber Music Now series dips into uncharted territory by bringing in Avian Music, performing songs by Peter Flint, Corey Dargel, Raymond Lustig, Joe Hallman and Conrad Cummings, with texts from Shakespeare to 1950s sex manuals. Talk about crossover: burlesque queen Dirty Martini will reconstruct Sally Rand's once-notorious fan dance to Debussy's "Clair de lune." Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $15, 215-605-9988, www.chambermusicnow.org.

"Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District": Shostakovich's opera was raw, stark and politically incorrect enough to elicit condemnation by Stalin and was banned for almost 30 years in Russia until it was revised under another title. This screening of the original opera, filmed recently at Florence's Maggio Musicale, is conducted by James Conlon, with soprano Jeanne-Michele Charbonnet as Katerina, tenor Vsevolod Grivnov as her husband and baritone Sergej Kunaev as her cruel lover. In Russian with English titles. Bryn Mawr Theater, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 1 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Feb. 11, 610-527-4008, ext. 105, www.brynmawrfilm.org.

Saeka Matsuyama: Violinist makes her local debut for Astral Artists in a fascinating program, which includes Bach's solo Sonata No. 2. Renowned local pianist and Temple mentor Charles Abramovic accompanies her in First Sonatas by Saint-Saens and Brahms, plus Witold Lutoslawski's "Subito" and Novacek's "Moto Perpetuo." Trinity Center, 2212 Spruce Street, 3 p.m. Sunday, $16, 215-735-6999, www.astralartists.org.

Jeffrey Siegel: For his continuing series of Keyboard Conversations, pianist/narrator Siegel will spotlight short pieces with great musical impact. Some of Grieg's Lyric Pieces, Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, Schubert's Impromptus and Brahms' Rhapsodies surely fit into that rarefied category. Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, 7:30 p.m. Monday, $30, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.

Academy of Vocal Arts: In keeping with its mission to give emerging stars a wide background in the art song repertoire, the conservatory is launching an after-work "Liederabend" ("Song Evening") series. First, baritone Steven La Brie in Schumann's song cycle "Liederkreis," soprano Colleen Daly in French songs by Debussy and Bachelet, and mezzo Nina Yoshida Nelson in works by Haydn and Respighi. Piano accompaniment will be provided by Laurent Philippe and Jose Melendez. Helen Corning Warden Theater, 1920 Spruce St., 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, free, 215-735-1685, www.avaopera.com.