Music critics' picks

The Fire is the kind of bar punks, hippies, hip-hoppers, singer-songwriters and actual firefighters frequent - often all at once. As artists such as Rilo Kiley, Tegan and Sara, and Dr. Dog cut their teeth there, the club paved the way for the live music renaissance in the Northern Liberties/Fishtown area. Recently, the 4th and Girard venue had to shut down to sort out licensing issues with the city. Many local artists who have played there are throwing a benefit with Drink Up Buttercup, Toy Soldiers, Townhall's George Stanford, Hoots & Hellmouth's Sean Hoots and others. The Fire hopes to reopen sometime next week.

World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 6 p.m. Sunday, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

- Sara Sherr

There's no more appropriate way to honor the 70th birthday of James Freeman, Orchestra 2001's founder and conductor, than with new music. In its 21 seasons, Freeman's ensemble has presented 80 world premieres and 205 works by 125 American composers, so it's no surprise that six local composers are paying homage.

World premieres include Andrea Clearfield's "A Reminiscence Sing," David Finko's "Glory to the King," Andrew Rudin's "Celebrations," Thomas Whitman's "Midsummer Idyll" and an untitled work by Gerald Levinson. Local premieres will be the revered George Crumb's "Sun and Shadow," and Jay Reise's "Luanhuana."

Freeman will join his own party, offering the premiere of his "Three Songs from the '60s."

Lang Concert Hall, Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, 3 p.m. Sunday, free, 215-922-2190, www.orchestra2001.org.

- Tom Di Nardo

Miami-based megastar Rick Ross has been a major player in the Southern rap scene since his 2006 debut, "Port of Miami." His gruff voice and straightforward lyrics continued to fuel his success with last year's No. 1 "Trilla." This has been an interesting year for Ross, who had a bitter feud with 50 Cent after an incident at January's BET Awards. Aside from taking time out to settle the beef, Ross also released his third studio album, "Deeper Than Rap," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He's here with his group Triple C's, featuring Gunplay, Torch, Young Breed and Ross himself. Kendra G will host, with selections from DJ Aktive throughout the night.

VII Luxe Lounge, 724 Arch St., 10 tonight, $25, $40 VIP, 21-plus, 215-413-0130.

- James Johnson

Saxophonist Joshua Redman appeared at last summer's Montreal Jazz Festival in three different guises, but the most intriguing was undoubtedly his recruiting of three of modern jazz's most mind-blowing rising stars: pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman and drummer Eric Harland. The three had served as Parks' trio on the piano prodigy's stellar 2008 CD "Invisible Cinema," from which Redman pulled much of the material for the quartet gig. The set brought the Canadian crowd to its feet and in the ensuing months the group picked up a name but no more gigs, until they set down in Philly this week. So tonight's show is an opportunity to see the exciting new ensemble dubbed James Farm in its nascent stages, already operating at an intense level.

Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., 8 and 10 tonight, $30, 215-568-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com.

- Shaun Brady

Remember the grandly mellifluous Minneapolis pop rock band Trip Shakespeare, or its slightly more mainstream offspring Semisonic, the latter best known for the hit "Closing Time"? Matt Wilson was in the former; John Musson in both groups. Now the two have reunited for another reach toward musical immortality with Twilight Hours. Neither ultra-sunny nor terribly dark, melancholy-voiced Twilight songs offer plaintive/playful lyrics scored with haunting, ear-grabbing melodies oozing classic singer-songwriter craftsmanship. Likewise evoking nostalgia is their new long player, "Stereo Night," on red vinyl, CD and download forms. Keep fighting off the night, guys.

Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St., 7 p.m. Sunday, $12, 215-928-0978, www.tinangel.com.

- Jonathan Takiff