Concert Previews

In 2001, pianist Uri Caine, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Ahmir Thompson - three Philly jazz and hip-hop musicians - recorded a soulful stellar album,

The Philadelphia Experiment

, for the Ropeadope label of music old and newly original and inspired by our region. A year later, local producer/DJ King Britt did his

Remix of the Experiment

and Philly got a little chunkier. Now, in the spirit of Ropeadope's test run comes an idea so specific and overflowing with tomato gravy (not sauce, bub) and cheese it had to be called the South Philly Experiment. Occurring monthly in the heart of the Italian Market, MC Kuf Knotz and the DJs of the Illvibe Collective find themselves backed by the wildly inventive SPE House Band led by drummer/skateboarder Chuck Treece (McRad, Stiffed). Their brand of blasted-out punk-funky jazz could put the "meat" in meatballs, especially with guitarist Nick Bockrath in on the fun. And this month, special guests from Philly's Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars pay a musical tribute to South Philly including music from

Rocky

. Get there early for the snacks provided by DiBruno Brothers. Mangia.

- A.D. Amorosi

Tim Fite's giving away his music again. The folk-rap cut-and-paste collagist - think of him as a less arty alternative to Beck - first got the music-should-be-free bug with 2007's astute consumerism critique

Over the Counter Culture.

Now the Knowlton, N.J.-raised, Brooklyn-based Fite is offering up a belated Valentine's Day gift to the sad and lonely with the effectively bummed-out 10-song

Change of Heart,

which is available as a free download at

» READ MORE: http://timfite.com/change_of_heart

. On Saturday, Fite's at the M Room with D.C. songwriter Benjy Ferree, whose roots-flavored

Come Back to the Five and Dime Bobby Dee Bobby Dee

is inspired by the cheery story of Bobby Driscoll, the child actor who gave voice to the title character in Disney's 1953 animated version of

Peter Pan,

but who was fired by the studio when he hit puberty and died a destitute drug addict in 1968 at age 31.

- Dan DeLuca

Canada's Kathleen Edwards' rootsy songs and whiskey-tinged drawl might have you thinking she's a Southerner (hence the longstanding comparisons to Lucinda Williams). This alt-country darling's self-styled "Canadiana" music is equal parts elegance and wit, especially in concert, where she's been known to flirt and curse with equal aplomb. Edwards will be accompanied by just one musician, her guitarist-hubby Colin Cripps. Expect tunes from her three albums, including last year's much-acclaimed

Asking for Flowers,

an artistic leap that offers Edwards touching on everything from romantic disillusionment to racism.

- Nicole Pensiero