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

POP . . .plus

Femi Kuti: Afrobeat band master/singer serves a vigorously pumped, melodically infectious and lyrically conscious brew. At once jazz-, funk- and jam-centric, the music nods to the traditions of his Afropop founding father (Fela) and America's Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Xaphoon Jones opens. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 9 tonight, $30-$40, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Michael McDonald/Boz Scaggs: Look up "blue eyed soul" in any music dictionary, and you're likely to find these two legends cited. McDonald will "Keep You Running" as he's "Taking It To The Streets," oh, "Minute by Minute." Boz promises the "Lowdown," even when "We're All Alone." Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 52nd and Parkside Ave., 8 tonight, $39-$69, 215-893-1999, www.manncenter.org.

Freedy Johnson: Reedy voiced charmer has a gift for making you feel melancholy one moment, then lifting your spirits the next. Eleanor Whitmore and Chris Masterson (Son Volt) are openers. Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St., 7:30 tonight, $16, 215-928-0978, www.tinangel.com.

Wheat: Their swaying-in-the-wind dream pop has a heartland feel akin to the work of Wilco or the Sea and Cake. Power popsters XYZ Affair and the daft folk of Hop Along, Queen Ansleis fill out the bill. Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St., 7 tonight, $10, 866-468-7619, www.r5productions.com.

Full House - A Series of Cabarets: Quince Productions shines the spotlight on deserving talent with this weekend of (mostly) one-person, razzle-dazzle, themed songathons. Tonight, Nathan Ohn's "Travels and Home: Songs for the Journey" (7:30 p.m.), then Maggie Laird's "From Berlin to Broadway and a Few Random Stops," plus G De Candia's "Stage to Screen . . . and Back Again" (9:30 p.m). Tomorrow: Melissa Kolczynski with "Pants on Fire: Songs About Liars, Lust and Flaming Pants" (7:30 p.m), followed by members of the Cabaret Peforming Class offering "The Best Is Yet to Come" (9:30 p.m.). Sunday at 6 p.m., it's Quince fave Peter Andrew Danzig's "Welcome to the Red Room," then Aimee Robidoux's "Vision of Love." Red Room at Society Hill Playhouse, 507 South 8th St., $20-$25, 215-923-0210, www.quinceproductions.com.

Kenny Chesney: The big-hat country singer's headlining gig tomorrow at the Linc - for the third summer in a row - reasserts his superstar status on the concert circuit. Chesney cuts across genres (and eliminates style prejudices) with his smart and congenial mix of goodtime honky tonk anthemic pop grandeur and Jimmy Buffet-like beach-rock froth. Tomorrow's festival-length hoedown also features Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert, Sugarland and Lady Antebellum. Lincoln Financial Field, One Lincoln Financial Way, 4 p.m. tomorrow, $25-$200, 215-336-2000, www.lincolnfinancialfield.com.

Demi Lovato/David Archuleta: This bill should be heaven on earth for the "tween" set, and quite bearable for their parents. Lovato is a strong-voiced (and not too shrill) girly rocker, pushing the empowerment button and boasting great recognition from Disney Channel ventures like "Camp Rock." Archuleta, of course, was the runnerup on "American Idol" two seasons back. Newcomers KSM are in the opening slot. Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 52d Street and Parkside Avenue, 7 p.m. tomorrow, $39.50-$53.50, 215-893-1999, www.manncenter.org.

The Slip: Trio of Berklee music school dropouts go their own way with a slippery, experimental, new psychedelic approach. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $18-$25, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Elizabeth and the Catapult: Frisky Brooklyn band has been getting love (from NPR, among others) for their tune "Taller Children," musing on the selfish, immature conduct of Wall Street wheeler-dealers. You'll find a cute video version on YouTube, or hear 'em do it live when they visit our fair town. Christina Courtin opens. Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St., 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, $10, 215-928-0978, www.tinangel.com.

Reach Around Rodeo Clowns: Psychobilly (punk and rockabilly blending) band from Lancaster is the headliner, but equally important in the grand scheme is Philly twang-rock legend Charlie Gracie (performing with Quentin Jones) and Nick Kane (of the Mavericks) with his group the Lanark Kings. Balcony at the Trocadero, 10th and Arch streets, 9 p.m. tomorrow, $10-$12, 215-922-LIVE, www.thetroc.com.

Sierre Leone's Refugee All-Stars: Founded in a war refugee camp, this troupe will rouse and inspire with their rootsy mix of West African, hip-hop and reggae. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, $25-$35, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

The Church: One of those "should have been much bigger here" British rock groups draws out its cult of fans with sounds haunting (heavy on the Mellotron), just a tad effete (in a Bowie-ish way) and playfully surreal. Adam Franklin (of Swervedriver)and Bolts of Melody also perform. Trocadero, 10th and Arch streets, 8 p.m Wednesday, $28.50-$32.50, 215-922-LIVE, www.thetroc.com.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone: Their name is their sonic address. Think a baleful busker on a street corner, tapping away on a cheesy little battery-operated keyboard while sharing his tales of woe. Even the choice of covers (like "Streets of Philadelphia" and "Graceland") could make you cry. Cryptacize, a new signing to Sufjan Stevens' record label, is in the warm-up slot at this intimate (50 viewers max) showcase. First Unitarian Church Chapel, 2125 Chestnut St., 7 p.m. Thursday, $12 (all ages), 866-468-7610, www.r5productions.com.

Sonic Youth: We're lovin' the new album ("The Eternal"), a raucous throwback to the downtown New York garage/psychedelic rock scene of their childhood. And bassist Kim Gordon's really pulling her vocal weight, too, this time. Electric Factory, 7th and Willow Streets. 8:30 p.m. Thursday, $25/$27, 215-627-1332, www.livenation.com.

HIP-HOP, R&B

Dancin' in the Street: Funk, Afrobeat and house tunes spun by DJs Rich Medina and Mike Nyce, plus live art from painters Eric Jordan and Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, exhibits by Bonnie McCuenn and Mantel and HIV testing by Mazzoni Center in celebration of National HIV Testing Day. Piazza at Schmidt's, 2nd Street and Germantown Avenue, 6 tonight, free, all ages, www.atthepiazza.com.

'Sling Shot Hip Hop': Director Jackie Salloum offers a timely look at the Israeli-Palestine conflict through the stories of young Palestinians living in the West Bank. Clark Park, 45th and Regent, 8 tonight, free, 215-724-1618

City Sound Check: The event known for providing the finest in underground hip-hop is back as Apollo The Great, Random, Chosen Ones, Loyal and Gp1000 join DJ Akshun and host Big O. Tacony Billiards, 6201 Keystone St., 9 tonight, $10, 21-plus, 610-453-5517.