Musical events in the area this week

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

Fountains of Wayne: These Jersey peaches squeeze out juicy acoustic versions of "Stacy's Mom," "Mexican Wine" and "Too Cool for School" with friend and collaborator Mike Viola opening. Sellersville Theater, Main and Temple streets, Sellersville, 8:30 tonight, $29.50, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com.

John Gorka: The trenchant story teller who gave us "I'm From Jersey" (see a thread here?) entertains at this suburban BYOB music venue. Kennett Flash, 102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 8 tonight, $30, 484-732-8295, www.kennettflash.org.

Project/Object: This orchestra's mission is to keep alive the dense, daft and gloriously diverse music of Frank Zappa and his band, the Mothers of Invention. Two true Mothers, Ike Willis and Don Preston, are front and center. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7:30 tonight, $30-$35, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Amy Speace: If you've loved and lost, you'll connect with this dark and stormy contemporary folk singer. Speace's commanding new crop of songs "The Killer in Me" delves passionately into the breakup of her marriage. "I kind of spilled blood all over this project," she declares. Upstairs at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 8 tonight, $15, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Sheryl Crow & The Roots: We're expecting some Michael Jackson moments at this year's July 4th Welcome America! bash on the Parkway. Headliner Crow cut her teeth as a background singer to Jackson on the "Bad" world tour of 1987, dueting with him every night. And how can Philly-based, funk/hip-hop/jazz fusing openers The Roots not share some love for the king of crossover? Steps of the Art Museum, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 8:30 p.m. tomorrow, Free (fireworks follow), www.americasbirthday.com.

Richie Havens: Forty summers after he opened the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Havens retains his empathic warmth, sensitivity and icon status as voice of the generation(s). Local notable Carsie Blanton opens. Concerts Under the Stars, 175 W. Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, $10, free for children ages 16 and under and adults 62 and over. 610-265-1071, www. uppermerionparkandrec.org.

Fam Jams!: Prior editions of this free family-music show served up the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. This year, the star attraction is the Naked Brothers - the sunniest of poprock sensations spawned on TV (Nickelodeon), as fronted by the brothers Alex and Natt Wolff. Sharing the stage are Meaghan Martin, who kids know from "Camp Rock," plus Cody Wise, Josie Andrews and our own Timmy Kelly. Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Columbus Blvd. at the foot of Chestnut Street, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, free, 215-922-2FUN, www.delawareriverevents.com.

Rock Royalty: Come out for the hits of The Zombies (Colin Blunstone, Rod Argent), The Yardbirds and The Spencer Davis Group. Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Ave., Glenside, 8 p.m. Wednesday, $44.50, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com.

Jimmie Van Zant: This Southern rocker pays tribute to his late cousin Ronnie's group Lynyrd Skynyrd and his other cousin Donnie's band 38 Special. Warming up the night - Citizens Band Radio. Sellersville Theater, Main and Temple streets, Sellersville, 8 p.m. Wednesday, $19.50, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com.

Matisyahu/Umphrey's McGee: Enjoy this complementary yet distinctively different pairing of talents. Matisyahu has an excellent new album's worth of spiritually driven, reggae-rap-rock mashups (called "Light") to spring on 'ya. Progressive rockers Umphrey's McGee go off on their own, more florid tangents. But invariably for both, it all gets back to the jammin'. Electric Factory, 7th and Willow streets, 8 p.m. Wednesday, $28.50-$31.50, 215-627-1332, www.livenation.com.

Rosanne Cash: One could argue Rosanne is the best thing that dad Johnny ever created - a most thoughtful, frank and vivid singer/songwriter (and fiction writer!) with one foot planted in Nashville country and the other in the cement of Greenwich Village. Stephen Kellogg is her featured guest. Keswick Theatre, Glenside, 8 p.m. Thursday, $35-$45, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com.

New Riders of the Purple Sage: An early offshoot of the Grateful Dead, you'd have thunk these psychedelic country originals would be totally fried by now. But NRPS' just-out "Where I Come From" album attests that there's still plenty of heady charm to be had - especially when they get into a snakish guitar dance (pedal steel and otherwise) and toss out some of that down-home (but kite-high) mysterioso/paranoid imagery. "Ghost Train Blues," indeed. Sellersville Theater, Main and Temple streets, Sellersville. 8 p.m. Thursday, $21.50-$33, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com.

3rd Of July Party: tU pHAce, Philly's towering icon of alternative hip-hop (seriously, he's at least 6-foot-5!), will play host for this pre-Independence Day party while DJ Phsh spins hip-hop, funk and house. Pub Webb, 1527 Cecil B. Moore Ave., 10 tonight, $5, 267-687-8256, www.pubwebb.com.

The Bounce: While Emynd and Bo Bliz's monthly mash-up of everything cool tends to lean towards the hip-hop side of things, fans of all genres will find something to dance to while enjoying the open bar and crazy skating videos. Barbary, 951 Frankford Ave., 9 tonight, $5 (free before 10 p.m.), 215-634-7400, myspace.com/thenewbarbary.

Eavesdrop Sessions: DJs Lil' Dave and DJ Junior of Eavesdrop Radio bring cutting-edge and genre-bending artists to highlight their Eavesdrop Sessions. Headlining this time around is producer/songwriter Erik Rico who will be joined by Dotmatic, Kanu and Mydnite Angel. Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 10 p.m. Wednesday, $10, 21-plus, 215-592-8838, www.silkcityphilly.com.

Kindred The Family Soul: A staple in Philadelphia's soul-music scene for the past five years, this husband-and-wife duo have become fan favorites through their incredible live shows and captivating albums. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 9 p.m. Wednesday, $25, $35 mezzanine, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Afton Live Hip-Hop Show: At a dollar per act in advance, or slightly more at the door, this underground hip-hop series offers a considerable amount of bang for your buck. Featuring RYDAH, Legacy, S.W.A.T. Camp, P. Features, T-ZuK, KA$H KANNON, Fast Eddie and Don Dotta. Fluid Night Club, 613 S. 4th St., 6 p.m. Thursday, $9 advance, $12 at the door, 215-629-3686, www.fluidnightclub.com.

Jus Words: This week's edition of the North Philly poetry event will feature poets Taalam Acey, Lamar Hill and Shyster. Dowling's Palace, 1310 N. Broad St., $5, 215-236-9888, www.dowlingspalace.com.

Frankford Avenue First Friday: Includes music by the thrashy Druid Circles and Endless Safari, with artist Steve Teare painting along. Caterpillar Lot, 2205 Frankford Ave., 6-9 tonight, free, all ages, 215-427-0350, www.frankfordavearts.org.

Land of the Free, Home of the Burlesque: If you like drunken history, apple pie and half-naked girls, this is the show for you: a stripping Betsy Ross, the signing of the "Declaration of Sex-dependence," and more. Rembrandt's, 741 N. 23rd St., 8-11 tonight, $14, www.myspace.com/sundayrevivalshow.

Fealgood Foundation Benefit: The foundation spreads awareness about the catastrophic health effects on 9/11 first responders and provides them with financial assistance for their medical bills. Rocking out for a good cause are Black Landlord, The Lads (members of Dandelion and the Princeton School of Rock), Mike Reis & the Weapons of Mass Consumption, and Photon Band's Art DiFuria. Collateral News will be shooting a documentary of the event. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9 tonight, $10, 215-739-9684, www.fealgoodfoundation.com.

Philebrity Sync Stage: Rescheduled, rained-out event from the 2nd Street Music Festival on June 20, alternately called "Yankee Go Home." For updated band schedule, go to www.philebrity.com/syncstage. Piazza at Schmidt's, 2nd Street and Germantown Avenue, 2-9 p.m. tomorrow, free, all ages, www.atthepiazza.com.

Leftöver Crack: The gods of all suburban teenage drunk punks descend here with the Casualties and Trash Talk. Starlight Ballroom, 460 N. 9th St., 2 p.m. tomorrow, $15, 267-295-2710, www.r5productions.com.

Hell Under The El: The punk promoter hosts his self-proclaimed "White Trash BBQ Punkfest" with Dead Gerber Babies, Scareho, the Nondemons, Shred Scare and Jump Ship. El Bar, Front and Master streets, 5 p.m. tomorrow, $5, 215-634-6430, www.myspace.com/hellundertheel.

Renminbi: This New York City duo is one to watch. They're a combustible mix of Sonic Youth and Sleater-Kinney with Thalia Zedek-like vocals. Their latest EP, "Surface" was produced by SY cohort Don Fleming. With Radio Eris, Seizure 17 and Cheap Dinosaurs. Tritone, 1508 South St., 9 p.m. tomorrow, $5-6, 215–545–0475, www.tritonebar.com.

Jay Reatard: The prolific punk genius previews material from "Watch Me Fall," due out in August on Matador. He's joined by the legendary TV Smith of the Adverts. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 10 p.m. tomorrow (or after the fireworks), $12, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

Kraak Belgium: This left-field Belgian promoter and publisher of Ruis magazine assembles a great Philly psych-folk and experimental bill with Kurt Vile, Jack Rose, Meg Baird, US Girls. Kung Fu Necktie, Front and Thompson streets, 8 p.m. Sunday, $8, 215-291-4919, www.kungfunecktie.com.

Pretty Boy Thorson & the F'n A's: The Minneapolis quartet's Myspace page lists their first two influences as Merle Haggard and the Angry Samoans. Also recommended for fans of Mike Ness and Paul Westerberg. With the Korfs, the Howling Fantods and the Mean Streets. JR's Bar, 22nd Street and Passyunk Avenue, 8 p.m. Monday, $5, www.myspace.com/sickchattelproductions.

Japandroids: This Canadian duo is the perfect match for Matt & Kim with their speeded-up, punk-primitive anthems. The title of their latest release says it all: "Post Nothing." Team Robespierre opens. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 8 p.m. Tuesday, sold out, all ages, 267-295-2710, www.r5productions.com.

Birth Control: If you like P--sed Jeans, check out former member Sean McGuiness' newish band on a superbly noisy bill with Cult Ritual, Fresh Meat and Pygmy Shrews Pi Lam, 3914 Spruce St., 8 p.m. Tuesday, $6, www.myspace.com/thepilam.

Endless Boogie: The experimental psych blues band joins Birds of Maya and Flying Sutra for a night of head-nodding jams. Kung Fu Necktie, 8 p.m. Tuesday, $7, 215-291-4919, www.kungfunecktie.com.

Bowerbirds: A mix of big-band melodies, gypsy accordion and Red House Painters-like guitars. With Megafaun and Noa Babayof. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9 p.m. Tuesday, $10, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

The Subhumans: UK punk legends return with Witch Hunt and the Ray Gradys. Barbary, Frankford and Delaware avenues, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, $12, all ages, 267-295-2710, www.r5productions.com.

Culture Hacking and Networking: Workbook Projects and the Philadelphia Film and Video Association present six Powerpoint demonstrations about the future of entertainment, among them Lost Film Festival's Scott Beibin's "Scientists Are the New Rock Stars." Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 7 p.m. Wednesday, $5, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

Magos Herrera: Mexico City-born singer Herrera's voice is beguiling in English, Spanish or Portuguese, and her latest release offers songs pining for lost love in all three languages. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street and Ben Franklin Parkway, 5:45 and 7:15 tonight, free with regular museum admission of $16, 215-763-8100, www.philamuseum.org.

John Szwed: As part of ICA's ongoing exhibit celebrating the early days of Sun Ra's interstellar concepts, Ra's biographer speaks about the pianist's life and legacy. Institute of Contemporary Art, 118 S. 36th St., 7 p.m. Wednesday, free, www.icaphila.org.

Landon Knoblock Trio: Miami-born Knoblock's piano stylings, alternately introspective and sharply questing, have earned him a growing number of accolades since he found his place in the crowded Brooklyn scene. His trio includes Josh Paris on bass and Jeff Davis on drums. Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., 8 and 9:45 p.m. Thursday, $10, 215-568-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com.

Gordon Turk: Performing on the giant organ with 10,000-plus pipes, Turk will offer a free recital to launch the season. There'll be a preview of "The Storm," a 19th-century composition that featured rain, lightning, birdcalls, thunder and sound effects, which will be performed in full later in the season. Great Auditorium, Pilgrim and Ocean Pathways, Ocean Grove, N.J., noon tomorrow, 800-965-9324, www.oceangrove.org.

Ray Chen and Hugh Sung: Violinist Chen recently nabbed the grand prize of the 2009 Queen Elisabeth competition in Belgium, which includes a three-year loan of the prized "Huggins" Stradivarius. We'll hear that instrument, with Sung accompanying at the piano, in Tartini's sizzling "Devil's Trill" Sonata, Saint-Saens' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Wienawski's Variations on an Original Theme, Franck's gorgeous A Major Sonata, and some of Paganini's 24 solo Caprices. Great Auditorium, Pilgrim and Ocean Pathways, Ocean Grove, N.J., 7:30 p.m. Thursday, $13, 800-965-9324, www.oceangrove.org.

Chelsea Chen: The highly acclaimed organist and Fulbright scholar performs three Canons by Schumann and the Scherzo by Durufle. She's also programmed Asian-inspired works, including her own Taiwanese Suite, three movements based on that country's folk songs. Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 7 p.m. Thursday, $10, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org. *