Music critics' picks

If there's a Guiness Book of Records entry (or beer variety) celebrating "hardest working" Irish/Celtic musician, the honor might go to John Bryne and his band. The Dublin-born, long Philadelphia-based musician is logging 20 local gigs in 20 days this month, at establishments that celebrate St. Patrick's Day early and often. Formerly front man of Patrick's Head, Bryne isn't just good type-casting, he's good, period, with original material (heard on his new "After the Wake" album) that's edgy yet accessible, clever and fun in a Luka Bloom meets Bob Dylan kind of way. And his band applies the old-sod touches - flutes and fiddles and such - in a subtle, non-cliched way.

Fado Philadelphia, 500 Locust St., 4 to 8 p.m. today (free), noon to 8 p.m. tomorrow ($10), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday (free). 215-893-9700, www.fadoirishpub.com. Also Slainte, 3000 Market St., 215-222-7400, 8 to 11 p.m. Monday (free), 215-222-7400, www.slaintephilly.com. Then it's back to Fado Tuesday and Wednesday.

- Jonathan Takiff

The re-telling of punk-rock history never seems to go out of style, as it represents the triumph of the misfit. Andy Shernoff, self-proclaimed "Christopher Columbus of Punk Rock," is one of the founding members of the influential Dictators, best known for their cheeky paens to cars, girls and burgers. Since last year, he's been doing solo shows of the massive catalog of songs he wrote or co-wrote and telling the stories behind them. Monte A. Melnick was the tour manager for over 2,000 Ramones shows from 1974-1996, and he's doing a Q&A, signing and Power Point presentation for his book, "On the Road With the Ramones."

The Record Collector, 358 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown, 7:30 tonight, $12, all ages, 609-324-0880, www.the-record-collector.com.

- Sara Sherr

Since a cataclysmic earthquake in Haiti Jan. 12, musicians have organized numerous relief efforts, including "Working Together to Help Haiti," featuring some of the area's most talented R&B and hip-hop artists. Proceeds will benefit the Philadelphia-based charity Elite Rescue, Recovery and Rebuilding. Among the soul singers on board are Jazmine Sullivan, Bilal, Jaguar Wright, Res, U. City and Eric Roberson. Hip-hop artists include MCs Meek Millz, Dice Raw, Hezekiah and Kuf Knotz. Fatin Dantzler, of Kindred The Family Soul, will host. DJ Rocdaspot will spin between sets. Painters will auction their work.

World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 6 p.m. Monday, $24, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

- James Johnson

Ned Rothenberg's inclusion in saxophonist/provocateur John Zorn's Radical Jewish Culture series would seem a no-brainer. A multi-instrumentalist who switches deftly between alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet and the Japanese shakuhachi flute, Rothenberg pulls concepts from every corner of the globe, from composed chamber settings to his intense duets with British saxophonist Evan Parker. But, appropriate to his usual understated, cerebral methods, Rothenberg resisted Zorn's entreaties until the right idea came along. On "Inner Diaspora," the composer expanded his trio Sync, consisting of guitarist Jerome Harris and tabla player Samir Chatterjee, with string players familiar with the Radical Jewish milieu: violinist Mark Feldman and cellist Erik Friedlander. The title sums up Rothenberg's approach, reaching deep into himself more than out to other influences for a highly personal exploration.

Painted Bride, 230 Vine St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $25, 215-925-9914, www.paintedbride.org.

- Shaun Brady

The annual "Jubilate" concert of sacred music has grown in stature each year, spurring an expansion to several area venues. One major reason is the talent of passionate pianist, conductor, composer and Academy of Vocal Arts vocal coach David Antony Lofton. He'll lead the gifted resident artists of the prestigious academy, as well as the 100-voice New Jersey Master Chorale and the AVA Opera Orchestra. This year's offerings include Dvorak's passionate "Stabat Mater," John Musto's "Shadow of the Blues" (based on Langston Hughes texts) and works by Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Verdi, Bizet and Vaughan Williams, plus a new work by Lofton.

Proclamation Presbyterian Church, 278 Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, 7:30 p.m. tomorrow; Haddonfield United Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Road, Haddonfield, N.J., 7 p.m. Sunday, $33, 215-735-1685, www.avaopera.org.

- Tom Di Nardo