Soundadvice

Get Out!

As the name suggests, the Philadelphia Folksong Society's annual midwinter fest is designed as a relief from winter doldrums, but don't come expecting passive entertainment. "We had this horrible gap between Spring Thing and Fall Fling, the Folksong Society's two main membership events," explains Charlie Miller, who, along with his old pal John Fuhr, started Cabin Fever eight years ago. Like those two weekend fests, this a place where people can get away and make music together. "That's what folk music is all about," he says. They figured a whole weekend in midwinter might be a tough sell anywhere north of the tropics, but they've had success getting people to volunteer to teach their skills or lead group jams for a single day. Past years have included sea chanteys (Miller's specialty), bluegrass, beginners' guitar, Yiddish songs, blues harmonica and Irish music. Afternoon workshops give way to a catered dinner, then Miller's favorite, the open stage. "We have an incredible range of talent in the area."

—Mary Armstrong

Sat., Feb. 16, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m, $26-$34, Unitarian Universalist Church, 6511 Lincoln Drive, pfs.org/CAB.php.

The inside jokes all over MOPDTK's second album get even insidier for locals — the CD, titled Shamokin!!!, is filled with songs named for oddball Pennsylvania places. But the quartet, led by Factoryville-born bassist Moppa Elliott, mostly riffs on and for jazzheads, from the tongue-in-cheek liner notes penned by "Leonard Featherweight" to the 21-minute rendition of "A Night in Tunisia" that references several decades of iconic beats, including "Funky Cold Medina" and "Sunday, Bloody Sunday."

—Shaun Brady

Fri., Feb. 15, 9 p.m., donation only, The Purl, 1138 S. Ninth St., moppaelliott.com.

Dixon, who made some jangly pop albums in the '80s, is best known for co-producing R.E.M.'s breakout album Murmur. Viola, formerly of the Candy Butchers, produced and sang lead vocals on the Oscar-nominated title track to That Thing You Do! Viola's upbeat indie rock is a smart contrast to Dixon's darker music and serious lyrics, and together their songs are reminiscent of the days when the words "alternative rock" didn't offend musicians.

—Ptah Gabrie

Sat., Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m., $15-$40, MilkBoy Coffee, 2 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, 610-645-5269, milkboycoffee.com.

Despite the fact that Ed Pollak can overfill a bluegrass e-newsletter every couple of days with music events in the extended area, festivals and fire halls dominate the venues. According to Pollak, local newgrassers Aimless Pursuit are hoping to make a comfy home for bluegrass out in Spring City at Chaplin's, who've got good food, coffee and sound system. Aimless Pursuit will open for internationally acclaimed Continental Divide, who feature one of the sweetest baritones in bluegrass, David Parmley, on lead vocals.

—Mary Armstrong

Sat., Feb. 16, 8 p.m., $15, Chaplin's, 66 N. Main St., Spring City, 610-792-4110, chaplinsthemusiccafe.com.

While his presence in the band led to an incredibly powerful three-guitar, three-songwriter front line, Jason Isbell never completely fit into the Drive-By Truckers. Longtime running buddies Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley both have that gritty, chicken-wire Southern rock vibe down, while Isbell's tunes always seemed to appreciate the mythology of that world without ever living inside of it. They drawl where he twangs, and his first solo effort, Sirens of the Ditch, despite the heavy presence of most of his now-ex-bandmates, is a much prettier and poppier whole than anything DBT ever churned out. Those songs will now show the effects of having been road-tested for nearly a year.

—Shaun Brady

Sun., Feb. 17, 7 p.m., $15, with Will Hoge, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.