Philly music this week with Robert Plant, Hayley Williams, Chris Thile, Graham Nash, and Philly shoegaze heroes Nothing

This week in Philly music features Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin at the Met, Hayley Williams of Paramore playing two Franklin Music Hall shows, Nickel Creek’s Chris Thile going solo at the Keswick Theatre, and Nothing, the Philly shoegaze band playing a hometown show at Union Transfer.

Percussionist, producer, and “cosmic facilitator” Carlos Niño has two Philadelphia gigs on Thursday.

At 12:30 p.m., the drummer and bandleader will team with rising Los Angeles sax player Aaron Shaw in an in-exhibit performance at the Fabric Workshop’s “Moki Cherry the Living Temple show,” which also inspired the terrific show at Solar Myth by free jazz band Irreversible Entanglements, last weekend.

Then on Thursday evening, Niño is at Solar Myth with special guests including Saul Williams, the rapper, poet, actor, and spoken word artist who is a riveting live performer. Williams recently played Pastor Jedidiah Moore in Ryan Coogler’s blues-horror movie Sinners. 12:30 p.m., Free, The Fabric Workshop, 1214 Arch Street, arsnovaworkshop.com and 8 p.m., Solar Myth, 1131 S. Broad St., solarmythbar.com

Australian violin player Warren Ellis might be best known for his collaborative work with his friend Nick Cave, but he’s also released nine transporting instrumental albums with Dirty Three band mate, Jim White Mick Turner. Their most recent release is 2024’s Love Changes Everything. It does, doesn’t it? 8 p.m., Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St., undergroundarts.org.

“Been doing this longer than you’ve been alive,” sang Rhett Miller of the enduring and entertaining alt-country band Old 97’s, on its 2014 album Most Messed Up. That was a dozen years ago, but Miller and his Texas band mates still find themselves “propelled by some mysterious drive,” with their most recent album 2024’s American Primitive. Lizzie No opens. 8 p.m., Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St., undergroundarts.org.

Singer-guitarist Joe Pernice has built an impressive body of alt-country and indie power-pop work with the Scud Mountain Boys and Pernice Brothers. His new solo album, which features Aimee Mann, Rodney Crowell, and Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub, comes out Friday. He’s celebrating by playing Free at Noon. Noon, World Stage, 3025 Walnut St., xpn.org.

Kentucky tunesmith Ryan Davis takes his time on the rambling, shambling country-flavored songs on last year’s New Threats from the Soul, which was one of the best of the year. As was his December show at Johnny Brenda’s. 8 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., utphilly.com

Philly band The Donuts will celebrate the release of its strangely ingenious new album Pleasure of Seconds. The band — made up of members of countryfolk group John Train, which will resume its Fergie’s residency in September — has recorded an album of answer songs to British pub rock band Rockpile’s classic 1980 Seconds of Pleasure.

For instance, they respond to “Pet You and Hold You” with “Respect and Behold You.” Is that geeky enough for you? Foxycontin opens, led by Rich Kaufmann of fabled Philly bands Electric Love Muffin and the Rolling Hayseeds. 8 p.m., King Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St., kungfunecktie.com.

Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant was last here playing Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic with Alison Krauss in 2024. Now he has a new band of fellow Brits, spotlighting singer and multi-instrumentalist Suzi Dian, who shines along with him on a new album of Blind Willie Johnson, Low, and Moby Grape interpretations, called Saving Grace. Rockabilly singer Rosie Flores opens. 8 p.m., the Met Philly, 858 N. Broad St., TheMetPhilly.com

The Dominic Palermo-fronted band that Pitchfork called “heavily tattooed Philly dirtbags” — what could be more lovable — is a major player in the shoegaze scene, complete with its own Slide Away festival which will take place in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles next month. The band’s latest is the intoxicating and at times quite pretty A Short History of Decay. 8 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., utphilly.com

The former Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young singer-songwriter is Delco bound. The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee will play the newly renovated Lansdowne Theater. Philly native multi-instrumentalist Zach Djanikian is a key player in his band. 8 p.m., Lansdowne Theater, 31 N. Lansdowne Ave., lansdownetheater.com.

South African singer-guitarist Johnathan Butler, whose new album Ubuntu is produced by Marcus Miller, brings his jazz and R&B sound to town for two shows. 5 and 8:30 p.m., City Winery, 900 Filbert St., citywinery.com/philadelphia

Washington D.C. electronic duo Rob Garza and Eric Hilton makes dance music that’s often elegant and subtle, frequently delving into bossa nova, jazz, soul, hip-hop, and reggae. Their albums, like 2013’s Saudade, are more contemplative than beats-per-minute driven. 8 p.m., Franklin Music Hall, 421 N. 7th St., FranklinMusicHall.com

Mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile co-founded bluegrass-plus band Nickel Creek and acoustic supergroup Punch Brothers, as well as serving (for a time) as Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion successor. On this tour, Thile is playing solo, no doubt charming audiences with his storytelling while also dazzling them with his playing. 8 p.m., Keswick Theater, 291 N. Keswick Ave, Glenside, keswicktheatre.com

A terrific double bill upstairs in the First Unitarian Church Sanctuary. Irish songwriter Hansard is an impassioned performer who commanded the attention of an entire South Philly arena when opening for Pearl Jam on its most recent tour. His discography takes the Frames, Swell Season, and solo projects like 2023’s All That Was East Is West Of Me Now. Margaret Glaspy is a crafty guitarist and songwriter who has been a deserved adult-alternative radio staple since her 2016 breakthrough Emotions & Math. 8 p.m., First Unitarian Church Santuary, 2125 Chestnut St., r5prouctions.com

Paramore singer Hayley Williams released her third and best solo album, Ego Death at the Bachelorette Party, last year. Since then, she has nominated for a Grammy four times, and launched a new band, Power Snatch, with producer Daniel James. She’s playing two nights with openers Water From Your Eyes, the New York band whose It’s A Beautiful Place was also a 2025 standout. 8 p.m., Franklin Music Hall, 42 N. 7th St., FranklinMusicHall.com