The following events are planned for the week ahead throughout the region:
• Santander Arena, Reading, presents Lil Wayne in concert on Saturday at 8 p.m. The concert is nearly sold out, with limited single tickets and verified resale tickets available at ticketmaster.com. Lil Wayne began his career as a near novelty, a preteen delivering hardcore Southern hip-hop. Through years of maturation and prolific output, during which the delivery of his humorous and wordplay-heavy rhymes gradually changed from ringing and pugnacious to stoned and rasped, he developed into a million-unit-selling artist with a massive body of work, one so inventive and cunning that it makes his claim of being the “best rapper alive” worth considering. Wayne debuted at the age of 12, received his first platinum certification five years later as a member of the Hot Boys, and immediately thereafter became a formidable solo artist with “Tha Block Is Hot” (1999), his first of 12 Top Ten albums on the Billboard 200. He reached mainstream superstar status with “Tha Carter III” (2008), a triple-platinum blockbuster that spawned the No. 1 pop hit “Lollipop” and the No. 6 follow-up “A Milli,” and netted three Grammy awards, including Best Rap Album.
• The Keswick Theatre, Glenside, presents a night of Celtic music featuring Gaelic Storm and the High Kings on Friday at 8 p.m. Gaelic Storm has been touring more than 200 days a year for more than 20 years. Their latest album, “Go Climb a Tree,” has everything from party drinking songs (“The Beer Song”) to patriotic anthems (“Green, White and Orange”), beautiful folk songs (“Monday Morning Girl”), spritely instrumentals (“The Night of Tomfoolery”), perfectly poppy songs (“Shine On”), and even a raucous pirate song (“Shanghai Kelly”). The High Kings are an Irish folk group from Dublin that formed in 2007. The members play 13 instruments between them, creating the unique sound and atmosphere that they still showcase to this day. On Saturday at 8 p.m., southern rockers Blackberry Smoke take the Keswick stage. For tickets and more information, see keswicktheatre.com.
• The Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College presents comedian Karen Morgan on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. A former trial attorney, Morgan began her professional comedy career as a finalist on Nickelodeon’s “Search for the Funniest Mom in America.” She has comedy specials on Dry Bar Comedy: “Rub Some Dirt On It” (2023) and “Go Dawgs!” (2020). Her TV appearances include comedy shows like “Gotham Comedy Live.” Morgan’s clean shows have made her a favorite among theater audiences. Tickets cost $20 at millercenter.racc.edu.
• Reading Civic Theatre will present comedian Earl David Reed on Saturday at 8 p.m. at its theater at 4350 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township. Reed has been performing for 25 years, having appeared on “The Tonight Show” and many other TV shows, as well as in more than 100 comedy clubs and college theater. He also has appeared in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at readingcivic.org or at the door the evening of the show.
• The Newtown Theatre welcomes back Green River with its Creedence Clearwater Revival/John Fogerty tribute show on Saturday at 8 p.m. The show is very faithful to a live CCR performance. Concertgoers will hear CCR classics including “Bad Moon Rising,” “Proud Mary” and “Up Around the Bend,” as well as songs that the band would turn into live jams such as “Born on the Bayou” and “Susie Q.” The band also mixes in John Fogerty classics such as “The Old Man Down the Road” and “Centerfield.” Green River is the brainchild of native New Yorker Rick Horvath. “Noodles,” as he is affectionately known, started singing CCR songs in his first band when he was only 13 years old. Tickets cost $37 at thenewtowntheatre.com.
• The Jazz on the Avenue series at Yocum Institute for Arts Education, West Lawn, presents Mike Eben & Friends celebrating the music of Doc Mulligan on Saturday at 3 p.m. Mulligan, a radiologist and highly regarded trombonist, died in 2021 at age 94, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a performer, arranger and mentor to up-and-coming musicians. Saxophonist Eben will lead a band that also includes Greg Wilson, Rob Diener, John Loos, Carl Zeplin, Lars Potteiger, Steve Meashey, Dave Lazorcik, plus special guest the So What! Trio: Noah Gibney, Esteban Ruiz and Dexter Sales. Tickets cost $25 in advance at yocuminstitute.org or $30 at the door.
• The Berks County-based Uptown Band celebrates its 18th anniversary with its annual Bandapalooza event on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Sunnybrook Ballroom, Pottstown. Joining Erich Cawalla & The Uptown Band will be Pottstown’s own Bennie Sims and The Groovemasters, plus Bunchafunk featuring Reggie Brown. With two female vocalists and a horn section backing saxophonist and vocalist Cawalla, the Uptown Band performs a mix of funky party music. Reserved seats cost $30 and general admission is $20. A full bar will be available inside the ballroom. Food can be ordered from the bar from Gatsby’s Pub. To reserve, visit souljoels.com.
• International Museum of Dance, under the direction of Clyde Evans, presents “A Danceology of Hip Hop” on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, West Chester. Evans blends performance and education to provide a firsthand account of the cultural significance of this iconic art form. Experience renowned Philadelphia dancers, at the pinnacle of their craft, electrifying the stage with their world-class hip hop moves. And on Saturday at 8 p.m., Uptown! presents the Ozzy Osbourne tribute act Crazy Train. Vinny Cormier will channel Ozzy, supported by a band full of Berklee College of Music drop-outs including his son Dylan. Cormier has been a touring musician since 1977, working with acts such as Molly Hatchet, Eddie Money, Blue Oyster Cult, Quiet Riot, Steve Perry of Journey and Kansas. For tickets and more information, see uptownwestchester.org.
• The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville, presents “Old Friends,” an original production by Phoenixville native Luke O’Brien that will serve as a chronological look back at his musical journey. The show will utilize the movie screen as well as live performances in order to create a unique entertainment experience. After a series of songs performed with backing tracks, O’Brien will take the stage with his band to present some new songs he has been crafting. Opening will be fellow Phoenixville native Carrie Hytha. Tickets cost $30 at thecolonialtheatre.com.
• SoulJoel’s Comedy Club at Sunnybrook, Pottstown, presents Sean Donnelly & Friends on Friday at 7 p.m. and Joe Bartnick on Saturday at 7 p.m. Donnelly can be found headlining clubs and festivals all over the country. He has appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Conan” and NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” He co-hosts the podcast “My Dumb Friends” with fellow comedian Dan St. Germain on the All Things Comedy network. Bartnick is a comic who has gone from performing in coffeeshops and bars to Madison Square Garden and Red Rocks. He can be seen doing standup on AXS-TVs “Gotham Live,” roasting Tommy Lee on A&E and acting on Playboy TV’s “King of Clubs.” For tickets and more information, see souljoels.com.
