Contributor Key — MA: Mary Armstrong | MB: Michael Blancato | CB: Chris Brown | MG: Michael Gold | SG: Sabrina Golphin | EG: Emily Guendelsberger | JF: James Friel | GMK: Gary M. Kramer | JM: Josh Middleton | AM: Abigail Minor CO: Cassie Owens | PR: Patrick Rapa | CS: Courtney Sexton | LS: Lee Stabert | BT: Brittany Thomas | NW: Nina Willbach Bedazzling by Brenna Adams | Photographs by Neal Santos

FRIDAY, JUNE 1

The underrated B.o.B. and overexposed Nicki Minaj 's "Out of My Mind" threatens to be the spacey hip-hop jam of the summer. T-Pain will also be at the Wired 96.5 Fest, robo-singing and wearing something season-inappropriate. 5:45 p.m., $30-$115, Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J., 800-745-3000, livenation.com. —PR

SATURDAY, JUNE 2

Network for New Music and The Crossing perform the world premiere of a co-commissioned modern choral work, " Hesperus is Phosphorus," by Pulitzer-winner Lewis Spratlan. 8 p.m., $18-$30, Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Ave., 215-848-7647, networkfornewmusic.org. —EG

SUNDAY, JUNE 3

For the second day of The Roots Picnic: Kid Cudi, James Murphy, Major Lazer and Tune-Yards. Noon, $50-$80, Festival Pier at Penn's Landing, Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Street, okayplayer.com/rootspicnic. —CO

MONDAY, JUNE 4

The Free Library has declared 2012 the Year of Dickens. Today's the opening of "Dickens and the Theater," the second half of the year's programming. Free, Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-686-5416, freelibrary.org. —EG

TUESDAY, JUNE 5

For Dunkel Dare, Frankford Hall is recreating the set of Double Dare for a beer-themed tourney of teams from Yards, Victory, Sly Fox and Great Lakes breweries. And they've talked Marc Summers into hosting. Through June 7, 6 p.m., pay as you go, Frankford Hall, 1210 Frankford Ave., 215-634-3338, frankfordhall.com. —EG

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6

Titans of kiwi indie rock The Clean return Stateside for their first jangly jaunt through town since 2007. Their influence is far-reaching: Proof is as close as openers Times New Viking. 9:15 p.m., $15, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com. —CB

THURSDAY, JUNE 7

Calling Lantern Theater's production of The Island a South African take on Waiting for Godot feels unjust. But watching political prisoners John and Winston rehearse a jailhouse production of Antigone will recall Beckett's existential masterpiece. Through June 10, $28-$36, St. Stephen's Theater, 923 Ludlow St., 215-829-0395, lanterntheater.org. —MG

FRIDAY, JUNE 8

Philly AIDS Thrift is expanding again soon, and to help with the cost, they're having a fundraiser with a set by Dangerous Ponies. 5-9 p.m., $25-$50, The Magic Gardens, 1020 South St., 215-922-3186, phillyaidsthrift.com. —EG

SATURDAY, JUNE 9

The revelatory thing about beat-dropping Canuck Drake is that he isn't scared to give listeners a peep at the insecure little boy behind the bluster. Must be his Jewish half. 7:30 p.m., $45-$205, Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J., 800-745-3000, livenation.com. —LS

SUNDAY, JUNE 10

If you love Wendy Williams, you're probably gay. If you're gay, you better get your happy ass to today's Pride festivities! The self-appointed "Queen of All Media" is headlining the parade-concluding festival at Penn's Landing, which also features performances by '90s club-anthem diva Sabrina Johnston. Noon, $10, Penn's Landing, Chestnut Street and Columbus Boulevard, phillypride.org. —JM

MONDAY, JUNE 11

Whoever designed the set of the new Dark Shadows ripped off Adam Wallacavage, if that gives an idea of his aesthetic. Today, check out his deep-sea-themed installation "Shiny Monsters." Through August 19, free, Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St. 215-545-4302, philaartalliance.org. —EG

TUESDAY, JUNE 12 

Today, Scott Allison leads the two-part Intro to Realtime Electro-Acoustic Improv workshop. First explore the lloopp/ppooll software, the program "designed for ... interactive installations," and once the coursework is laid out, take your new skills and let the improvising begin. 6:30 p.m., < fidget > space, 1714 N. Mascher St., 267-679-4166, workshops.acfphiladelphia.org. —CB

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13

The first in the Opera Company of Philadelphia's series of new American works, Dark Sisters is a chamber opera following a polygamous FLDS family after a government raid removes all the children; the sister wives are front and center as one eventually attempts to leave. 7:30 p.m., through June 17, 7:30 p.m., $21-$132, Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, operaphila.org.  —EG

THURSDAY, JUNE 14

The 11-day SoLow Festival is meant to deliver experimental theater at its most convenient. This year's theme is "Down and Dirty," which won't pose much of a challenge for performers working with "so low" budgets in fairly unconventional venues. Through June 24, pay what you can, various locations, solowfestival.blogspot.com. —MG

FRIDAY, JUNE 15

A weekend of horror at the former tombstone showroom, tonight's Art Show of Horrors includes screenings of Philly-made scary shorts. 6 p.m., through June 19, $7, PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 267-519-9651, philamoca.org. —BT

SATURDAY, JUNE 16

Azuka's Hazard County intersperses monologues about The Dukes of Hazzard with the story of a broke widow unable to access her kids' trust fund. 8 p.m., through July 1, $15-$27, Off-Broad Street Theater at First Baptist Church, 1636 Sansom St., 215-563-1100, azukatheatre.org. —MG

SUNDAY, JUNE 17

Charles Ross' One-Man Star Wars Trilogy is like watching a marathon — Ross switches between inhabiting Luke, Darth Vader, Leia, Han, the garbage-chute monster, the John Williams score, and even the scrolling title cards in homage to Lucas' classic trilogy. 3 p.m., $15-$30, Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol, 215-785-0100, brtstage.org. —EG

MONDAY, JUNE 18

Len Davidson's "Neon Art" boasts three categories and 13 antique neon signs. Through July 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., free, Philadelphia Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch St., 215-569-3188, philadelphiacfa.org. —CS

TUESDAY, JUNE 19

Gather your girlfriends (and favorite gays) for Stripped Stories, an evening of silly sex talk hosted by Moth Grand Slam winners Giulia Rozzi and Margot Leitman. 8 p.m., $15, Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 267-402-2055, firstpersonarts.org. —JM

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20

Today's the first day to get a peek at West Philly's new community composting facility, The Dirt Factory. They're going to transform University City food waste into organic compost by blending it with the autumn leaves that fall from that neighborhood's big-ass trees. 4-6 p.m., free, 4308 Market St., universitycity.org/dirt-factory. —JM

THURSDAY, JUNE 21

Singer-songwriter Cory Branan just released the excellent Mutt. He puts on one hell of a live show, all mischievous charm and spitfire. 9 p.m., $10-$12, MilkBoy Philly, 215-925-6455, 1100 Chestnut St., milkboyphilly.com. —LS

FRIDAY, JUNE 22

Donald Glover, the freakishly multitalented 30 Rock writer/Community actor comes to Philly as rapper Childish Gambino. 7:30 p.m., $35, Penn's Landing, Chestnut Street and Columbus Boulevard, 215-922-1011, livenation.com. —SG

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

With the golden-voiced North Philly soul singer at its center, Jill Scott's Summer Block Party is a guaranteed feel-good night in the park. Kem and Eric Roberson will also be there. DJ Jazzy Jeff spins and hosts. 7 p.m., $39.75-$99.75, Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave., 215-893-1999, manncenter.org. —PR

SUNDAY, JUNE 24

This month, Spiral Q brings its puppets east of the Schuylkill. Expect the usual blend of pageantry and folk-art-inspired craft sessions with a summer twist. 2-4 p.m., free, Race Street Pier, Race Street and Columbus Boulevard, delawareriverwaterfrontcorp.com. —MG

MONDAY, JUNE 25

Nothing says "U.S.A." like a screening of The Great Gatsby. Robert Redford stars as the titular eccentric in this surprisingly apt selection by Wawa Welcome America. 9 p.m., free, Rittenhouse Square, 18th and Walnut streets, welcomeamerica.com. —MG

TUESDAY, JUNE 26

Commotion has been simmering for months and is now in the midst of its first two-week arts/dance/theater fest, featuring performances by SubCircle and Team Sunshine and a 20-foot tall, recycled-goods sculpture raised Burning Man-style by area youths. 6 p.m., Shiloh Baptist Church, 2040 Christian St., commotionphilly.org. —CB

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27

It's Wawa Hoagie Day. Chomp a giant one on the lawn at Independence Mall. Noon-2 p.m., free, Independence National Historical Park, 520-525 Chestnut St., welcomeamerica.com. —CS

THURSDAY, JUNE 28

Don't know if you've seen the video for Norah Jones' "Happy Pills," but she totally kills a guy. Her new album, Little Broken Hearts (Blue Note), is super dreamy and her voice is salty and buttery like movie popcorn, so it's OK she's a murderer. 6 p.m., $29.50-$59.50, Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave., 215-893-1999, manncenter.org. —PR

FRIDAY, JUNE 29

Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich bring their science show Radiolab to Philly for an "In the Dark"-themed live show. 8 p.m., $37-$50, Academy of Music, 1420 Locust St., 215-893-1999, kimmelcenter.org. —EG

SATURDAY, JUNE 30

The Woodmere's Haunting Narratives exhibit showcases local artists who employ the realist aesthetic, but with dark, surreal twists. This afternoon, a panel of featured painters will discuss what sent their work down illusionistic paths. 3 p.m., $15, Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Ave., 215-247-0476, woodmereartmuseum.org. —MG