Philadelphia songwriter Greg Mendez writes the kind of small, weather-worn songs that sit a half-step quieter than the room they're in. His self-titled 2023 record drew comparisons to Elliott Smith and Big Thief, but the live show is its own thing — closer in feel to a back-porch reading than a club gig. Expect long pauses, a Tascam tape on stage for some reason, and a setlist scribbled on the back of a receipt.

Touring with him: Truth Club, a four-piece out of Raleigh whose first record (Not An Exit) earned a Pitchfork Best New Track nod and a quietly devoted following. They open with a tight 35-minute set.

Kilby Court's outdoor courtyard holds about 200 people standing. It's all-ages, cash bar inside the main building, and the show goes on rain or shine — they have tarps. Doors are at 7:00, music at 8:00 sharp, and the whole thing usually wraps by 10:30 so the neighbors don't call.