Last year singer, songwriter, violinist, and producer Sudan Archives — real name Brittney Parks — dropped five instantly anthemic singles leading up to the October 17th release of her third full-length, THE BPM, which came via longtime home Stones Throw (also home to our phriend Sofie Royer) and lived up to all of the excitement that it inspired… and we’ve been waiting to see it live ever since… Last Friday Sudan Archives kicked off THE BPM North America Tour 2026, which features the vast majority of the album’s 15 tracks, in addition to Halima, an opening act that is equally worthy of your excitement. Sudan Archives and Halima will be taking over Union Transfer this coming Wednesday, January 28th, for a show that we would recommend you not miss. Here are Three Reasons why…
1. THE BPM IS HER BEST ALBUM YET
While we’re still loving a bunch of bops from sophomore LP Natural Brown Prom Queen (especially “Selfish Soul,” “OMG Britt,” and “Freakalizer,” all of which you will likely hear on Tuesday…), Sudan Archives’ third LP – which sees Parks fully embracing her “Gadget Girl” persona and serving as the album’s executive producer — is 53 minutes of her most impressive and unchained music to date. “An exhilarating trek into electronic music’s past and a future where Eurodance throwbacks, R&B-trap catharsis, and hyperpop chaos abound,” writes New York Magazine, while New York Times says, “she aligns instinct and intellect, human and machine, bravado and desire. Every song is crammed with ideas and sonic surprises.” Parks herself explains, “I’m all gadget girled out now… but I’ve never felt so free as a human.”
2. HALIMA IS SOMEONE YOU NEED TO KNOW AND SEE
Last September, Brooklyn-based, UK/Nigerian musician Halima (who was raised between Lagos and London) — whose sonic output is every bit as satisfyingly complex as the headliner — dropped her debut LP, SWEET TOOTH, a concept album of sorts, careening through bangers and ballads exploring the boundaries of R&B and Afro-pop, all while conceptualizing an epic night out. “The album is about returning to yourself through chaos, and loving the parts of the journey that hurt – the pleasure and the pain,” says Halima, who also muses in her latest press release, “Am I the person that I wanted to become? I think so. I’ve given myself permission to be bold, to be free. To take up space.”
3. PHILLY COULD USE AN EXCUSE TO HIT THE DANCE FLOOR
Yes, it is a bit chilly out, but that’s all the more reason to get your blood pumping and body moving. And, unfortunately, we’re still in the midst of that time of year when good live music can be hard to come by, so don’t miss this opportunity to see one artist who would seem to have cemented her iconic status and one who is well on her way… Pull on your most postmodern duds, get gadget girled out, and — like Sudan Archives proclaimed in a recent chat with Vogue — get “ready to turn up—and get a workout.”
*Get your tickets here.
