Ever since 2009, producer Brian McTear and his longtime friend Bill Robertson have been using their non-profit organization Weathervane Music as an outlet to create projects to advance independent music and the community that supports it. And its biggest accomplishment through those endeavors has been the Shaking Through series, which documents several artists as they share every process that goes into the birth of one of their songs. And over the years, it has featured a healthy dose of Philly artists such as Creepoid, Strand of Oaks, The Districts, Reading Rainbow (now Bleeding Rainbow) and more. 2014 marks their fifth year of production, and the crew are all set to celebrate with a launch party and Weathervane benefit at Johnny Brenda’s tonight. The evening will feature buzz-worthy former alums dynamic emcee/producer/multi-instrumentalist Lushlife, whose Toynbee Suite was a major highlight of Season 4, and Brooklyn pop-punk outfit The So So Glos. And the fact that acclaimed singer-songwriter Torres is also on the bill may be a hint of what will be coming up for next season. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave., 9pm, $8 - $12, 21+ (Photo by Phil Bradshaw) - Bill McThrill

Lushlife, a.k.a. Raj Haldar, is back with a new opus that was recorded for Weathervane’s Shaking Through called “Toynbee Suite,” a track that spans four movements, clocking in at ten and a half minutes, and features contributions from rjd2, Nightlands, YIKES the ZERO and Joshua Stamper. He’ll be unveiling it at an episode launch party on Thursday, November 7 at Art in the Age (116 N. 3rd St.). There will be DJ sets by Bailiff, Tim Meskers (ex-Brown Recluse) and Lush as well as complimentary refreshments provided by Narragansett Brewery.