Week in Pop: Lucinda Williams, Leon Bridges, Son Little, Steve Forbert

"I'm next of kin to all the ghosts of Highway 20," Lucinda Williams sings on the title song of her new album, articulating the main theme for the two-CD set inspired by her native South.

After starting out four decades ago in the blues and going on to become the queen of Americana, the 62-year-old Williams here distills all her roots influences into a sound that, with few exceptions ("Doors of Heaven," "Bitter Memory") is not recognizably blues, country, or folk, but remains spellbinding - a natural extension of her earlier work that also stakes out some new territory. Most of the songs unfold at a slow pace, with the serpentine guitar interplay of Bill Frisell and Greg Leisz helping to set the spectral mood that complements Williams' songwriting, which is both vividly descriptive and impressionistic.

- Nick Cristiano

Lucinda Williams, with Buick 6, at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday (Thursday is sold out), at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. $35 and $65. 215-222-1400, philly.worldcafelive.com.

Less than 18 months ago, Leon Bridges quit his job washing dishes at a diner in Fort Worth, Texas. That was before the release of Coming Home, his retro-soul debut that conjured the spirits of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding and led to his playing sold-out shows across the world and a Grammy nomination for best R&B album. (He lost to D'Angelo - no shame in that.)

The 26-year-old Bridges is back in town, at the Fillmore in another sold-out show Sunday night, this time with Philly's Son Little opening.

Little released his own excellent debut last year, a genre-blind fusion of old-school soul with hip-hop and lovers-rock reggae. But the man also known as Aaron Livingston already had a history: He has worked with the Roots, RJD2, and Mavis Staples, who just won a Grammy for best roots performance for a song from the EP she did with him, Your Good Fortune.

- Steve Klinge

Leon Bridges, with Son Little, is to perform at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St. Sold out. 215-309-0150, thefillmorephilly.com.

Steve Forbert didn't set out to be a star, which is probably a good thing, since his only brush with major fame came briefly with his 1980 hit, "Romeo's Tune." For the Mississippi-bred, Nashville-based musician, now 61, it has always been about honing his craft as an incisive, often-poetic songwriter and engaging live performer.

Forbert's Philly stop is part of a solo tour to plug Compromised, his 16th studio album since his much-acclaimed (and still fresh-sounding) 1978 debut, Alive on Arrival. Known for his sometimes quirky, always compelling Americana/folk-rock, Forbert's still-boyish, raspy vocals work especially well on his many songs that touch on innocence, and innocence lost.

- Nicole Pensiero

Steve Forbert, with the Jayplayers, is to perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. $32. 215-222-1400, philly.worldcafelive.com.