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Trampled By Turtles
Spotlight show • Although Tramped By Turtles lead singer Dave Simonett was unfailingly polite in a phone interview, don't make the mistake of calling TBT a bluegrass, or speedgrass, or thrashgrass band — or any other variation of "grass" we can come up with. With influences ranging from Townes Van Zandt to Neil Young, the band plays acoustic music with an edge. "I was an angry young kid, and punk spoke to me," Simonett said. "It was the first music that I connected with." But Simonett also liked acoustic music, so the native Minnesotan met some like-minded friends in the thriving Minneapolis club scene to create a band that plays fast, but also can do something other bluegrass bands can't: play slow. That's why the band's most recent album "Stars & Satellites" is more mellow than past efforts, perfect for warm summer days as well as making TBT's first national network appearance last month on David Letterman's "Late Show" — where the temperature was a balmy 48 degrees.
When • Saturday, May 19, at 9 p.m.
Where • The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20 at SmithsTix
Also • Brown Bird opens.
Bad Veins
Spotlight show • The first time Benjamin Davis and Sebastien Schultz of Bad Veins played Kilby Court, Davis estimated the crowd numbered three or four people. But that was before the Cincinnati-based rock duo had released its first album, and even before its first single was released to radio. The second time around, the crowd was much bigger, and Kilby Court should be packed this weekend as the band just released its new record, "The Mess We've Made." Bad Veins has evolved from its lo-fi beginnings to a more robust, energetic rock sound, but its unique stage set — performing with an antique megaphone, a rotary telephone and a reel-to-reel tape recorder — and outfits — Army shirts and jackets — remain the same. In a phone interview, Davis said the recorder came from his father, who was trying to get rid of it. "Dad told me that 'You are a musician, you can find some use for it,' " Davis recalled. "I said, 'Not likely.' " But eventually the recorder and other vintage props came to be a part of the retro-but-fresh-sounding band's show. "Let's look the way we sound," Davis said.
When • Sunday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m.
Where • Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), Salt Lake City
Tickets • $7 at 24Tix
Milo Greene
Spotlight show • The Civil Wars are the headliner, but Milo Greene makes a good case for showing up early to catch the opening act. With male-female harmonies and a style that blends folk and pop, the quintet's music is a good gateway to the music of The Civil Wars, the duo of John Paul White and Joy Williams. Milo Greene's Graham Fink toured with the red-hot duo last year and saw firsthand the dizzying rise to success that The Civil Wars enjoyed in 2010. "From the first show we played, they are a real powerhouse to behold," Fink said. "The audience was transfixed by them." Milo Greene will release its debut album in July. It was recorded at the "magical" Bear Creek Studios in Washington state — the same studio that Brandi Carlile fell so much in love with that her next album is simply called "Bear Creek." But if you can't get in because the show is sold out, don't fret about missing Milo Greene. It will be at Kilby Court in August.
When • Thursday, May 24, at 9 p.m.
Where • The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets • Sold out
Bob Dylan Birthday Bash
Spotlight show • The second annual Bob Dylan Birthday Bash — he turns 71 on May 24 — includes performances by The Folka Dots, Ryan Tanner, The Trappers, Vena Cava and more. "I wouldn't be playing any music at all if he wasn't around," said Marie Bradshaw of The Folka Dots. "Everybody I've been influenced by has been influenced pretty profoundly by him. I don't even want to think about what wouldn't be around if he wasn't." Her bandmate Bronk Onion said: "His influence is more than just the songs he writes, but his approach to music, and how he always does what he feels he wants to do without worrying about how people will receive it. Dan Buehner of The Trappers will be performing "Forever Young," "I Shall Be Released" (dedicated to Levon Helm) and "Like a Rolling Stone." "I will never be able to get enough of Bob Dylan — his catalog is so deep and untouchable," Buehner said. "The first two Dylan albums I got into were 'Nashville Skyline' and 'Blonde On Blonde,' which are both amazing, but totally different from one another which makes him such a genius. After hearing those two albums, I knew I needed more. It was like an addiction, I had to hear everything."
When • Thursday, May 24, at 8 p.m.
Where • The Garage, 1199 N. Beck St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • Free
Light of Hope Celebration with Alex Boyé
Join Mormon Tabernacle Choir member Alex Boyé for a concert aimed at helping youth in Central America.
When • Friday, May 18, at 7 p.m.
Where • Thanksgiving Point, 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi
Tickets • $25-$100 at www.SmithsTix
The Ventures
The surf band The Ventures will play a two-night stand in Park City.
When • Friday and Saturday, May 18-19, at 8 p.m.; Sunday, May 20, at 6 p.m.
Where • Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St., Park City
Tickets • $45-$80 at http://www.egyptiantheatrecompany.org
Armed Forces Day Celebration
The Choral Arts Society of Utah will perform with the 23rd Army Band for the annual Armed Forces Day Celebration, joined by Joshua Creek, Caleb Chapman and the Voodoo Orchestra.
When • Saturday, May 19, at 4:30 p.m.
Where • Gallivan Center, 239 S. Main St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • Free
Saltaires Chorus Spring Show
The Saltaires, an a cappella chorus, will present their second annual spring show. The chorus will be joined by singers from Highland High School and others.
When • Saturday, May 19, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Where • Mount Jordan Middle School, 9360 S. 300 East, Sandy
Tickets • $10-$30 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com
DJ R.O.B. with DJ Baya Voce
Enjoy the mixes of DJ R.O.B., with DJ Baya Voce — a former cast member of MTV's "The Real World" — spinning the opening set. Ladies get in free.
When • Saturday, May 19, at 8 p.m.
Where • Downstairs, 625 Main St., Park City
Tickets • $10 at door
Lil Rob
Rapper and former "Celebrity Apprentice" contestant Lil Rob will perform with Gifted, Jesse James and Kaotic. There will be autograph signing after the show.
When • Saturday, May 19, at 9 p.m.
Where • The Complex, 537 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $15 in advance, $25 day of, at SmithsTix
Grouplove, Reptar
Grouplove will perform its eccentric bohemian, alt-indie-pop-rock. Reptar opens.
When • Tuesday, May 22, at 8 p.m.
Where • State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • $15 at thestateroom.com
The Supervillains with Codi Jordan Band
The reggae-rock group The Supervillains will perform with the smooth-rock Codi Jordan Band, based in Eden.
When • Wednesday, May 23, at 8 p.m.
Where • Bar Deluxe, 668 S. State St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • $13 at door