Al Green
Spotlight Show • The gospel and soul singer — and ordained minister — isn't worried about possibly missing Sunday services at his own church in Memphis this weekend. "There are three other ministers," Green, 66, said. The always-grinning people person is perhaps the most popular soul singer in American history, having sold more than 20 million records and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Because of "Pulp Fiction," his song "Let's Stay Together" has become an anthem for multiple generations. That particular song, he said in a phone interview, was inspired by "up above." Green said his preshow ritual includes singing the theme song for "The Mickey Mouse Club." Why? Because he likes you. "We will lay it down," Green promised.
When • Tonight at 7:30
Where • Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $53 for garden members, $58 for all others, at redbuttegarden.org
Kid Ink
Spotlight Show • This weekend, hip-hop radio station U92 will present its annual Summer Jam, featuring J. Cole, Kirko Bangz, Baby Bash and more, including rising star Kid Ink. Hailing from Los Angeles, the 26-year-old rapper released his debut album, "Up & Away," on June 12 after producing several mixtapes that became viral. But even though major labels came calling, Kid Ink stuck to his guns and released his album independently, not wanting to change a single word. "[The major labels] didn't understand what I can do," Kid Ink said in a phone interview. "They don't understand the movement." Kid Ink was inked for the first time when he was 16, when his mother brought him to a tattoo parlor. He brought his own design. He has no idea how many tattoos he has — after losing count at 26. Right now, he's talking to a tattoo artist about completing his back, which is festooned with images of his beloved hometown. "L.A. is all I know," Kid Ink said.
When • Saturday, July 28, at 4 p.m.
Where • Gallivan Center, 239 S. Main St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20 at SmithsTix
Los Lobos
Spotlight Show • Steve Earle and the Dukes (and Duchesses) featuring Allison Moorer co-headline the bill, but this is a special year for the best band to ever come from East Los Angeles. This year, Los Lobos' Steve Berlin said in phone interview, the band is celebrating the 20th anniversary of arguably its best album, "Kiko," which found the band at the height of its exploratory talents. "I've come to appreciate [the album] a little more," Berlin said. "It still sounds new. ⦠We literally threw anything preconceived out." The 20th-anniversary edition of "Kiko" will be released next month. For now, the band won't play it in its entirety, but Berlin assures Utah fans that Los Lobos has been adding songs from "Kiko" onto its setlist more and more as the summer goes on. The band does want to play new material from its most recent album, "Tin Can Trust," a topical album about the enduring recession. "We try to be contemporary, but we don't want to be the evening news," Berlin said.
When • Sunday, July 29, at 7 p.m.
Where • Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $37 for garden members, $42 for others, at redbuttegarden.org
Kaskade
Spotlight Show • Many University of Utah alumni have gone far in life: Jon Huntsman Jr., Karl Rove, Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, Stephen R. Covey, Alex Smith, LaVell Edwards. But no one has been able to match the success in electronic dance music of Ryan Raddon, better known as world-famous DJ Kaskade. Several days before his headlining set at the club formerly known as Harry O's, Kaskade will headline a sold-out concert at Staples Center in Los Angeles — the first electronic artist to do so. In a phone interview, Kaskade used the world "humbled" to describe his recent popularity, which included a set at Coachella, where he drew tens of thousands of fans, while playing at the same time as Radiohead. The former Mormon missionary (he served in Japan) saw his 2011 album "Fire & Ice" reach No. 1 on the Billboard dance charts and No. 17 on the overall charts — another spectacular achievement. Kaskade said he was proud to include plenty of Utah talent on that album, with contributions from co-songwriter Finn Bjarnson and vocal spots from Marcus Bently, Mindy Gledhill and Neon Trees. With his friends in Neon Trees, Kaskade said he never had to worry about them contributing subject matter that offended his beliefs — as they're LDS, too.
When • Tuesday, July 31, at 8 p.m.
Where • Park City Live, 427 Main St., Park City
Tickets • $50 At ticketcake.com
Matteo
Spotlight Show • Not many local bands spent their summer at an artist residency in China, but that's just one thing that sets apart Matteo. The unique folk band blends its bluegrass and Americana influences with traditional Chinese instruments, which they learned to play during their residency. Luke Williams, Jordan Riley and Brinn and Eric Chipman play the 6-foot-long, 24-string Chinese zither harp and a variety of other Eastern instruments that they mesh with their Anglo inspirations. Now back from the Far East, they're ready to show off what they learned. Best of all, the show is fee. The interesting, mathematics-inspired minimalist local band Theta Naught opens.
When • Tuesday, July 31, 7 p.m.
Where • Main Library, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • Free
Joshua James
Spotlight Show • It's a rare event when a local musician performs at Pioneer Park's wildly popular Twilight Concert Series, but American Fork-based folk-rocker Joshua James will open for My Morning Jacket in one of the most anticipated concerts of the summer. "It was a mighty shock," James said in a phone interview about getting the call for the booking. "It's a little nerve-wracking." While his songs have recently been featured prominently on the popular TV show "Sons of Anarchy," James is looking forward to releasing his new album, "From the Top of Willamette Mountain," in October, but he'll be selling the new CD at his Twilight show. James has attended past Twilight Concerts and is happy with the new admission fee, because in past years the park "gets way too packed with shenanigan-makers." Then he paused and said he wanted as many people as possible to see him perform. "Let's make ours free," he said. Sorry, no go.
When • Thursday, Aug. 2, 7 p.m.
Where • Pioneer Park, 300 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $5 at 24Tix, Graywhales and at gate
Keller Williams
Spotlight show • The one-man-band Keller Williams will perform a fundraiser concert to raise awareness for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, with famed mountaineer Aron Ralston in attendance — the subject of the film "127 Hours," starring James Franco. In a phoneinterview, Williams, 42, said he was excited to meet Ralston, since "we share the same taste for music." (In the film, Franco wears a Phish shirt, named in honor of the jam band that Williams counts as an inspiration.) Williams said he wasn't an outdoorsman like Ralston, but then added that he enjoys paddleboarding, camping with his family on their Virginia land, kayaking, surfing and snowboarding. (I would hate to hear his description of what he considers an outdoorsman.) Williams prefers to ski in Colorado, because he used to live in Steamboat Springs, playing 100 dates a year there between 1995 and 1997. Like any good snow-loving musician, he freely admits to having performed in exchange for ski passes in the past.
When • Thursday at 9 p.m.
Where • The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $15 in advance, $20 day of, at SmithsTix
The Fryed Brothers Band
Spotlight Show • The bar's new outdoor stage will be ready for one of its most popular concerts of the year: The Fryed Brothers Band, who have been playing at the saloon for more than 20 years on their ride to Sturgis, S.D. The Fyed Brothers are a good ol'-fashioned rock 'n' roll band that over the years has developed a reputation as the band to see during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. In a phone interview, Harry Fryed said the band feels no shame at being called a biker band. "There's no hiding it," he said, adding that he will be riding his favorite road bike, a 1991 FXR Harkey Davidson, for the 1,300 miles between the band's home base in Sacramento and South Dakota. Last year, the band was booked for all 10 days of the festival, but this year it's taking it easy by playing only five shows. "It was pretty brutal," said Fryed, a singer and guitarist, of the quintet's 2011 Sturgis schedule. "At the end, my fingers were raw."
When • Thursday at 7 p.m.
Where • Barbary Coast Saloon, 4242 S. State St., Murray
Tickets • $8 in advance, or $10 at door, available at Barbary Coast Saloon
Royal Bliss
This local hard-rock band is a friend of the owners of Santa Monica Pizza and Pasta, Darby and Shelly Debellis, and is giving a free show to support the business.
When • Friday, July 27, at 7 p.m.
Where •Santa Monica Pizza and Pasta, 2327 Washington Blvd., Ogden
Tickets • Free
Spy Hop Productions' Heat Wave Fest
Celebrate a year of youth-produced music and radio at Spy Hop Productions' Heat Wave Fest, featuring music by singer-songwriter Mara Read, dream-pop band Bearclause and Spy Hop Musicology band Mystique.
When • Friday, July 27, at 7 p.m.
Where • Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), Salt Lake City
Tickets • $6 at door
Jenny Oaks Baker
Grammy-nominated artist Jenny Oaks Baker is an accomplished violinist, whose album "Wish Upon a Star: A Tribute to the Music of Walt Disney" features new arrangements of Kurt Bestor of classic Disney songs.
When • Friday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Where • Draper Amphitheater, 944 E. Vestry Road, Draper
Tickets • $10 at drapertix.com
Black Uhuru
This Jamaican reggae group earned the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1985.
When • Friday, July 27, at 8 p.m.
Where • Park City Live, 427 Main St., Park City
Tickets • $15 at door
Neil Diamond
Rock and pop icon Neil Diamond, a 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and 2011 Kennedy Center honoree, will perform his greatest hits.
When • Saturday, July 28, at 7 p.m.
Where • Rio Tinto Stadium, 9256 S. State St., Sandy
Tickets • $39.50 to $129.50 by calling 888-4RSLTix (888-477-5849)
Arrival: The Music of ABBA
The cover band Arrival re-creates the ABBA experience.
When • Saturday, July 28, at 8 p.m.
Where • Sandy Amphitheater, 9400 S. 1300 East, Sandy
Tickets • $15-$25 at SmithsTix
The Arcadians CD Release
This summer's Battle of the Bands winner, The Arcadians, are releasing their debut album at this Velour event that will include Mad Diving Barons, Brady Parks and the IndiAnns.
When • Saturday, July 28, at 8 p.m.
Where • Velour Live Music Gallery, 135 N. University Ave., Provo
Tickets • $7 at door
Dwight Yoakam
Park City Performing Arts Foundation presents country/rock performer Dwight Yoakam as part of its St. Regis Big Stars Bright Nights Concert Series.
When • Sunday, July 29, at 7 p.m.
Where • Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, 2250 Deer Valley Drive, Park City
Tickets • Lawn seating: $40; reserved seating: $55, $65 and $75; available at ecclescenter.org
Mariachi Sol de Jalisco
Experience Latino music and dance with Mariachi Sol de Jalisco, playing traditional tunes and songs made popular by famous Mexican singers, and Ballet Folklorico de las Americas, one of Utah's oldest Latino performing ensembles. At intermission, slam poetry will be performed by Willy Palomo.
When • Monday, July 30, at 7 p.m.
Where • Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts, 600 E. 1100 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • Free
B.D. Howes Band
Local bluesy rockers will perform as part of the Murray Arts in the Park Lunch Concert Series.
When • Tuesday, July 31, at noon.
Where • Murray Park Pavilion #5, enter off 5200 S. State Street or at 330 E. Vine St., Murray
Tickets • Free
Scream It Like You Mean It Tour 2012
This tour features performances by The Acacia Strain, Oceano, Impending Doom, Like Moths To Flames, For All Those Sleeping, Volumes, Close To Home and Hands Like Houses.
When • Tuesday, July 31, at 5 p.m.
Where • In The Venue, 219 S. 600 West, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $18 in advance, $20 day of, at SmithsTix
Charlie Parr
Many musicians play roots music, but few modern musicians live those roots like Minnesota's Charlie Parr.
When • Tuesday, July 31, at 7:30 p.m.
Where • The Garage, 1199 N. Beck St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • $8 at door
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden will bring its "Maiden England" North American Tour to West Valley City, with special guests Coheed and Cambria.
When • Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 7:30 p.m.
Where • USANA Amphitheatre, 5150 S. 6055 West, West Valley City
Tickets • $30-$100 at SmithsTix
