Jay N. Miller| For The Patriot Ledger
The summer music season is in full swing and it's a jam-packed weekend.
THURSDAY, July 25: Mighty Mystic headed to Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke
Reggae fans have terrific options, with the vaunted Mighty Mystic at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, while Jah Wobble opens "the metal box" at City Winery in Boston. South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset offers musical theater with "Mean Girls." Sara Seminski and the B3 Kings provide a trip to Soulsville at The Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. Paul Willis and Terry Borderline harmonize at Club Passim in Cambridge. Pop star Christopher Cross in concert at Cary Hall in Lexington. Songsmith Gavin DeGraw at The Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis. Groove with Yächtley Crëw at The Indian Ranch in Webster. The Janis Joplin Experience, starring Lisa Polizzi, at The Music Room in Yarmouth.
FRIDAY, July 26: Valerie Barretto comes to The Parrot in Hull.
The C Note in Hull has a night of music, mystery and magic, with magician/mind-reader Peter Gross, cabaret, burlesque, and The Pitfalls for the music. City Winery in Boston hosts the comedy podcast, And Then We Had Sex. Comic Bill Maher at MGM Music Hall in Boston. Vineyard funk troupe Entrain heats up Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. Folk (and storytelling) icon Cheryl Wheeler takes over Club Passim in Cambridge for two nights. Yächtley Crëw's infectious hooks at South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset. The Cindy Daley Band lights up the Randolph AmVets Post 51. Always a favorite at Quincy's old Beachcomber, John Anthony's acclaimed tribute to Rod Stewart is at Taunton's District Center for the Arts. Sammy Hagar can't go 55 to get to The Xfinity Center in Mansfield. John Lodge from the Moody Blues performs at The Wilbur Theater in Boston. The rapper/MC known as Ski Mask the Slump God headlines The House of Blues in Boston. Number of the Beast – an Iron Maiden tribute – headlines The Music Room in Yarmouth. Almost Queen – a tribute to Queen – is at Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis. The electronic band CG5 is at The Sinclair in Cambridge. Indie rocker Katy King at Brighton Music Hall. Country-rocker Valerie Barretto sings at The Parrot in Hull.
SATURDAY, July 27: Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire heading to Mansfield
The Mark King Band, profiled here a couple weeks ago, headlines Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. Canadian Americana star Kathleen Edwards helps re-open the Spire Center in Plymouth. Beantown metal rockers Vanna take over Roadrunner in Allston. The premier Rolling Stones tribute, The Blushing Brides, return to The C Note in Hull. Twangy songwriter Faye Webster sings at The Stage at Suffolk Downs in Revere. Power popsters Redd Kross heat up Brighton Music Hall. Suzanne McNeil is back from the United Kingdom and touring the South Shore again: at 3 p.m. at The Cabby Shack in Plymouth; and at 8:30 at The Sports Emporium in Weymouth with guitar ace Tim Mahoney. Two Door Cinema Club's edgy rock at Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston. Big Yellow Taxi – a tribute to Joni Mitchell – at City Winery in Boston. Two neat blasts from the past when the band Chicago joins Earth, Wind and Fire at The Xfinity Center in Mansfield. The singer/songwriter known as SiR headlines the House of Blues in Boston. The deep sounds of desert blues when Tinariwen returns to Royale in Boston. Songsmith Jessica Pratt at The Sinclair in Cambridge. The Boston Comedy Blowout at the Cape Cod Melody Tent. Valerie Barretto sings at The Galley in Scituate. Blizzard of Ozz is the tribute to Mr. Ozzy Osbourne at Taunton's District Center for the Arts. Two shows at The Music Room in Yarmouth, as guitar player Quinn Sullivan plays at 5 p.m., with The Fat City Band taking over at 8 p.m. Road trip: Worth the trip to Beverly for bluesmen Tab Benoit and Anders Osborne at the Cabot Theater.
A second look: This musician cut his teeth playing tuba at Pembroke High. Where he's playing this weekend
SUNDAY, July 28: Captain Mike & the Shipwrecked wash ashore at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke
The 1 p.m. Rhythm Room Afternoon at The John Alden Sportsman's Club in Plymouth features the dance-happy sounds of Booty Vortex. City Winery in Boston has two shows with Herman's Hermits – and yes, Peter Noone is with them at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Captain Mike & the Shipwrecked are a Jimmy Buffett tribute at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. Suzanne McNeil and Tim Mahoney sing and play at The Pour Yard in Quincy. Songwriter Gavin DeGraw is at South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset. The Yächtley Crëw has made their way to Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis. Indie rocker Nico Vega at Brighton Music Hall.
Coming attractions
TUESDAY: The Lonesome Ace String Band gets down at Club Passim in Cambridge.
WEDNESDAY: Rock and soul princess Grace Potter at South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset. The jazz-funk of the octet known as The Blackbyrds at City Winery in Boston. Aussie rockers Vacations at Royale in Boston. Regina Spektor sings at Boston's MGM Music Hall. Blues singer Shemekia Copeland opens a two-nighter at The Music Room in Yarmouth.
AUG. 1: The lo-fi indie rock sounds of The Mountain Goats envelop The House of Blues in Boston.
AUG. 2: Eaglemania – a tribute to the Eagles – headlines Memorial Hall in Plymouth. Legendary African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo harmonizes at the Narrows Center in Fall River. Blues and jazz singer Ruthie Foster lights up the Spire Center in Plymouth.
AUG. 3: Sister Funk heats up The C Note in Hull. Cheap Trick rocks out at MGM Music Hall in Boston. Badfish – the tribute to Sublime, now also with their own original songs – at Indian Ranch.