Jon Lindsay hosts Plaza-Midwood Spring party.

Charlotte-based musician Jon Lindsay is back from a West Coast solo tour which included a stop at South by Southwest. He’s currently working on his sophomore album, “Summer Wilderness Program” and will host the Plaza-Midwood Spring Party April 23^rd at Petra’s (1919 Commonwealth Ave). The line-up includes Lindsay’s final solo show of 2011, the Loudermilks, the Houston Brothers, comedian Jeremy Shane, Anna Bullard, Miles Swartz, Jay Garrigan, and triangle area acts Old Bricks, Jack the Radio, and Eston Dickinson. Lindsay (pictured) promises a variety show of sorts which includes indoor and outdoor activities, visual art by Kelly Keith and Alexis Owen, and a cookout. Bring your own grill grub. Grill masters will be on hand to cook it up. Some items including condiments will be on hand, but “bring your own buns.” Music begins at 8 p.m. with a late night dance party to follow.

“I encourage everybody to do intimate, different, stripped down, risky stuff and play something nobody’s heard before,” says Lindsay of the variety style format. $5 in advance; $7 at the door. Tickets available at Petra’s.

In other Lindsay-related news his band the Catch Fire is nearly ready to release its debut album “Rumormill.” The band - a collaboration between Lindsay and frequent songwriting partner Mike Mitschele (Alternative Champs/Jolene) with help from the rhythm section of John Cates and Adam Roth (Bellglide and Laburnum) – hopes to have label and release date news soon. “Rumormill” is tentatively scheduled for June. June also marks the debut of Lindsay’s revised touring band which has been pared down to a trio relying on synthesizers, sequencers, and drum machines instead of live drums. It will be at The Visulite June 17^th.

Kill Rock Stars' indie-folk duo to play Asheville.

I’m thinking of checking out this show in Asheville – Thao & Mirah at the Grey Eagle on May 12^th. Both are indie singer-songwriters from the Northwest and the collaboration sounds promising. I’m not as familiar with Thao Nguyen or her band the Get Down Stay Down, but what a great band name. I've long loved Mirah's voice. She sings a couple of my favorite modern folk-rock songs.

I discovered Mirah because she was on the overnight playlist when I was a volunteer DJ at WNCW in Spindale around 2002. Her “Apples in the Trees” became a staple whenever I controlled the wee hours’ airwaves (along with the National’s first record, the Distillers' second, and Elvis Costello’s “I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea,” which I played in case my dog was listening at home). There was an intimate fragility, something beyond vulnerability in Mirah’s delicate vocals but there was also strength in the sparse, naked arrangements on that 2002 album “Advisory Committee.” She kind of fell off my radar after that, but the songs from her first two records still garner a smile and a sing-along when they pop up on shuffle, especially “Apples in the Trees.” Her album and tour with Thao seems like the right time to get reacquainted with her music.

The duo’s album is out April 26^th on Kill Rock Stars. You can pre-order a copy and find out more about the pairing here.

This week's hot concerts

Dashboard Confessional

7:30 p.m. Friday (Apr1) Amos’ Southend, 1423 S. Tryon St. $21-$24. http://www.etix.com/

Chris Carrabba continues to commemorate the 10^th anniversary of his band’s debut “The Swiss Army Romance” with this solo tour.

Explosions in the Sky (pictured above)

7:30 p.m. Sunday (April 3) Amos’ Southend, 1423 S. Tryon St. $17-$20. http://www.etix.com/

The instrumental Austin outfit best known for its “Friday Night Lights” scores brings its spidery guitar melodies and ethereal walls of sound to Charlotte for the first time.

House of Pain

7:30 p.m. Monday, Amos’ Southend, 1423 S. Tryon St. $22.50-$25. http://www.etix.com/

Fourteen years after it split (with members going on to Limp Bizkit and a solo career for Everlast) the Irish-American hip-hoppers return to “Jump Around” nearly 20 years after its first and biggest hit.

The Felice Brothers

7 p.m. Tuesday, Visulite, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. $13-$16. 704-358-9200.

The orchestral folk outfit reminiscent of Dylan and the Band preview material from “Celebration, Florida” (out May 10th) which is populated with detailed storytelling and rich characters.

Rebbie Jackson

7 p.m. Wednesday, McGlohon Theatre, 345 N. College St. $35. 704-372-1000.

Spurred by her daughter’s struggle with bipolar disorder Michael’s eldest sibling (whose biggest hit was the MJ-penned “Centipede,”) headlines the Pick Up the Phone Suicide Prevention Tour.

Nappy Roots

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Tremont, 400 W. Tremont Ave. $15-$17. http://www.etix.com/

The veteran Kentucky rap group behind the Grammy nominated 2002 hit “Po’ Folks” continue to make relatable reality and eclectic hip-hop that those same po’ folks can identify with.

Jamey Johnson

10:30 p.m. Thursday, Coyote Joe’s, 4621 Wilkinson Blvd. $20. http://www.etix.com/

From songwriter (blame him for Trace Adkins’ “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”) to one of the Nashville’s most authentically country current stars, the Alabama native straddles critical acclaim with mainstream stardom.

Country couple at Coyote Joe's

Hot husband and wife duo, Thompson Square, whose "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?"sat at number 2 on CMT's Top 20 video countdown last weekend is scheduled to play Coyote Joe's (4621 Wilkinson Blvd.) May 6th. Tickets are $12 at www.etix.com

I noticed them a couple of months ago while flipping between music video channels on Saturday mornings as I am apt to do (because they actually play videos then). They appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in February and seem to be popping up everywhere now that their single's a No. 1. The duo may be new to country radio, but they apparently aren't as young as they appear. Keifer and Shawna Thompson have actually been married for 11 years and toiling away in Nashville for close to a decade. Thompson Square's self-titled debut album is out now.

Other upcoming Coyote Joe's shows include Jamey Johnson April 7th, Bill Gentry and Jason Sturgeon April 9th, Colt Ford May 20th, and Easton Corbin June 17th.

Charlotte band reunites for one show

After calling it quits in August Charlotte rock five-piece the Lights, Fluorescent will reunite for a one off gig Friday, May 13th at The Milestone (3400 Tuckaseegee Rd). The brief reunion will celebrate the release of band's first (and presumably last) full-length album.