This week's hot concerts

Darrell Scott

Friday 8 p.m., Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36^th St., $27-$32, www.neighborhoodtheatre.com

Whether as an astounding songwriter covered by over 70 artists, including the Dixie Chicks and Travis Tritt, as a sideman for Robert Plant in Band of Joy, or as an equally brilliant instrumentalist, this Kentucky native is nearly unparalleled as an Americana Renaissance man. His latest acclaimed album, “The Couchville Sessions” were recorded 15 years ago - around the same time he released some of his best work.

Angwish

Friday 10 p.m., Keg & Cue, 2135 S. Tryon St., $5, (704) 333-0074

Few local musicians lead as nomadic a lifestyle as founder Bryan Beilanski, who has toured everywhere from Budapest to Bangkok. His travels took he and drummer Bethany Graham to Chicago to record with legendary producer Steve Albini, who produced albums considered alternative rock gold by Nirvana and the Pixies. The duo celebrates the album’s release tonight before setting off on a 51 date US tour.

Gov’t Mule/Blackberry Smoke

Saturday 6:30 p.m., Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheater, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd., $20-$65, www.ticketmaster.com

NC native and Allman Brothers’ band member Warren Haynes and his side project turned headliner, look back at its beginning with the album, “The Tel-Star Sessions” - a collection culled from demos recorded in 1994. The album resonates with improvisation, a focus on grittier basslines, and putting the “power” back in power trio – 22 years later, the band’s now a four-piece. .

Miami Dice

Saturday 9 p.m., Visulite, 1615 Elizabeth Ave., $10, www.visulite.com

After four months off the stage, Charlotte’s disco funk architects (and snappy dressers) return in anticipation of its limited cassette mixtape, “Venus in Retrograde.” It’ll be available digitally or you can order one of the cassettes at the show. Astrea Corp, DJ Justin Aswell, and Latin-tinged Patabamba fill out the bill.

Jessica Lea Mayfield

Saturday 9 p.m., Double Door, 1218 Charlottetown Ave., $15, www.doubledoorinn.com

Before she starts recording her fourth album, the angelic-voiced songwriter whose last release was a tribute to Elliott Smith with pal Seth Avett, is trying out new songs on the road. Having trekked through Charlotte last year solo, she brings the band this time around and her array of effects pedals so she can show off her growing shredder skills.

Stryper

Tuesday 8 p.m., Amos’, 1423 S. Tryon St., $25-$30/$40 VIP, www.amossouthend.com

The Christian hair metal band who crossed over to secular rock audiences in the `80s with hits like power ballad “Honestly” and “Calling on You” celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the album that spawned those hits, “To Hell With the Devil.” Expect all four original members to even sport signature yellow and black. Stylistically they’ve evolved in 30 years. Their latest album “Fallen” is heavier than that of yesteryear.

Korn

Wednesday 6 p.m., PNC Music Pavilion, 707 Pavilion Blvd., $29.50-$75, www.livenation.com

Having spent the summer sharing the stage with Rob Zombie – both long running `90s stalwarts – Jonathan Davis and company embark on the Nocturnal Underground tour with another generation of hard rock bands, Breaking Benjamin, Motionless in White, and Silver Snakes. Fans may be treated to a preview of its 12^th studio album, “The Serenity of Suffering,” due Oct. 21.

Esperanza Spalding presents Emily’s D+Evolution

Wednesday 7:30 p.m., McGlohon Theater, 345 N. College St., $29.50-$54.50, www.blumenthalarts.org

Best known as a jazz bassist, Spalding explores her other side, which she calls Emily, on her latest album and tour. On record it’s a fun, funky ride through all sorts of genres. It’s reminiscent of her one time collaborator Prince in its sense of adventure and recalls the early days of MTV when genres weren’t so clearly separated.

Wednesday 13

Wednesday 8 p.m., Amos’, 1423 S. Tryon St., $15-$18, www.amossouthend.com

China Grove’s answer to the Prince of Darkness kicks off Halloween month – on a Wednesday no less. The NC native (now based in LA) who started out fronting `90s goth punks Frankenstein Drag Queens in the QC, is not only playing horror camp classics “I Walked with a Zombie” and “Bad Things,” but tracks from his sci-fi conspiracy theorist leaning, “Monsters of the Universe” and even tattooing fans.

Charlie Puth

Thursday 7:30 p.m., The Fillmore, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd., $25, www.livenatino.com

The New Jersey raised songwriter knows how to pick a collaborator. “See You Again,” he and Wiz Khalifa’s tribute to actor Paul Walker for the “Furious 7” soundtrack  became a worldwide hit charting at No. 1 in 101 countries. He’s since released singles featuring Meagan Trainor and Selena Gomez, which only ups his cool quotient with the younger crowd. Joel Adams, and Hailey Knox also play.  

Avetts set hometown return

For the first time in three years the Avett Brothers return to Charlotte for a hometown show. The Concord based band will play its annual New Year's Eve show at Bojangles' Arena Dec. 31. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 16 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster outlets.

The show marks the Avett Brothers' return to the 61 year old venue. The band, who has played New Year's Eve gigs all over the Carolinas dating back to its early sell-outs at Neighborhood Theatre in NoDa,  played Time Warner Cable Arena in December 2013.

The Avetts first played Bojangles' Coliseum when its commercial breakthrough "I and Love and You" was released in 2009. The group returned to the venue, which opened as the original Charlotte Coliseum in 1955, in April 2011.

In June it released its ninth studio album, "True Sadness." In 2015 the group opened for The Rolling Stones in Raleigh. It rang in the New Year at Greensboro Coliseum Complex in 2015. 

Tickets for the Dec. 31 show will be $39.50 to $75, plus fees.

This week's hot concerts

Beyond the Fade

Friday 8 p.m., Amos’, 1423 S. Tryon St., $10-$12, www.amossouthend.com

The Charlotte melodic hard rock band celebrates the release of its new album, “Welcome to the Pain,” which is rich in mainstream modern rock anthems. Boosted by major label-sounding production and skillful vocalist Neil Jackson, tracks from the album could easily find a home scoring a WWE Pay-Per-View or NASCAR race, TV and film.

 
Eat from a Truck

Saturday Noon to 6 p.m., AvidXChange Music Factory, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd., $10/$25 VIP/Kids 10 and under free, www.eatfromatruck.com

From fish n’ chips and BBQ to dumplings, lobster dogs, and Banh Mi, the Music Factory gathers over 100 four wheel kitchens for this festival of food. Americana showman and live favorite Langhorne Slim & the Law, Family & Friends, and Thirsty Beaver house band the Loose Lugnuts provide live music while kids can shake up lunch in bouncy houses and on obstacle courses and the climbing wall. A portion of proceeds benefits Kids First of the Carolinas.

 
Dinosaur Jr./Cloud Nothings

Saturday 8 p.m., Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36^th St., $25-$28, www.neighborhoodtheatre.com

It’s been 11 years since the founding members of the indie rock pioneer reformed and the trio of J. Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph continue to churn out good music that’s in league with its old stuff. Cloud Nothings has its own avid following thanks to consistent buzz for its fuzzy blend of spiraling energy and pop hooks, global touring, mainstream acclaim, and prime slots on big summer festivals.

Boulevards

Saturday 10 p.m., Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St., $6, www.snugrock.com

Funk is arguably one of the most unifying genres out there. There’s almost a universal appreciation for Prince, George Clinton, and Rick James. Raleigh native Jamil Rashad takes a cue from classic funk and soul’s forefathers and vintage hip-hop to create his modern strain of funk. He plays following a performance on opening night at Raleigh’s taste-making Hopscotch Festival.

 
Joan Shelley

Sunday 8 p.m., Stage Door Theater, $15, 155 N. College St., $15, www.blumenthalarts.org

This Louisville songwriter recently put the “folk” in Newport Folk Festival at the Rhode Island gathering with an astonishingly simple and lovely set that NPR Music recorded for its website. Her acoustic accompaniment, gentle voice, and focus on lyrics recall folk legends like Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez and boils the pomp and production of a live show back down to the strength of a song.

Devin Townsend Project/Between the Buried and Me

Monday 6:30 p.m., Amos’, 1423 S. Tryon St., $25-$30/$55 VIP, www.amossouthend.com

The one-time vocalist for Steve Vai-turned-founder of Canadian metal outfit Strapping Young Lad has dabbled in everything from industrial to prog to new age music with his signature wall-of-sound style production. He’s paired with NC prog-metal heroes BTBAM – last seen at Carolina Rebellion. You can bet this pair will draw a room of on guitar geeks hanging on every note.

Creature Comfort

Monday 9 p.m., Thomas St. Tavern, 1218 Thomas Ave., TBA, www.creaturecomfortband.com 

This Nashville foursome make tranquil indie pop, but there’s something unsettling beneath the jangly guitars, subtle space-rock moodiness, and thoughtful lyrics. The same is true of its ambitious (especially for an indie outfit), fantasy-driven music videos. If Death Cab for Cutie and Explosions in the Sky were locked in a basement together, it might sound a bit like this.

   
C.W. Stoneking

Tuesday 9:45 p.m., Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St., $11, www.snugrock.com

Dressed like your great grandmother’s milkman, wielding a guitar, playing vintage black-snake-moaning blues, one might assume C.W. Stoneking just stepped out of a time machine from the Mississippi Delta circa 1930, yet his tattooed hands place him squarely in the 20^th century. The roots-steeped musician actually hails from present day rural Australia where he’s collected numerous music awards over the past decade.