Friday, August 1

This has definitely been a good year for Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates. He’s been named one of XXL’s 2014 Freshmen, topped many other critics’ lists, and has a major-label release in the works. Gates uses music to manage his depression, which spurred him to earn a degree in psychology while serving time. Hosted by Neema. With Chevy Woods, Tasman Holloway, DJ Swervewon. Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618, thecrocodile.com. 8 p.m. SOLD OUT. MICHAEL F. BERRY

Scott Hansen’s ambient, minimalist pop expands on Awake, the fourth album from his group Tycho, where synths recede to make room for shimmering, Edge-like guitar work and majestic post-rock. Hansen called it “the first true Tycho record,” and unlike previous releases, it was recorded with a three-piece band. With Christopher Willits. The Neptune. 9 p.m. $20. DL

It seems these days that camping at festivals is almost a given. Makes sense; it’s a chance to get fully into the alternate reality that is a short, sweet summer filled with music. What makes Pickathon stand out is that the experience doesn’t end when you leave; what happens instead is that your relationship with music shifts. In this rustic festival set on beautiful Pendarvis Farm just outside Portland—which many bands request to play at again and fans faithfully return to—you get to see some of the best music being made, all in a barn right next to the resident sheep. Pairing dusty Americana and edgy indie rock, the event has turned into one of Oregon’s most distinctive happenings. With an emphasis on sustainability and the environment, the event is plastic-free, partially solar-powered, and encourages alternative transportation to and from the venue via every mode of travel from cycling to carpooling. Here’s your chance to watch nationally renowned bands like The War on Drugs, Jolie Holland, Nickel Creek, and X, plus regional groups including Ural Thomas & The Pain and Blind Pilot, in the great outdoors, right next to your camping spot. Through Sunday. Pendarvis Farm, 16581 S.E. Hagen Rd., Happy Valley, Ore., pickathon.com. Music starts at 12:30 p.m. Fri. $95 and up. STIRLING MYLES

Perhaps it’s all the natural scenery out here to feast your third eye on. Or maybe it’s the mushrooms? Whatever the cause, the Northwest’s psych scene is potent and growing in a million directions at once. In their infinite wisdom, the sages over at the Sunset Tavern have decided to gather the cream of the cosmic crop for the upcoming Northwest Psych Fest, booking a lineup as deep as it is diverse. Spread out over two stacked days, festivalgoers can expect to get their minds expanded by the desert jams of Kingdom of the Holy Sun, the growling dungeon folk of Geist & The Sacred Ensemble, and the muscular, chugging riffs of Seattle vets Kinski. If that’s not enough, there will also be skronking saxophones, free-form drug-influenced improvisations, and sci-fi soundscapes. If all that doesn’t prompt you to evolve into the next level of consciousness, I’m not sure what will. Through Saturday. With Master Musicians of Bukkake, Fungal Abyss, Diminished Men, and more. Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com. $12. 8 p.m. 21 and up. KELTON SEARS

In June, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, aka Aly Spaltro, posted a video from a recording session on Instagram, confirming that her second studio album, the follow-up to last year’s Ripely Pine, is in the works. Based on this sneak peek, fans can expect lots of bluesy guitar riffs and soulful vocals on the Maine native’s next release. With the Sadies. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599, tractortavern.com. 9 p.m. $15. 21 and over. ACP

Saturday, August 2

Inspired by a shared love of “what an acoustic guitar and a singer can bring to one’s ears,” friends and music lovers Paul Mauer and Jabi Shriki organized the first Olympia Acoustic Festival in 2012. After two successful years in the south Sound, the pair decided to branch out to a larger city and music community with the Seattle Acoustic Festival, an all-day event featuring four performance spaces and a staggering lineup of more than 50 musicians. Go for the great bill featuring local acts and artists like Bradford Loomis, Whitney Monge, and Susy Sun, and definitely stick around for headliner Victoria Williams, the semi-reclusive singer/songwriter who’s been covered by everyone from Lou Reed to Lucinda Williams. With Marvin Etzioni, Walter Salas-Humara, Aaron English, Cloud Person, Stephanie Anne Johnson, Tobias the Owl, Brenda Xu, Samantha Lynne, and many more. Inscape Arts Building, 815 Seattle Blvd. S., 458-2716, seattleacousticfest.com. 11 a.m. $10 adv./
$15 DOS. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT

On July 2, two crew buses belonging to the Styx and Foreigner Soundtrack of Summer tour caught fire in Philadelphia (the result of a blazing guitar solo, perhaps)? Fortunately, the fire department put out the blaze and no one was injured. Afterward, the bands donated $10,000 to the PFD’s Widows’ Fund as a token of their gratitude. Maryhill Winery, 9774 Highway 14, Goldendale, Wash., 509-773-1976, maryhillwinery.com. 7 p.m. $59–$105. All ages. MFB

Strfkr (DJ set) The diversity of Miracle Mile, the latest album from this Portland electronic quartet, makes the band an obvious choice for a DJ set. Singles released thus far have ranged from synth-rock (“Atlantis”) to disco-tinged (“While I’m Alive”) and ’60s-esque pop-rock (“Beach Monster”). No doubt the band will bring that grab-bag attitude to its set. And glitter, hopefully. Neumos. 8 p.m. $15 adv. 21 and over. ACP

Dry those tears, Hot Bodies In Motion fans. This isn’t a farewell show, just the last time the current lineup will perform together. The soulful rock quartet, which formed in 2010 and released Principle A last year, mentions “structural changes” on Facebook. The band doesn’t go into detail, but the same comment says the writing core will remain the same. With SISTERS, Fauna Shade. Tractor Tavern. 9:30 p.m. $10. 21 and over. ACP

Sunday, August 3

What happens when a bunch of technically astute, uncharismatic session musicians team up to form their own headlining act? Toto, that’s what. Good luck naming a single band member, but with Toto it’s always been more about the pack than the wolf, as evidenced by the Caligulan sonic orgy that is “Africa.” Besides, when you’ve got Michael McDonald in tow as your tourmate, the alpha-dog slot’s more than adequately accounted for. Tulalip Resort Casino, 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd, Marysville, 888-272-1111, tulalipcasino.com. 7 p.m. $35 and up. MIKE SEELY

Naomi Punk, Vibrations Fest at Volunteer Park. Check out our review of Television Man

here

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