Wednesday, July 30

Opening for Stale Birth’s free improvisations, Seattle guitarist Bill Horist could hedge toward the noise-y side of things for his set. But considering that no approach to music is beyond his reach—Horist’s as likely to work in jazz as avant-styles or acoustic-based music—anything and everything’s on the table. With Double Ganger. Lo-Fi, 429 Eastlake Ave. E., 254-2824, thelofi.net. 8 p.m. $7. 
21 and up. DAVE CANTOR

For most punk bands, doing an acoustic tour would seem odd. But X aren’t most punk bands. The Los Angeles quartet has always had a wider sonic palette than most of its contemporaries, serving up a rockabilly/punk hybrid that predated the alt-country tag by 20 years. All four original members will participate in tonight’s all-acoustic set. With Folk Uke. The Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net. 8 p.m. $50 adv./$60 front row. Through Thurs. DAVE LAKE

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year or so (and I’m not bagging on rocks, but that seems pretty silly), you are probably familiar with one of the buzziest bands around, Lake Street Dive. If you aren’t, then you should check them out right now. With a sound that covers everything from smoldering pop-soul to jazz that swings like nobody’s business to classic R&B and Brit rock, it’s no wonder people are falling in love with this band left and right. Its new album, Bad Self Portraits, is the good-time record of 2014 you deserve. Go treat yourself. With Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band. Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N., 548-2688, zoo.org/
zootunes. 6 p.m. $25. All ages. BRIAN PALMER

Thursday, July 31

Canadian trio A Tribe Called Red brings a unique perspective to dance music, combining hip-hop and electronic music with elements of aboriginal music like chanting and percussion to make “powwow step,” most recently showcased on its latest, Nation II Nation. ATCR also created Electric Powwow, a monthly event featuring indigenous DJs, to further this eclectic sound. With Riz Rollins, J Justice. Barboza, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9951, thebarboza.com. 8 p.m. $15 adv. 21 and over. AZARIA C. PODPLESKY

After five years of silence, classic-rock revivalists Wolfmother returned this year with a surprise new album, New Crown, that was mostly panned by fans and critics. But that doesn’t mean the band’s out for good. Between stirring hits like “Joke & the Thief” and “Woman,” there are still plenty of hard-rock vibes to go around. With Electric Citizen. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 
45th St., 682-1414, stgpresents.com/neptune. 9 p.m. $25. All ages. DUSTY HENRY

It’s hard to say which version of Foxygen will show up to any given performance. Will it be the band known to quarrel and bicker onstage? Or the one to throw down a set of raucous, transcendent R&B indie rock? Part of the excitement of seeing the band live is knowing it could be one of the worst or best shows you’ve ever seen. With Woods, Steve Gunn. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467, neumos.com. 8 p.m. $15 adv. 21 and over. DH

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

Tuesday, August 5

California native Sara Bareilles emerged onto the pop scene with her debut album, Little Voice, and her hit single, “Love Song,” in 2007. Since then, she has garnered three Grammy nominations and released a critically acclaimed sophomore album, Kaleidoscope Heart, and another worldwide hit, “King of Anything.” With her latest, The Blessed Unrest, her music has transitioned from light coffee-shop fare to substantial, honest art. Here Bareilles shows off her warm and soulful voice as well as her powerful range on more lyrically and sonically mature songs. With Lucius, Hannah Georgas. Marymoor Park, 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy., Redmond, 205-3661, marymoorconcerts.com. 6:30 p.m. $39.50–$59.50. All ages. REUT ODINAK

Judging a book by its cover or a band by its name is often ill-advised, but with Diarrhea Planet, it’s pretty clear right away what listeners are getting into. The Nashville sextet’s latest album, I’m Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams, is a sloppy, sweaty romp with anthemic guitar riffs that harken back to the attitude that “rock and roll will never die.” With Those Darlins, the Plastards. Tractor Tavern. 9 p.m. $12. 21 and over. DH

Coming from a city with a rock lineage like Brooklyn’s carries a certain weight and set of expectations—and Parquet Courts does not disappoint. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone has said of them, “They do for Nineties indie rock what Pavement did for Eighties indie rock.” It’s not just the band’s unique spin on garage rock that sets them apart, it’s also singer Andrew Savage’s purist commitment to the lo-fi and DIY approach. The band eschews things like social media, opting instead to spend time uploading mixtapes of its favorite bands to its website. We may be living in the digital age, but how ’90s is that? With Naomi Punk, Gag. The Vera Project, 305 Harrison St., 956-8372, theveraproject.com. 8 p.m. $12 adv. All ages. DIANA M. LE