Animal attraction
ANIMAL HOSPITAL ENSEMBLE With 22 guitarists, six string players, and two drummers — all on loan from local bands — this sprawling ensemble is the widescreen vision of experimental musician Kevin Micka. It’s the kind of hulking work of beauty that has to be heard to be believed. As part of the MFA’s Concerts in the Courtyard series, this is Animal Hospital Ensemble’s first performance since debuting with a handful of shows last year. Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20, $16 for students, seniors, and members. Museum of Fine Arts. 800-440-6975, www.mfa.org/programs/music
Pop & Rock
COLDPLAY They’re one of the few stadium-size bands whose live shows are as sweeping and ornate as their albums. Coldplay is touring behind last year’s “Mylo Xyloto.” Be sure to catch the opening acts, too: soulful R&B singer Emeli Sandé and electro-pop rockers Marina & the Diamonds. July 29-30, 7 p.m. Tickets: $27-$112.50. TD Garden. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com
Related
ADAM COHEN When your father casts a shadow as long as Leonard Cohen does, carving out your own musical identity is a feat. But the younger Cohen does exactly that on his new album, “Like a Man,” which finds a comfortable groove somewhere between sophisticated art song and graceful folk. Cohen is opening this tour coheadlined by Rufus Wainwright and Ingrid Michaelson. July 29, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $26-$51. Bank of America Pavilion. 800-745-3000, www.livenation.com
BOSTON ROCK AND SOUL FESTIVAL
When this cruise sets sail on Sunday afternoon, a who’s who of the local roots community will be on it. It’s no doubt the only place where you can hear the following acts within a few hours: Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents, Will Dailey, Tim Gearan, Dennis Brennan, Jesse Dee, Andrea Gillis, Roy Sludge, Love in Stockholm, and Christian McNeill & Sea Monsters.
July 29, 3 p.m. (boards at 2 p.m.). Tickets: $30, $25 in advance. World Trade Center Pier, 200 Seaport Blvd. www.rockandbluescruise.com
Folk, World & Country
HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN The name of this veteran Austin trio says it all: they play a lean, stripped-down version of Wills-ian Western swing and Django-esque gypsy jazz. And they play dance music, which is what Boston Swing Central events such as this one are primarily about. If you show up an hour early at 8, they’ll even help you learn how to two-step to what you’re going to hear. July 26, 9 p.m. Tickets: $17. The Crosby Whistle Stop, Charlestown. www.boston
swingcentral.org
MIRANDA LAMBERT The reigning CMA and ACM female vocalist of the year is working twice as hard as usual on this tour, appearing first in the guise of “Lone Star Annie” as part of her über-twang girl-group side project, Pistol Annies, before taking the stage as her spitfire self. July 27, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $40 - $59.75. Bank of America Pavilion.
800- 745-3000, www.livenation.com
MINDY SMITH On her new, self-titled release, singer-songwriter Smith continues to spend most of her time in Americana’s folk neighborhood (but not all of it, as the full-blown country sounds of “When You’re Walking on My Grave” attest), making music that’s beautifully crafted and quietly intense (but sometimes not so quiet, as the squally bursts of “Don't Mind Me” attest). She comes to town Sunday, with Israeli-born, Brooklyn-based opener Rosi Golan. July 29,
8 p.m. Tickets: $30. Club Passim.
617-492-7679, www.passim.org
AMADOU & MARIAM The Malian husband-and-wife pair are touring behind their just-released album “Folila,” a glorious tangle of their West African sound and various strands of western rock, soul, and pop that features the collaborative contributions of a veritable hipster procession, including Santigold, Theophilus London, and TV on the Radio. Aug. 1, 8 p.m. Tickets: $25. Paradise Rock Club. 800-745-3000, www.ticket
master.com
Jazz, Blues & Cabaret
PAUL LIEBERMAN’S “IBEJI” LIVE The masterful multi-instrumentalist leads a performance of his acclaimed album “Ibeji,”a suite of original tunes and re-arranged classics exploring the notion of jazz and Brazilian music “as twin children of Mother Africa separated at birth, raised in distant parts of the world, and now reunited.” With the leader on flute, saxophones, and percussion, and featuring vibraphonist Alexei Tsiganov, pianist Joel A. Martin, bassist Fernando Huergo, percussionist Fernando Saci, and drummer Bertram Lehman. July 26, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $16. Regattabar.
617-395-7757, www.regattabarjazz.com
THE NEW BLACK EAGLES JAZZ BAND Since 1971, the Black Eagles have been among the finest revivalists of the rollicking sounds of traditional New Orleans Jazz, extending the legacy of such legends as Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Jelly Roll Morton in exhilarating fashion. July 28, 7 p.m. Tickets: $18-$20. Maudslay Arts Center, 95 Curzon Mill Road, Newburyport. 978-499-0050, www.maudslayartscenter.org
DIANE BLUE Boston’s own blues harmonica ace and strong, soulful vocalist is a real crowd-pleaser who won the 2010 Massachusetts Blues Challenge, going on to compete at the 2011 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. July 28, 9 p.m. Tickets: $10. Ryles,
212 Hampshire St., Cambridge.
617-876-9330, www.rylesjazz.com
ANA POPOVIC BAND The smoking, Belgrade-born singer, songwriter, and guitar slinger was the first European ever nominated for the “best new blues artist” at the W.C. Handy Award Show and has been nominated for numerous awards since. July 29, 7 p.m. Tickets: $20. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Shirley. 978-425-4311 or 877-536-7190, www.bullrunrestaurant.com
Classical
TANGLEWOOD Friday night features the BSO’s assistant conductor Marcelo Lehninger leading the BSO in Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” alongside works by Mozart and Villa-Lobos, with fellow Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire. Then Charles Dutoit takes over (on Saturday night) with Berlioz’s “La Damnation de Faust,” and works by Tchaikovsky and Beethoven (on Sunday) with piano soloist Emanuel Ax. Lenox.
617-266-1200, www.tanglewood.org
MARLBORO MUSIC The venerable Vermont chamber music festival has announced its third weekend of programs, with music by Brahms, Schnittke, and Mozart on Saturday, and works by Beethoven, Mozart, Webern, and Lera Auerbach on Sunday. Marlboro, Vt.
802-254-2394, www.marlboromusic.org
BOSTON MIDSUMMER OPERA Susan Davenny Wyner leads a staged production of Donizetti’s comic opera “Don Paquale,” with a cast featuring David Kravitz, Leslie Ann Bradley, Ricardo Lugo, and Alex Richardson. Directed by Austin Pendleton. July 27 and 29, Tsai Performance Center, 617-227-0442, www.bostonmidsummeropera.org