MUSIC
Pop & Rock
ROMEO SANTOS He’s proclaimed himself the King of Bachata, and this Bronx-born smoothie can make a case for ruling the modern, hip-hop-tinged iteration of this guitar-punctuated Dominican dance music: He’s been making audiences swoon for more than 20 years, first as leader of the boy band Aventura and then as a solo artist at the forefront of the 21st-century Latin pop insurgency. March 6 and 7, 8 p.m. $41.50 and up. Agganis Arena. 800-745-3000, www.livenation.com
TUNE-YARDS Merrill Garbus, the vocalist-producer-songwriter who leads this Bay Area duo, pairs her interrogations of the world’s ills and her own complacency in them with clamorous, relentlessly optimistic music on her project’s fourth album, “I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life.” March 8, 9 p.m. $31, $28 advance. Royale. 617-338-7699, www.royaleboston.com
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ELLA VOS This Los Angeles-based songwriter slyly pairs skeletal, dreamy synthpop with pointed, poetic lyrics that collapse the gap between the personal and political. March 10, 6:30 p.m. $15 and up. Sonia, Cambridge. 617-864-3278, www.mideastoffers.com
MAURA JOHNSTON
Folk & World
GRANT-LEE PHILLIPS Thursday’s show kicks off Phillips’s tour in support of his latest solo album — his ninth, which comes with the eye-catching title “Widdershins” (an ancient word meaning to move counterclockwise or against the natural course) and finds the singer-songwriter essaying a long view on the current situation. March 8, 9 p.m. $20. ONCE Ballroom, Somerville. 877-987-6487, www.ticketfly.com
ANDREW COLLINS TRIO This Canadian trio plays modern mandolin-forward string band fare that nods to the likes of Grisman dawg music and Punch Brothers eclecticism. They’re making their area debut, and will be previewing their upcoming release “tongue and groove,” a half-vocal, half-instrumental double album. March 8, 7 p.m. $15. The Burren, Somerville. 617-776-6896, www.burren.com
RED BARAAT Red Baraat’s “Festival of Colors” celebration of the Hindu spring holiday Holi has become an annual thing. This year, the Brooklyn dance-inducing outfit is joined by DJ Swami and PunjabTronix, whose name gives away their game, a mash-up of traditional Punjabi folk and electronic music that they augment with in situ programmed visuals. March 9, 8 p.m. $25. The Sinclair, Cambridge. 617-876-4275, www.worldmusic.org
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STUART MUNRO
Jazz & Blues
PAT MARTINO ORGAN TRIO The legendary guitarist suffered an aneurysm and learned to play all over again by listening to his own records, performing with even more depth. With Hammond B3 organist Pat Bianchi and drummer Carmen Intorre Jr. March 8, 7:30 and 10 p.m. $23-$30. Regattabar. 617-395-7757, www.regattabarjazz.com
THE GRAVEL PROJECT/KREWE DE GROOVE A night of rocking blues and funk jams as hotshot guitarist-vocalist Andrew Gravel’s band joins forces with horn heavy New Orleans funkateers Krewe de Groove. March 9, 10 p.m. $5. Plough & Stars, Cambridge. www.ploughandstars.com
BRINGING DOWN THE WALLS: MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS A concert of new arrangements and original compositions showcasing Wellesley College’s jazz and world music faculty, among the area’s finest improvisers: violinist Paula Zeitlin, flutist Lance Martin, saxophonist Cercie Miller, trumpeter Tom Duprey, trombonist David Harris, pianist Russell Hoffmann, vibraphonist Rich Greenblatt, bassist Mark Henry, guitarist Steven Kirby, drummer Steve Langone, percussionist Kera Washington, and vocalist Kaoruko Pilkington. A reception will follow. March 10, 7:30 p.m. Free. Jewett Auditorium, Wellesley College, 106 Central St., Wellesley. www.wellesley.edu/events
KEVIN LOWENTHAL
Classical
CHAMBER MUSIC Free in Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory’s First Monday series offers chamber works by Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Bernstein (March 5), and the Callithumpian Consort brings back Peter Maxwell Davies’s modern classic “Eight Songs for a Mad King” (March 8); the Musicians of the Old Post Road serve up music by Couperin, Telemann, and others at Old South Church (March 10); and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum hosts Musicians From Marlboro with works by Boccherini, Bartok, and Ravel (March 11). www.necmusic.edu, www.oldpostroad.org, www.gardnermuseum.org
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BENJAMIN BEILMAN This young yet poised violinist partners with pianist Orion Weiss in a Celebrity Series of Boston recital with repertoire by Beethoven and Bartok alongside a newly commissioned work by Frederic Rzewski. March 7, 8 p.m., Longy School of Music. 617-482-6661, www.celebrityseries.org
CHORUS PRO MUSICA Under Jamie Kirsch’s direction, the chorus offers a reconciliation-themed program featuring works by Judith Bingham, Arvo Pärt, and Bach along with Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms.” March 10, 8 p.m., First Baptist Church in Newton, www.choruspromusica.org
JEREMY EICHLER
ARTS
Theater
SKELETON CREW In Dominique Morisseau’s drama, set in 2008 as the Great Recession is tightening its grip, Detroit auto workers face the closing of their plant, which poses an urgent threat not just to their livelihoods but to their identities. Directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian. Through March 31. Huntington Theatre Company. Wimberly Theatre, Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts. 617-266-0800, www.huntingtontheatre.org
EVERY BRILLIANT THING Two of Boston’s best actresses team up for this production, although only one of them will perform. The always-compelling Adrianne Krstansky plays a woman who grew up with a suicidal mother, and got in the habit of compiling a numbered inventory of the pleasures of the world that constitute reasons to go on living. Marianna Bassham steps offstage to assume the role of director. Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe. Through March 31. SpeakEasy Stage Company. At Roberts Studio Theatre, Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts. 617-933-8600, www.speakeasystage.com
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GUARDS AT THE TAJ Set in India in the mid-17th century, this drama by Rajiv Joseph (“Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo’’) revolves around two guards, portrayed by Jacob Athyal and Harsh J. Gagoomal, whose task is to protect the Taj Mahal on the night before it is first unveiled. Directed by Gabriel Vega Weissman. Content warning from theater of “blood, violence.’’ Through April 1. Underground Railway Theater. At Central Square Theater, Cambridge. 617-576-9278, www.centralsquaretheater.org
DON AUCOIN
Dance
PARTS IN SUITE This Boston Ballet program features three of the ballet world’s more intriguing choreographers, starting with the company premiere of William Forsythe’s “Pas/Parts 2018,” part of a five-year partnership with the choreographer. The company also presents its first work by New York City Ballet resident choreographer Justin Peck, “In Creases,” and Jorma Elo’s “Bach Cello Suites,” with live music by cellist Sergey Antonov. March 9-April 7. $35-$164. Boston Opera House. 617-695-6955, www.bostonballet.org
FLAMENCO FESTIVAL 2018 World Music’s annual celebration of the rich Spanish dance form opens with the 10 dancers and musicians of Ballet Flamenco Jesús Carmona (March 10) performing the dramatic, inventive “Impetu’s.” Compañía Eva Yerbabuena (March 11) offers the Boston premiere of “¡Ay!” featuring the dancer’s powerful, fiery solo work accompanied by instrumentalists and a trio of male singers. March 10-11. $40-$79. Berklee Performance Center. 617-876-4275, www.worldmusic.org
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POOR PEOPLE’S TV ROOM The daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Bessie Award-winning artist Okwui Okpokwasili has teamed with designer-director Peter Born to craft a provocative, multimedia work that brings into the light some of the powerful stories of women’s resistance that history has buried or conveniently forgotten. March 9-10. $15-$25. Institute of Contemporary Art. 617-478-3103, www.icaboston.org
KAREN CAMPBELL
Galleries
DAVID BREWSTER: URBAN PASTORALE Painting landscapes with rollers and his hands, Brewster works in swift, expressionistic gestures to construct images of industry, suburbs, and nature that might be coalescing, or they might be falling to pieces. Through March 31. Chase Young Gallery, 450 Harrison Ave. 617-859-7222, www.chaseyounggallery.com
JOSEPH McNAMARA: REALIZATIONS Although McNamara re-creates details such as chipping paint, rust, and grains of dirt, his paintings of industrial scenes aren’t strictly photorealistic. While he works from photographs, he paints chaotic and jumbled settings intuitively, finding innate order in the confusion. Through March 31. Gallery NAGA, 67 Newbury St. 617-267-9060, www.gallerynaga.com
SOPHIE LOURDES KNIGHT: STEADY PLANE Winning and losing may not be so black and white. In paintings and works on paper, Knight contends with notions of success and failure, both in what she depicts and in her process. Through March 17.Steven Zevitas Gallery, 450 Harrison Ave. 617-778-5265, www.stevenzevitasgallery.com
CATE McQUAID
Museums
T.C. CANNON: AT THE EDGE OF AMERICA: The Native American painter, poet, and, musician died in 1978, at 31. He left behind a colorful, politically charged body of work that addresses issues of identity and power. Through June 10. Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem. 978-745-9500, www.pem.org
JENNIFER PACKER: TENDERHEADED In portraits and paintings of funerary bouquets, Packer considers how to depict the vulnerability of the black body today. The bouquets honor the fallen and forgotten. The enigmatic portraits toggle between emergence and retreat. Through July 8. Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham. 781-736-3434, www.brandeis.edu/rose
SECOND SIGHT: THE PARADOX OF VISION IN CONTEMPORARY ART Sonic, tactile, and text-based pieces by artists such as Ann Hamilton and Sophie Calle examine how society privileges vision, and question our tendency to render judgment based on appearance. Through June 3. Bowdoin College Museum of Art, 245 Maine St., Brunswick, Maine. 207-725-3275, www.bowdoin.edu/art-museum
CATE McQUAID
EVENTS
Comedy
SOMEWHEREVILLE An improv show where the audience decides how the apocalypse happened, and the improvisers show them how residents of a seaside town named Somewhereville pick up the pieces. Fridays in March, 10 p.m. $18. ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Cambridge. 617-576-1253, www.improvboston.com
DEMETRI MARTIN With high-concept comedy and a low-key delivery, Martin augments his stand-up with music and drawings. He released his third book, “If It’s Not Funny It’s Art,” last fall. Early show sold out. March 9, 10 p.m. $39.50. The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St., Boston. 617-248-9700, www.thewilbur.com
MICHAEL YO He covers celebrity news for “The Insider” on CBS, cohosts a daily show on SiriusXM, pops up on “The Wendy Williams Show,” and still has time to tour as an observational stand-up comedian. March 8-9 at 8 p.m., March 10 at 8 and 10:15 p.m. $20-$25. Laugh Boston, 425 Summer St., Boston. 617-725-2844, www.laughboston.com
NICK A. ZAINO III
Family
ALL-NEW DISCOVERY MUSEUM OPENING WEEKEND The Acton institution has been keeping kids curious for 35 years, but this weekend the museum will be brand new again thanks to its newly renovated building. The space will house twice as many exhibits. Come celebrate the many new discoveries — kids get in free for the weekend. March 4, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free for children age 12 or under. 177 Main St., Acton. www.discoverymuseums.org
LOWELL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: WINTER FAMILY CONCERT From “Frozen” to Mozart, the Lowell Philharmonic will be playing songs both old and new for this family-friendly concert. For any young aspiring musicians in attendance, there will also be a chance to meet the LPO members after the show. For fairytale characters, admission is free if they attend in costume. March 4, 2-3 p.m. $5-$10. Lowell Catholic High School Gym, 530 Stevens St., Lowell. www.lowellphilharmonic.org/
A TRIBUTE TO ROSIE REVERE With the fictional story about a young, ambitious engineer, author Andrea Beaty reminded us that it’s never too early to think big and invent something stupendous. Inspired by Rosie and her many gizmos and gadgets, the Children’s Museum will give kids the chance to build inventions of their own through simple, hands-on projects. March 8, 10-11 a.m. $9 admission. The Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave. childrensmuseumineaston.org
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
March 22 Darlingside at the Sinclair www.axs.com
March 25 Dan Auerbach at House of Blues concerts.livenation.com
March 29 The Dean Ween Group at Brighton Music Hall www.ticketmaster.com
April 2 Bon Jovi at TD Garden www.ticketmaster.com
April 3 Lorde at TD Garden www.ticketmaster.com
April 4 Caroline Rose at Great Scott www.axs.com
April 5 James Bay at Royale www.axs.com
ROBERT STEINER