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The week ahead: Music

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Weekend on a Wednesday

VAMPIRE WEEKEND One of the spring’s most anticipated indie-pop releases, Vampire Weekend’s “Modern Vampires
of the City” will be out next week, right in time for the band’s opening date of its new tour. An early listen to the
album, Vampire Weekend’s third, suggests the group is pursuing a looser sound, not quite as tightly wound as previous efforts. Jangly sister act Haim opens. May 15, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $34-$41.50. Agganis Arena. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com James Reed

Pop & Rock

DANNY BROWN After breaking through in 2011 with his second album, “XXX,” this rising rapper from Detroit is reportedly done with his next one, which may or may not be called “ODB.” (These things tend to change.) He comes to town with Kitty, the love-her-or-hate-her young rapper formerly known as Kitty Pryde. May 9, 9 p.m. Tickets: $22. Middle East Downstairs. 617-864-3278, www.ticketweb.com

YEAH YEAH YEAHS After a detour into synth-pop on 2009’s “It’s Blitz!” this formidable New York trio is back to its jagged rock roots on the new “Mosquito.” With Karen O. at the helm, Yeah Yeah Yeahs careen through dub-inflected jams and the stray gospel-tinged rocker. May 12, 8 p.m. Tickets: $32-$45. House of Blues. 800-745-3000, www.livenation
.com

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PAUL ANKA At 71, Anka is in his fifth decade as a pop singer whose long list of hits includes “Diana” and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” in addition to writing them for others (Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” Tom Jones’s “She’s a Lady”). Anka’s latest release, “Duets,” pairs him with the likes of Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson, and Patti LaBelle. May 15, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $49.50-$79.50. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, Worcester. 508-831-0800, www.the
hanovertheatre.com

James Reed

Folk, World & Country

CLINT BLACK With his ever-present black hat, his affable smile, and his smooth version of country traditionalism, for a while in the 1990s Clint Black was everywhere on country radio with hits like “A Better Man,” “Nothin’ But the Taillights” and, later, “When I Said I Do,” a quite remarkable duet with his glamour-puss wife, Lisa Hartman. May 9,
8 p.m. Tickets: $33-$55. Lynn Auditorium, Lynn. 800-745-3000, www.ticket
master.com

HAYES CARLL The Texas singer-songwriter with the peculiarly distinct lyrical perspective was supposed to play this show in February, but it was wiped out by one of the winter's Snowmaggedons. Rescheduling the date allowed for the addition of fiddler Warren Hood and the rootsy fusions of his band the Goods, who will open for and then perform with Carll. May 11, 10:30 p.m. (7 p.m. show sold out). Tickets: $17. Johnny D’s, Somerville. 888-777-8932, www.ticket
web.com

JUANITO PASCUAL Noted for combining not only traditional and contemporary flamenco, but jazz, rock, world, and even classical strains in his music, Juanito Pascual is now extending that blend through his current project, the New Flamenco Trio, which will share the stage with him Sunday. May 11, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Tickets: $25. Regattabar. 617-395-7757. www.regattabarjazz.com

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LINDSAY LOU & THE FLATBELLYS Lindsay Lou Rilko and her band of young Michigander ’grassers bring their expansive take on the genre (yes, they call it “LouGrass”) to Cambridge as the feature act for the Cantab’s Tuesday night bluegrass series. If you go, maybe you can find out what the heck a “Flatbelly” is. May 14, 10 p.m. Tickets: no cover; donations suggested. The Cantab Lounge, Cambridge. 617-354-2685,
www.cantab-lounge.com

Stuart Munro

Jazz, Blues & Cabaret

LASZLO GARDONY AND FRIENDS The scintillating and lyrical pianist celebrates the release of his delightful new solo piano album, “Clarity.” He’ll not only play solo, but also with his brilliant quartet-mates: multi-reedist/vocalist Stan Strickland, bassist John Lockwood, and drummer Yoron Israel. In addition, he’ll welcome special guest saxophonists Bill Pierce and Don Braden. May 10, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20. Regattabar. 617-395-7757, www.regattabarjazz.com

JOE BONAMASSA The bountifully gifted blues-rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter just keeps getting better. This one-nighter celebrates the release of “Driving Towards the Daylight,” his eighth album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard blues chart. May 10, 8 p.m. Tickets: $62.75-$102.75. Citi Performing Arts Center, Wang Theatre. 617-482-9393, www.citicenter.org

THE MAKANDA PROJECT Pianist John Kordalewski’s invaluable band — featuring a baker’s dozen of our best improvisers — continues its mission of keeping the music of Boston’s own Makanda Ken McIntyre alive, as well as bringing great jazz artists to town to collaborate in the endeavor. For this “Multiple Percussion Edition,” the Project’s Yoron Israel will be joined by fellow drum masters Warren Smith and Billy Hart. May 11,
7 p.m. Free. Dudley Branch Library, 65 Warren St., Roxbury. 617-442-6186, www.mkmjazz.com

GREG ABATE QUINTET WITH PHIL WOODS The fine multi-reed player, who has developed his own distinctive post-bop voice, will be joined by the legendary alto saxophonist who was one of the architects of the genre. May 11, 8 and 10 p.m. Tickets: $30. Scullers. 617-562-4111, www.scullersjazz.com
Kevin Lowenthal

Classical

THE GREAT GATSBY Written for the Metropolitan Opera, where it premiered in 1999, John Harbison’s “The Great Gatsby” finally makes its way to Boston for a keenly anticipated concert performance. Ryan Turner will conduct the Orchestra and Chorus of Emmanuel Music in this local premiere, with a cast full of prominent Boston singers. May 12,
3 p.m., Jordan Hall. A pre-concert talk with Harbison and Robert Kirzinger takes place at 2 p.m. 617-536-3356, www.emmanuelmusic.org

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CANTATA SINGERS Under the title “Rhetoric’s Revolution,” conductor David Hoose has assembled an intriguing evening of familiar and obscure 18th-century works, including Mozart’s “Ave Verum Corpus” and Haydn’s Symphony No. 47 as well as the Boston premiere of Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka’s Mass in E Minor. May 10, 8 p.m., Jordan Hall. 617–868-5885, www.cantatasingers.org

BOSTON WAGNER SOCIETY For the last decade, these Wagnerites have been guarding the composer’s locally flickering flame, and now for the Wagner bicentenary year, the Society offers a program of highlights from the “Ring” Cycle, featuring bass-baritone Greer Grimsley, soprano Joanna Porackova, tenor Alan Schneider, and contralto Marion Dry. With Kevin Owen (horn) and Jeffrey Brody (piano). May 11,
2 p.m., Old South Church, Boston. 617-323-6088, www.bostonwagnersociety
.org

BOSTON CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY BCMS ends its season with performances of two chamber music blockbusters: Schubert’s Cello Quintet and Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet. May 12, 7:30 p.m., Sanders Theatre. 617-349-0086, www.boston
chambermusic.org
Jeremy Eichler