Out and about: A Flecktone refuels with two Salt Lake City sets, plus the reggae of John Brown's Body, and the Chieftains won't let up on Utah
Victor Wooten Band
Spotlight show • The 48-year-old bandleader is one of the best bass players of his (or any) generation, and audiences will be treated to two sets from the Victor Wooten Band. A founding member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Wooten said in a phone interview that Fleck is taking time off to enjoy his recent marriage to fellow banjo player Abigail Washburn. Throughout the Flecktones' existence, Fleck has encouraged band members to pursue different opportunities. "Béla understands the needs of everyone to go off on their own," Wooten said. "We rejuvenate and bring back some fuel." Wooten's most recent projects include two albums he released on his own label in late September: the instrumental "Sword & Stone" and "Words and Tones." An experienced teacher, he also is featured on the soundtrack to former Flecktone Jeff Coffin's recent instruction book The Articulate Jazz Musician, co-written by Utah educator and bandleader Caleb Chapman. Wooten said he's about halfway through writing the sequel to his own book The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music. The only time he gets to write, he said, is when he is on the road. When he's at home, he's busy helping his wife home-school their four children.
When • Monday, Feb. 11, at 8 p.m.
Where • The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • $35 at thestateroom.com
John Brown's Body
Spotlight show • One of the nation's premier reggae ensembles labels its music "future roots music" — and who are we to argue? In a phone interview, the band's Tommy Benedetti said he picked up his drumsticks at age 11 and grew up on a steady diet of Iron Maiden and AC/DC before enrolling at the Berklee College of Music. There he heard an explosion of music in all genres, which influenced his style. That has served him well with John Brown's Body because the band incorporates so many elements. The band is still reeling from the 2006 death of bassist Scott Palmer from cancer, which led to a discussion of whether to continue. "It was a lot of confusion," Benedetti said. "It was a huge loss personally and musically. We didn't known what the future would hold. There was a lot of soul searching." But the East Coast-based band has continued, helped by an unusually rabid fanbase in the Intermountain West — on this tour, they'll play six shows in Colorado and Utah. "One of the first places we caught on was in Colorado," Benedetti said. "We certainly always came to Utah. That area has always been a hot-spot for us." Touring behind 2012's "JBB IN DUB," the band "has never sounded better," Benedetti said. "The band is going to come out and crush every night."
When • Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 9 p.m.
Where • Park City Live, 427 Main. St., Park City
Tickets • $12 at SmithsTix
The Chieftains
Spotlight show • In 2012, the Chieftains celebrated its 50th year as arguably the best-known Irish band in the world. The band returns to Utah as part of its ongoing celebration of Irish roots music. Founding member Paddy Moloney, 74, works hard to incorporate modern Irish music with musical traditions from around the world. This time around, the band is traveling with several musicians from Nashville, Moloney said in a phone interview. "There's no let-up," he said of his band, which has been on the road for most of the past half-century. "We never let our fans down." Moloney said the last time the Chieftains performed in Utah, the band's travel plans were delayed, and made it to the venue several hours after the show was scheduled to be over. "But the audience stayed, and we delivered," he said. The Chieftains' most recent album is 2012's "Voice of Ages," a collaboration between the band and musicians including Bon Iver, The Decemberists, The Civil Wars, Pistol Annies, Carolina Chocolate Drops and Punch Brothers. Notable for Moloney is a track called "The Chieftains in Orbit,"with NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, a flute player who has taken several flutes with her to the International Space Station, including a pennywhistle from Moloney, In 2011, she played one of the instruments live from orbit on National Public Radio. Now that's one special collaboration.
When • Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m.
Where • Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, University of Utah campus, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $54.50, $48.50, $38.50, $28.50 at kingsburyhall.utah.edu; U of U students $5 with valid ID (at the box office or Union desk).
Emilie Autumn
"Fight Like a Girl," Autumn's latest album, mixes traditional instruments (such as violin and harpsichord) with elements of electronic and industrial music. Her live performances are known to be equally eclectic.
When • Friday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m.
Where • The Complex, 536 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $18 advance, $25 day of; at SmithsTix.com
Broadway Calls
The punk-rock trio from Oregon released its latest album "Comfort/Distraction" on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Silver Snakes opens.
When • Friday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m.
Where • Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $10 advance, $12 day of; at SmithsTix.com
Pries
After posting a steady stream of mixtapes for free downloads online, rapper Pries released his debut album, "The Lonely Kid Show," last November.
When • Friday, Feb. 8, 8:30 p.m.
Where • The Shred Shed, 60 E. Exchange Place, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $10 advance, $15 day of; at SmithsTix.com
LA Riots
The remix artist and producer blends indie rock and electro dance music.
When • Friday, Feb. 8, 9 p.m.
Where •Park City Live, 427 Main St., Park City
Tickets • $15 at SmithsTix.com
New York City Queens
This indie rock five-piece, which released its debut album last year, features three vocalists. Murietta and Totem & Taboo will open.
When • Friday, Feb. 8, 8 p.m.
Where • Bar Deluxe, 666 S. State St., Salt Lake City
Tickets • $5 at 24Tix.com
Canned Heat
The lineup has changed numerous times in the past four decades, but the band still blends modern electric blues, rock and boogie.
When • Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8-9, 8 p.m.
Where • Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St., Park City
Tickets • $25-$45 at egyptiantheatrecompany.org
Ryan Innes
Utah-based pop/soul singer Ryan Innes performs.
When • Saturday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m.
Where • SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 S. State St., Orem
Tickets • $10 at scera.org
Graveyard
The Swedish psychedelic rock band will perform, with opening acts The Growlers and The Shrine.
When • Saturday, Feb. 9, 8 p.m.
Where • Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $13 advance, $15 day of; at 24Tix.com
Buke & Gase
Arone Dyer and Aron Sanchez are better known as Buke and Gase, a Brooklyn-based experimental indie band. Aleuchatistas opens.
When • Tuesday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.
Where •Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $10 at 24Tix.com
Joe McQueen
The free monthly jazz concert series at Union Station features Joe McQueen.
When • Wednesday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Where • Union Station, 2501 Wall Ave., Ogden
Admission • Free