This Month in Music: June 2016

FRIDAY, JUNE 3
Hamilton Leithauser & Paul Maroon
Natives of DC and graduates of the prestigious St. Albans school, Hamilton Leithauser and Paul Maroon made a name for themselves in the 2000s with the band The Walkmen. Leithauser has been pursuing a solo career and released the well-regarded album, Black Hours, in 2014. Recently, Leithauser and Maroon have been collaborating again, and they’ll be here in town on June 3. 7 p.m. show. $18. DC9: 1940 9th St. NW, DC; www.dcnine.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 4
SOJA and Wale
This early-season show at Wolf Trap delivers a sonic one-two punch from hometown heroes SOJA – an Arlington, Va.-based reggae band, and Wale, a renowned rapper from the District. SOJA’s songs are socially conscious but fun, with razor-sharp rhythms and hooks that lodge in your head for days. Wale is the DMV’s biggest hip-hop export, whose smooth flow is often rooted in funky go-go beats of his hometown. 7 p.m. show. $35-$55. Filene Center at Wolf Trap: 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA;www.wolftrap.org

TUESDAY, JUNE 7
Damien Jurado & The Heavy Light
Seattle-based singer-songwriter Damien Jurado has been putting out records for years, never doing the same thing twice. His last three albums, however, culminating in this year’s Visions of Us on the Land, have been a trilogy of sorts. Jurado has often played solo and acoustic, but he’ll be appearing this time in DC with band The Heavy Light backing him. With Ben Abraham opening. 8 p.m. show. $17. Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC; www.rockandrollhoteldc.com

Federico Aubele
A native of Argentina, Aubele crafts exquisite, dreamy songs that borrow heavily from dub and trip-hop. A neo-traditionalist of sorts, Aubele pushes flamenco and various styles of Latin music to the fore while bending the dub and ambient genres in intriguing new directions. Fans of DC’s Thievery Corporation (which produced Aubele’s excellent debut album, Gran Hotel Buenos Aires) would likely find a lot to like in his similarly sexy sound. 8 p.m. show. $18. Jammin’ Java: 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna, VA;www.jamminjava.com  

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8
Dolly Parton
When Merle Haggard passed away in April, it reminded classic country music fans how much the genre has changed and how few of the legends are still among us. Dolly Parton is a classic country legend if there ever was one. A songwriter of the first order with a crystal-clear, angelic voice, Parton is the voice of such timeless songs as “Jolene,” “Here You Come Again” and “I Will Always Love You.” Dolly still looks – and sounds – fantastic at 70, but she won’t be around forever. What better place to see her perform than under the stars at Wolf Trap this month? 8 p.m. show. $45-$150. Filene Center at Wolf Trap: 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA; www.wolftrap.org

THURSDAY, JUNE 9
Honor by August
These mainstays of the DC music scene just keep growing and getting better year after year. They keep releasing quality albums featuring the soaring, rough-hewn vocals of Michael Pearsall. This stop at IOTA will feature them playing an acoustic set, opening for up-and-coming LA-based band The Ruse. 8:30 p.m. show. $10. IOTA Club & Cafe:2832 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.iotaclubandcafe.com

James McCartney
If the last name makes you wonder, it should. Yes, he’s Paul and Linda’s son. James McCartney doesn’t try to hide the fact that his dad is a Beatle, even enlisting fellow Beatle kid Dhani Harrison to make a guest appearance on McCartney’s new album, The Blackberry Train. But that doesn’t mean James McCartney doesn’t merit a listen on his own terms; he does and you should. With Aaron Tinjum and the Tangents. 7:30 p.m. show. $20. Jammin’ Java: 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna, VA; www.jamminjava.com

Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers
Jimmy Thackery once played guitar in Chicago blues legend Muddy Waters’ band. That fact alone would be enough to establish his blues credentials, but Thackery went on to cofound the Nighthawks, who spent 15 years burning up blues clubs across America. Thackery set out on a solo career in 1987, and the hard-rocking electric bluesman has been going ever since. Thackery is a regular on the blues festival circuit and has a reputation for coaxing pure blues fire from his weathered Stratocaster. 8 p.m. show. $18 in advance; $20 at the door. Gypsy Sally’s: 3401 K St. NW, DC;www.gypsysallys.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15
Barenaked Ladies
This Canadian quartet first shot to fame in the 1990s with the irresistible harmonies and humorous lyrics that drove “If I Had a Million Dollars,” “Hello City” and “One Week” to the top of the charts. Today, they’re still going strong – recording albums, touring and even scoring the theme song to the massively popular television show The Big Band Theory. Barenaked Ladies dropped a live record, BNL Rocks Red Rocks,” in late May. In June, you can check out their live show for yourself. With Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) and Howard Jones. 7 p.m. show. $37-$57. Filene Center at Wolf Trap: 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA; www.wolftrap.org  

Boy & Bear
Australian indie folk that will move you as well as worming its way into your ear, Boy & Bear are one not to miss. Check out their single “Southern Sun” from their 2013 albumHarlequin Dream for an example of their sweeping yet intimate tunes. They’re now touring behind their latest release, last fall’s Limit of Love, produced by Ethan Johns, who’s worked with acts like Ryan Adams and Kings of Leon. 7:30 p.m. show. $20. The Birchmere: 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA; www.birchmere.com

Cymande with Chelsey Green and The Green Project
British funk band Cymande will take the stage at the Hamilton Live as part of the DC Jazz Festival, playing songs spanning their prolific music career. Known for their unique blend of funk, soul, reggae, R&B, jazz and rock, the group’s feel-good sound and communal spirit have kept them relevant and enjoyed by a wide range of audiences for the past four decades. Texas-based vocalist/violinist Chelsey Green and The Green Project will open for Cymande with contemporary jazz originals and popular songs that exemplify “violin re-identified.” 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $25-$45. The Hamilton Live: 600 14th St. NW, DC; http://live.thehamiltondc.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 16
Atlas Road Crew
South Carolina’s Atlas Road Crew wears its classic and Southern rock influences on its collective sleeve. But if you’re going to borrow style, you might as well borrow from the best. That’s just what this young crew of hotshots does, distilling The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Black Crowes and other Southern influences and then adding a dash of classic British rock sound for good measure. While other bands are chasing fads, or veering into synthesized, electro-rock or even electronic dance music, the guys in Atlas Road Crew keep it classic, and it works. 7 p.m. doors. $15. 9:30 Club:815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com

Tame Impala
Tame Impala occupies a singular place in the realms of both psychedelic rock and EDM, carving out a spot between the two that keeps fans from both genres enthralled. The band’s latest record, Currents, calls to mind everything from contemporary hip-hop and 80s-era Michael Jackson to deep-fried 70s funk and swaths of future pop filtered through a thoroughly modern psychedelic third eye. Kevin Parker, the band’s shaggily charismatic lead singer and chief songwriter, brings a showman’s instincts to Tame Impala’s live shows. 7 p.m. show. $40-$55. Merriweather Post Pavilion: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Columbia, MD; www.merriweathermusic.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 17
Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker’s name is practically synonymous with funk. The longtime saxophone master started his career with none other than James Brown, an experience that Parker has described as “like being at university.” After training at the side of the soul-funk master, Parker joined George Clinton and Bootsy Collins as a sideman in Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1980s. Then, a guy named Prince came calling, so Maceo Parker hit the road with the Purple One for much of the 1990s and beyond. Maceo Parker is the living, breathing pulse which connects the history of funk in one golden thread. This is your chance to catch the living legend live. Two shows at 7:30 and 10 p.m. $19-$42. The Hamilton Live: 600 14th St. NW, DC; http://live.thehamiltondc.com

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band
What can you say about Ringo Starr? If you don’t know (and we hope you do), he was the drummer for The Beatles. He sometimes gets a bad rap, but if you ask any musician who knows (including the other three Beatles), he’s one of the best drummers of all time. He now tours with his “All Starr Band” every year, which is a raucous combo of musicians from various 60s and 70s bands. 8 p.m. show. Tickets start at $75. Warner Theatre: 513 13th St. NW, DC; www.warnertheatredc.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 18
Diplo
The American DJ, record producer, rapper and songwriter got his big break when British rapper-musician M.I.A. heard him playing some of her own tracks as he manned the decks in a London club. The two became friends, collaborators and eventually romantic partners. Their relationship has faded but Diplo remains one of the hottest DJ’s in the world, and is the co-creator and lead member of the electronic dancehall music project, Major Lazer, and along with producer and Skrillex, part of the electronic duo Jack Ü. 9 p.m. doors. Tickets available at the door only; check website for details. Echostage: 2135 Queens Chapel Rd. NE, DC; www.echostage.com  

Jason Isbell
Jason Isbell performed with the Drive-By Truckers for six years, and then set out on his own in 2007. Since then, he’s been releasing critically-acclaimed solo records and been called the savior of real country music. That streak continued with 2015’s Something More Than Free, which took home the Grammy for “Best Americana Album” earlier this year. With Chris Stapleton and Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls. 6 p.m. show. $45-$149. Merriweather Post Pavilion: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. Columbia, MD;www.merriweathermusic.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 19
The Okee Dokee Brothers
This Americana duo from Minneapolis by way of Denver calls themselves family music, but they are entertaining for kids and parents alike. They put a big emphasis on camping, hiking and nature in general, and often go on trips that inspire their music. Their latest album, Saddle Up, was just released in May. 5:30 p.m. show. $12. AMP by Strathmore: 11810 Grand Park Ave. North Bethesda, MD;www.ampbystrathmore.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 21
Mark Lanegan
Maybe best known as the lead singer of 90s band The Screaming Trees, and their hit song “Nearly Lost You,” Mark Lanegan has been keeping a steady solo career going at the same time. His distinctive baritone voice and moody songs have gained a sizable following. 7 p.m. show. $30. Rock & Roll Hotel: 1353 H St. NE, DC;www.rockandrollhoteldc.com

Ziggy Marley
Now 47 years old – over a decade older than his dad, Bob Marley, was when he died – Ziggy Marley has just released his sixth solo album, this one self-titled. The first single, “We Are the People,” follows in his dad’s footsteps, spreading a message of peace, love and unity through reggae music. 8 p.m. show. $34.50. The Fillmore: 8656 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; www.fillmoresilverspring.com

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22
Yael Naïm
This Israeli-French singer-songwriter made her mark in 2008 after her single “New Soul” was used by Apple in an ad campaign for the MacBook Air laptop. Since then, she’s released three more albums, including 2015’s Older, and continued to make music with her partner in creative work as well as life, percussionist David Donatien. 7:30 p.m. show. $30-$45. The Hamilton Live: 600 14 ^th St. NW, DC;http://live.thehamiltondc.com  

THURSDAY, JUNE 23
Robert Ellis
Texan Robert Ellis is on tour this summer to promote his self-titled, self-produced fourth studio album, out this month. The singer-songwriter/guitarist combines country, pop and jazz with poignant lyrics on his latest album, from the single “Drivin’” about nursing a broken heart to “Perfect Strangers,” a “meditation on what brings people together.” Folk musician Tom Brosseau will open. 7:30 p.m. show. $12.25-$17.25. The Hamilton Live: 600 14th St. NW, DC; http://live.thehamiltondc.com

Sting & Peter Gabriel
If there was a contest to determine which classic rock ‘n’ roller has preserved himself best, the man formerly known as Gordon Sumner – a.k.a. Sting – might take the crown. The 64-year-old icon’s devotion to veganism, yoga and tantric sex has kept him looking years younger than his peers, and presumably gives him a spry stage presence as well. Sting has veered into esoteric folk and other sounds in recent years, but this show with fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Peter Gabriel of Genesis and “Sledgehammer” fame promises to deliver a healthy dose of 80s and 90s hits. 8 p.m. show. Checkwww.ticketmaster.com for ticket prices. Verizon Center: 601 F St. NW, DC;http://verizoncenter.monumentalsportsnetwork.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 24
Dr. John & the Nite Trippers
A six-time Grammy Award-winning musician and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Dr. John is the embodiment of New Orleans music, a bluesy shaman who has played with a who’s who of musical greats including Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones. Dr. John’s own unique blend of voodoo mysticism, funk, rhythm & blues and psychedelic rock makes for a potent musical stew, especially when punctuated by his instantly recognizable Cajun growl. His 2013 album, Night Tripper, saw Dr. John nominated for a Grammy once again, proof that some things just get better with age. 8 p.m. show. $50-$70. The Howard Theatre: 620 T St. NW, DC;www.thehowardtheatre.com  

Jah Works
Jah Works is a band of brothers based out of Baltimore, Md. dedicated to writing, recording and performing original reggae music. A heavy dose of drum and bass combined with sweet melodies, vocal harmony and catchy hooks are the group’s trademarks. Catch them at Yards Park’s Friday Night Concert Series on Friday, June 24. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Yards Park: Water Street in SE, DC; www.yardspark.org

The Pimps of Joytime
Exuberant and funky are just two words that accurately describe the multi-dimensional sound of The Pimps of Joytime, a band comprised of a hybrid of musical hotbeds: New Orleans and Brooklyn. With The Pimps, you’re never sure what you might get – even in the construct of a single song. Deep bluesy grooves might morph into a full-on EDM dance beat. Consider The Pimps of Joytime a “post-genre” band; they’re a group whose sound mirrors the wide diversity of our era’s musical tastes without sounding derivative. 9 p.m. show. $15 in advance; $20 at the door. Gypsy Sally’s: 3401 K St. NW, DC; www.gypsysallys.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 25
Bonnie “Prince” Billy & Bitchin’ Bajas
Will Oldham is an actor and musician, and when he releases music, it’s generally under the Bonnie “Prince” Billy name. (From 93-97, it was Palace). He’s appeared with Zach Galifianakis in a Kanye West video, but now he’s collaborating with the band Bitchin’ Bajas, and they have a new album out, Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties. With Highlife. 8 p.m. show. $30 in advance; $35 at the door. Sixth & I: 600 I St. NW, DC;www.sixthandi.org  

Randy Bachman
The man known as the “architect of Canadian rock ‘n’ roll” weaves together his iconic hits from the Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive with the often humorous stories that brought the songs to life. Inspired by his award-winning radio show Vinyl Tap, Bachman gives a guided tour to his storied career. 8 p.m. show. $49.50-$90. The Howard Theatre: 620 T St. NW, DC; www.thehowardtheatre.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 26
Guns N’ Roses Reunion Tour
The legendary rock ‘n’ roll band Guns N’ Roses is back on tour this summer and stopping at FedEx Field on Sunday, June 26 for a historic appearance. This is the first time since the “Use Your Illusion” tour in 1993 that the classic lineup of Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan are playing together. Years of bad blood and controversy led to different lineups and various replacement members, but this is what many fans call the real deal. Rounding out the sound are Dizzy Reed on keys, Richard Fortus on guitar, Frank Ferrer on drums and Melissa Reese on keys. The tour is called “Not in This Lifetime,” echoing the sentiment that many fans had that the band would not ever get back together. But now that dream has come true and FedEx Field will host the tour in June. The “Not in This Lifetime” tour started off at Coachella in April and has been steamrolling across the country since. Catch it while you can. 8 p.m. show. Tickets start at $45.50. FedExField: 1600 Fedex Way, Greater Landover, MD;www.redskins.com/fedexfield

MONDAY, JUNE 27 – TUESDAY, JUNE 28
Paul Simon
Paul Simon, creator of some of America’s most iconic songs, makes his Wolf Trap debut this summer. Expect to hear classics like “You Can Call Me Al,” “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” as well as more unfamiliar songs from Simon’s brand new album, Stranger to Stranger. Both shows at 8 p.m. $48-$130. Wolf Trap Filene Center: 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA; www.wolftrap.org

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29
Mayer Hawthorne
As blue-eyed soul goes, Mayer Hawthorne is a leader of the current crop of contenders. In addition to his requisite sweet, soulful voice, Hawthorne can play every instrument on the stage. Raised in Ann Arbor, Mich. to hippie parents, Hawthorne is well-rooted in the R&B and soul of nearby Motown, but he takes a decidedly 21 ^st-century approach to his craft. On his latest, Man About Town, Hawthorne chronicles the trials and tribulations of the bachelor’s life in the big city. Sometimes Hawthorne puts a confident groove on, other times he’s vulnerable and sincere. Both have their undeniable charms. $27.85 includes a download of Man About Town. 7 p.m. doors. 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW, DC; www.930.com

Mark Your Calendars

FRIDAY, JULY 1
B Street Band
Don’t miss New Jersey’s original Springsteen tribute band – around since 1980 and one of the longest-running tribute bands in the world – at Yards Park for a “Born in the U.S.A.” kickoff to the July 4 ^th weekend. B Street Band will be performing as part of the Park’s Friday Night Concert Series from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Show is free. Yards Park: Water Street in SE, DC; www.yardspark.org