Alison Brown. Photo by Stacie Huckeba

Alison Brown
7:30 p.m. Friday. Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, 96 Townsend Ave., $35. boothbayoperahouse.com
Here’s a chance to see a Grammy-winning banjo player and Banjo Hall of Fame member live. Roots musician Alison Brown will be accompanied by pianist Chris Walters, John Ragusa on flute, Garry West on bass and drummer Jordan Perlson. Brown’s sound fuses bluegrass and jazz influences into something uniquely hers. Her “Song of the Banjo” album is a blend of originals and covers, and guests include Jake Shimabukuro and Keb’ Mo’ among others. Incredibly, Brown’s first career was as an investment banker, but we’re thankful she left that behind for one in music.

Jocelyn Mackenzie. Photo courtesy of Burst & Bloom

Jocelyn Mackenzie with Jake Mehrmann
7:30 p.m. Saturday. Behind the Grant Building, 31 Centre St., Bath, $10. burstandbloomrecords.com
The Grant Lot outdoor summer concert series kicks off with a pair of fantastic artists. Jocelyn Mackenzie is a multi-instrumentalist, known for her stint as the singing drummer in the indie-pop act Pearl and the Beard. She released her debut album “Push” last year, and she’ll be back in Maine on July 30 to play with Ani DiFranco at the State Theatre. Also on the bill is Tan Vampire’s Jake Mehrmann. The band made a splash a decade ago with the album “For Physical Fitness,” and as a solo performer and with his band, Mehrmann has toured and played with Yo La Tengo, Deer Tick and The Mountain Goats.

The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams. Photo by Ken Millet

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams
8 p.m. Saturday. Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, 53 Old Post Road, Arundel, $30, $35. vinhillmusic.com
“A Very Unusual Head” is the latest album from a band led by Jozian Longo that’s known for roots rock with a psychedelic flair. If you see The Slambovian Circus of Dreams live, you’ll hear accordion, cello, flute and mandolin among an array of other instruments that will dazzle and delight you. The album was recorded over the course of four years using five studios in two countries. Standout tracks from the New York-based band include  “Look Around” and “Brilliantly, Brilliantly Dumb.”

X Ambassadors. Photo by Danny Scott Lane

X Ambassadors
8 p.m. Sunday. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, $30 in advance, $35 day of show. statetheatreportland.com
Rock act X Ambassadors is on the road in support of last year’s album, their third, called “The Beautiful Liar.” Their first one, “VHS,” from 2015, is home to the the tunes “Renegades” and “Unsteady,” which will likely lend themselves to raucous sing-alongs during their State Theatre performance. Hoko opens the show with songs from its debut release “Heathen.”


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