Two hot acts from Canada kick off the week in Connecticut arts. Drake-mentored hip-hopper PartyNextDoor was initially booked into the Oakdale Theatre dome, then sold so many tickets he got moved to the much bigger main room.
Tate McRae, known in Canada since appearing on “So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation” when she was 13, is 21 now and has been a major pop star for over four years. Her Mohegan Sun Arena show is likely to sell out.
Finally, another Canadian pop act, Walk Off The Earth, is opening for Lindsey Stirling at Mohegan Sun Arena just four days later.
It is also a week of stars on Connecticut stages with Dogstar and Keanu Reeves, Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra and Paul Winter‘s “Adventures in the Universe.”
PartyNextDoor
Oakdale Theatre, 95 S. Turnpike Road, Wallingford
The Canadian hip-hop/alternative R&B artist PartyNextDoor brings his “Sorry I’m Outside” tour to the Oakdale Theatre on Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. PND, who made a hit with Drake (“Come and See Me”) and wrote some for Rihanna and DJ Khaled, is doing so well that this show, originally announced for the Oakdale’s dome area, got upgraded to the much larger main auditorium. concerts.livenation.com.
Tate McRae
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
Tate McRae, the young Canadian pop star whose hits include “You Broke Me First,” “Greedy” and “Exes,” has a special way with a break-up song. Her Mohegan Sun Arena show on Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. includes singer/songwriter Presley Regier. $128-$1,200. mohegansun.com.
Iron & Wine
College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., New Haven
The South Carolina indie singer/songwriter known as Iron & Wine is on his “Light Verse 2024” tour with opening act Sunny War on Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. at College Street Music Hall. “Light Verse” is the name of the new Iron & Wine album. $53.96-$74.56. collegestreetmusichall.com.
Taking Back Sunday
Oakdale Theatre, 95 S. Turnpike Road, Wallingford
Taking Back Sunday began on the hardcore indie Victory Records label in the early 2000s, then blew up into one of the best-known mainstream post-hardcore emo rock acts. They’re still rocking with a new album “152” and a show at the Oakdale Theatre on Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. $53-$64. concerts.livenation.com.
Save Ferris
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden
The Californian ska-pop one-hit wonders who scored with a breezy cover of “Come On Eileen” in 1997 are a blast on a summer evening, especially on a three-band Space Ballroom bill with King of the Wild Things and Ghost Tones. Aug. 14 at 8 p.m. $43.14, $37.99 in advance. spaceballroom.com.
Fred Armisen: ‘Comedy For Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome’
Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield
Before “Portlandia,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and “SNL,” Fred Armisen was known for his in-joke comedy routines satirizing the indie/punk music scene he knows so well. His tour and special “Standup for Drummers” was just the beginning it seems, since he’s back now with “Comedy for Musicians,” Aug. 14 at 8 p.m. at the Ridgefield Playhouse. $45. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
Lindsey Stirling
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
The dazzling violinist who’s as comfortable with pop as with classical music, Lindsey Stirling has a new album (“Duality”) that reflects that eclecticism. On Aug. 15, she is at Mohegan Sun Arena with Walk Off The Earth, which also brings intriguing instruments (in this case a ukulele or theremin) into its music. Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. $61-$460. mohegansun.com.
The Dip
Toad’s Place, 300 York St., New Haven
The Dip is a R&B/soul combo complete with a horn section from Seattle. Toad’s Place is made for shows like this. Brandi and the Alexanders opens on Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. $38. toadsplace.com.
Dogstar
Foxwoods Premier Theater, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
With this mainstream rock act, it’s all about the bassist, Keanu Reeves, who just announced that he’ll be appearing in the Samuel Beckett play “Waiting for Godot” on Broadway next year. Something for everybody, that guy. He makes movies, too. Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. foxwoods.com.
Dark Star Orchestra
Westville Music Bowl, 45 Yale Ave., New Haven
The big rock shows originally announced for the Power Ridge Ski Area this summer have been moved to the Westville Music Bowl in New Haven. That includes the revered Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra on Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. $78.71-$105.26. westvillemusicbowl.com.
Shane Gillis
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
Shane Gillis was fired from “Saturday Night Live” before he ever got to appear on the show due to some offensive routines from his podcasts getting dredged up. He got to host the show anyway last season. His star continues to rise, with two shows at Mohegan Sun Arena on Aug. 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. $102.65. mohegansun.com.
Washed Out
District Music Hall, 71 Wall St., Norwalk
The chillwave movement pioneer Washed Out released his new album “Notes from a Quiet Life” in June and is at District Music Hall (the former Wall Street Theatre) with Babehoven on Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. $49.32-$64. districtmusichall.com.
‘Always Plenty of Light at the Starlight All Night Diner’
Hole in the Wall Theater, 116 Main St., New Britain
Hole in the Wall Theater is staging a “super queer time travel adventure” that’s also a love story, written by Connecticut playwright Darcy Parker Bruce, and directed by Matthew Horowitz. Aug. 16-25. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. plus a matinee on Aug. 25 at 3 p.m. $20-$25; “Pay what you can” on Aug. 23. hitw.org.
Lil Mabu
The Webster, 31 Webster St., Hartford
The comical New York rapper/songwriter Lil Mabu, of “Mathematical Disrespect” fame, is on his “Sophom*ore Tour” and he is actually a college student at Emory University. He has fun at The Webster on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. $29.15; $34.15 early entrance; $109.15 VIP meet & greet. thewebsterct.com.
Zarna Garg
Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield
Indian-American stand-up comic and podcaster Zarna Garg has recently been doing some movie and TV acting and toured with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. Hear her latest observations on Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. $45. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
Sponge
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden
The storied Detroit band Sponge is marking the 30th anniversary of its debut album “Rotting Piñata.” The band has been through a lot of changes in those 30 years and has one sustaining member, frontman Vinnie Dombrowski. The Sponge show on Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. at the Space Ballroom also features the Connecticut bands Farmertan and Mark C. Daniel. $32.34, $26.69 in advance. spaceballroom.com.
Paul Winter Consort
Woolsey Hall, Yale University, 500 College St., New Haven
New age music legend Paul Winter is a fan of historic Connecticut composer Charles Ives. Winter’s “Adventures in the Universe” honors Ives’ inspirational yet incomplete “Universe Symphony” project. It’s being performed in Yale’s awesome Woolsey Hall on Aug. 17 at 9 p.m. $50. paulwinter.com.
The Lalas
Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
Contemporary burlesque act The Lalas from Los Angeles blends fashion, dance, comedy and attitude and sets it all to a modern beat. They’re part of an American burlesque tradition that never really died, just moved from vaudeville theaters in the 1920s to clubs and dance venues. Aug. 17 at 9 p.m. in Foxwoods’ Great Cedar Showroom. $61.65-$80.35. foxwoods.com.
Mohegan Wigwam Festival
Fort Shantok, 75 Gallivan Lane, Montville
This free annual Native American festival offers entertainment, dance competitions, traditional crafts, food and more. The fest is held at Fort Shantok, which was the principal settlement for the Mohegan community in the 17th century. There will be shuttles to the area from Saint Bernard High School in Uncasville and, for Mohegan Sun Resort Casino guests, from the complex’s Sky Hotel lobby. Aug. 17 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. mohegansun.com.
