THURSDAY JUNE 5

Rocky Votolato
Seattle singer-songwriter Rocky Votolato’s music is as intimate as a living-room jam session. Though it’s subtle, there is definitely a touch of country in this alternative-folk artist’s romantic, melancholy melodies; the Texas-born Votolato is influenced by country legends like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Rocky Votolato’s blunt lyrics will carve your heart out only to mend it back together, and his voice is seasoned with life’s struggles but still stays afloat with optimism. His latest album, Television of Saints—self-released in 2012—is full of sincerity and simple, heart-melting beauty. Lotte Kestner and Kevin Long will open. (Michaela Funtanilla)
Velour, 135 N. University Ave., Provo, 8 p.m. $15, VelourLive.com

FRIDAY JUNE 6

Rooftop Concert Series: We Are the Strike, Cory Mon, VanLadyLove
For the second Rooftop Concert Series show of the year, We Are the Strike, Cory Mon and VanLadyLove will take the stage for a night that will span funk, pop-rock and folk-rock. We Are the Strike are a funky nine-piece with a full horn section that evoke the sound of R&B artists like Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake, as heard on their March-released self-titled EP. On folk-rock musician Cory Mon’s new solo album, North, he tells the personal stories of several of his own relationships in songs he wrote while in Hawaii. Pop-rock quartet VanLadyLove have gotten national recognition recently with their inclusion in the top three artists for New Music Seminar’s 2014 Artist on the Verge competition. Previous alumni have included Macklemore and Danny Brown; VanLadyLove will find out June 10 if they get to take home thousands of dollars worth of prizes. (Kolbie Stonehocker)
Provo Town Square Parking Terrace, 100 North & 100 West, 7:30 p.m., free, RooftopConcertSeries.com

Berlin Breaks Album Release
Since Salt Lake City four-piece Berlin Breaks came together in early 2014, they’ve brought their passion for rock & roll to their live shows. Now, that passion can also be heard on their self-titled debut album, which the band is releasing at this show. The guitar-driven melodies of Berlin Breaks are gritty and enticing, with a powerful sound that reverberates into your chest and thrums in your spine, and Richard Dean’s voice is smoky and guttural but still has a wide range. On the new album, Berlin Breaks elevate their music beyond the realms of rock by pushing the boundaries of their song arrangements. “Superficially, the songs are good old-fashioned rock & roll, but each song has its own underlying intricacies that give them their own personality,” says the band via e-mail. Lily Grey, ECS and Red on Black will open. (Camri Mecham)
The Royal, 4760 S. 900 East, 5 p.m., $5, TheRoyalSLC.com

The Mountain Goats
While The Mountain Goats are typically a folk/anti-folk trio—consisting of vocalist John Darnielle, bassist Peter Hughes and drummer Jon Wurster—this entirely all-ages tour of the West Coast will feature just Darnielle and Hughes playing as a duo for the first time since 2007. They’re calling it The Mountain Goats Twin Inhuman Highway Fiends Tour, and this show will likely be a rare treat for Mountain Goats fans, as Darnielle says in the press release that they plan on performing songs that have “been lurking in the shadowy corners for ages.” And since Darnielle has been making music with various incarnations of The Mountain Goats since 1994, it’s anyone’s guess what those songs will be. But they’ll all feature Darnielle’s unique reedy voice, sardonic humor and heart-on-his-sleeve songwriting. Loamlands will also perform. (Kolbie Stonehocker)
Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), 8 p.m., $20, KilbyCourt.com; limited no-fee tickets available at CityWeeklyStore.com

Utah Pride Festival: Betty Who, Steve Grand
The Utah Pride Festival, happening June 6-8, is an annual celebration of all kinds of love, but it’s also the place to find crowd-pleasing headlining musical acts. On Saturday, Australian pop star Jess Newham, better known as Betty Who, will take the stage with her dance-friendly ’80s-influenced sound. Utahns will probably recognize her song “Somebody Loves You”—off of her debut EP, 2013’s The Movement—from the viral (more than 12 million views) video “Spencer Stout’s Home Depot Marriage Proposal,” in which Stout proposed to his boyfriend in a Salt Lake City Home Depot during a flash mob performed by their friends and family. Sunday will feature a performance by Steve Grand, a Chicago country singer who rose to fame after his self-financed music video “All-American Boy,” about an unrequited same-sex crush, went viral as well. (Kolbie Stonehocker)
Washington Square, 200 East & 400 South, individual tickets $8 each day in advance, $10 day of event; weekend passes $16, UtahPrideFestival.org

SUNDAY JUNE 8

Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe may have risen from humble beginnings in Kansas City, Kan., but today, she’s a fierce R&B songstress, producer, emcee and force of nature who propelled herself to stardom with only her tenacity and mesmerizing musical talent. Rarely (if ever) seen not wearing her signature tuxedo—or at least black & white color scheme—Monáe is incredible onstage and on her recordings, the latest of which is the 2013 masterpiece The Electric Lady. Star-studded with Monáe’s many friends—Prince(!), Erykah Badu(!!) and more—The Electric Lady continues the story of Monáe’s android alter-ego, Cindy Mayweather, and is full of unapologetic anthems like the title track and “Q.U.E.E.N.” (Kolbie Stonehocker)
Red Butte Amphitheatre, 300 Wakara Way, 8 p.m., garden members $57, general admission $62, RedButteGarden.org

WEDNESDAY JUNE 11

The Faint
After the completion of a year-long tour in support of their 2008 album, Fasciinatiion, The Faint were so burned out with every aspect of being a band that they went on hiatus to work separately on other projects. But in 2013, the four members of The Faint—minus longtime bassist Joel Petersen—reunited and started making music again, with the vision that whatever came out of their recording sessions should be raw and spontaneous. The result is their sixth album, Doom Abuse—released in April—and it’s a sweltering, sexy blend of punk, electro and layers of noise that will get the dance floor moving. Reptar and Darren Keen are also on the bill. (Kolbie Stonehocker)
The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, 8 p.m., $20 in advance, $25 day of show, DepotSLC.com

Yann Tiersen
Breton musician Yann Tiersen—whose early work became the beautiful soundtrack for the film Amelie—found inspiration in several wild rural settings for his eighth album, Infinity. Working in Iceland and at his home on Ushant Island, off the coast of Brittany, Tiersen began with sounds produced by toys, then manipulated the sounds electronically and added acoustic instruments and strings layer by layer. The rich result is desolate, haunting, beautiful and full of storytelling, with a few of the tracks sung and spoken in Breton, Faroese and Icelandic. NO will also perform. (Kolbie Stonehocker)
The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., $17 in advance, $20 day of show, TheUrbanLoungeSLC.com; limited no-fee tickets available at CityWeeklyStore.com