• Marek+Richard
• Aja

Aja @ Metro Music Hall 7/3
The artist born Venus Nadya Oshun takes her music seriously. While previous RuPaul's Drag Race contestants might lean on chart novelty, Aja Miyake-Mugler (a.k.a. Aja) offers a more "Bed-Stuy, Do or Die" approach. Sure, the popular television series shifted the landscape by introducing original music into the competition; however, the gimmicky attitude of some has kept the music itself from being seen as a force. Aja is steadily building an identity that transcends drag. "I look at the name Aja not even as a drag name anymore, but as a stage persona," Venus told Billboard. "Aja isn't even a name, it's a phrase. It means 'come here,' so for me, writing music, I write it from a blurred binary." While her relationship with drag has been on and off, she most definitely knows who she is. Her debut LP Box Office, which dropped back in 2019, was chock-full of hard-hitting trap-based production with collabs featuring CupcakKe & Shea Couleé, and is consistently good, track-for-track. Her latest feature on Melbourne singer Greg Gould's "Bloodlines" showcases a pivot not yet heard from this artist. Exciting times lie ahead. The evening will be hosted by Sequoia, Lady Facade, Kay Bye + Ms. Meredith, Icky Rogers, Jade Ruth, Notta Genda, Jax Creative, Jenna Tea, Justin Secrecy, London Skies, Cvntcealed Carrie and Katie Party of 2. DJ Hysteria opens. Catch these acts at the Drag Cookout at Metro Music Hall on Thursday, July 3, doors at 6 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $25.78 and can be found at 24tix.com. (Mark Dago)

• @familyfotos.801
• eardrums

eardrums, gapyear, mypetspider, kick ass @ Kilby Court 7/3
Come out to Kilby Court to see eardrums, so they can blow yours. Okay, maybe that sentence sounded better in my head, but the sentiment remains. Hardcore band eardrums are known around town for causing a ruckus with their loud, in-your-face style that will have you thinking about the show for days and weeks afterward. The group dropped their debut EP in February, announcing that they'd be taking a break until summer just after. Now they are so back, and ready to rock. You Just Look Like Me is chock full of hardcore/emo vibes, and nothing showcases this sensibility better than the opening track, "Never Better." With lyrics like "Never gonna wanna go and burn out / Never gonna get your diploma / Never gonna try, I don't see the point / But now I gotta find a new direction / Now I gotta figure out an answer / Now I gotta try but I don't see the point," you'll be firmly in your feelings, while also being able to mosh and headbang to your heart's content. Joining are fellow hardcore bands gapyear, mypetspider and kick ass. Come kick your holiday weekend off with an epic show on Thursday, July 3 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $14.40 in advance and $16.65 at the door at 24tix.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

• Via Instagram
• 3BALLMTY

3BALLMTY @ Ibiza Ultra Lounge 7/6
This weekend may bring a lot of emotions for some who find it difficult to stay patriotic during these hard times. It is even more important than ever to celebrate all the cultures of our country and lean into our diversity. 3BallMTY (pronounced "Tribal Monterrey") is a Mexican musical group composed of DJs and music producers Erick Rincón, Sergio Zavala ("Sheeqo Beat") and Alberto Presenda ("DJ Otto"), and they're stopping by Salt Lake City on Sunday, July 6. Since 2009, they've been significant cultural icons of music that blend cumbia and traditional Mexican music in triple meter with electronic music, known as "Tribal Guarachero." A guaracha is a fast-paced song that relies heavily on a dialog between the lead singer and the crowd, evolving from folkloric roots. A perfect example is 3BallMTY's 2011 single "Inténtalo," which won the Billboard Latin Music Award. La Vuelta Tour is a continuation of the group making their comeback after an eight-year hiatus. In December 2024, their Boiler Room performance in Mexico City had more than 4.2 million views on YouTube, and in February, they joined legendary Mexican producer Deorro at EDC Mexico. When the world needed them most, they returned. This 21+ show at Ibiza Ultra Lounge will be a big one, so don't hesitate to secure your tickets. The show is from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets cost $67.93 at universe.com. (Arica Roberts)

• Via Primus website
• Primus

Primus @ Sandy Amphitheater 7/7
The worlds of alternative/indie and progressive rock coincide only rarely; the forms both lie just outside the musical mainstream, but share little else in common. But genre classifications mean little or nothing to Les Claypool and his band mates in Primus. Drawing from metal, funk and more, Primus combines technical mastery—these are some serious players—with a goofy, off-kilter worldview that suggests Dr. Demento crossed with Frank Zappa. Playful tunes like "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" from the trio's 1995 album Tales from the Punchbowl exemplify their wacky yet musically ambitious approach to their craft (and the song actually charted as a single, a rarity for an album-oriented outfit like Primus). The comedy never gets in the way of the band's swing-for-the-fences compositional and arrangement aesthetics, though. There hasn't been a new Primus album in eight years, but with a catalog that includes nine studio releases, there's plenty from which to choose for entertaining live shows. With brand-new drummer John "Hoffer" Hoffman joining Claypool and guitarist Larry LeLonde for the band's Onward & Upward Summer Tour, Primus—with opener Ty Segall—comes to the Sandy City Amphitheater on Monday, July 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $81 at ticketmaster.com. (Bill Kopp)

• Jorge Mandujano
• Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett @ Sandy Amphitheater 7/9
Lyle Lovett's ability to shift his stance has always been one of his more impressive attributes, but given his charm, easy-going attitude, self-effacing humor and talents as a musician, actor, band leader and songwriter, that ability underscores his efforts overall. In short, his ability to push at the parameters has become a source of his essential engagement, and his ability to offer audiences the enticing entertainment he's always been known for. Consequently, his efforts at the helm of the extended combo he calls his Large Band lean heavily on a swing style with a retro feel. Nevertheless, no two performances are ever alike, given Lovett's penchant for serving up spontaneity and off-the-cuff interactions with his band. He views every concert as a unique experience, and as a result, there's a certain intimacy ingrained within every performance. After all, Lovett has a large catalog from which to cull his songs and with a group that includes a commanding brass ensemble, and a veteran rhythm section consisting of James Taylor and Carole King's former backing players, drummer Russ Kunkel and bassist Leland Sklar, the talent that takes the stage is nothing short of extraordinary. Expect to hear such lingering Lovett standards as "If I Had a Boat," "She's No Lady," "Pants Is Overrated" and any number of others that span his remarkable 45-year career. In short, he and his Large Band are simply superb. Lyle Lovett and his Large Band take the stage at Sandy Amphitheater on Wednesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $57- $96 Go to ticketmaster.com. (Lee Zimmerman)