• Adriana Ira BoatwrightChildish Gambino
• Black Tusk

Crucialfest @ Metro Music Hall 9/13-15
Metalheads rejoice: Crucialfest is finally upon us. Brought to us by our friendly neighborhood entertainment store Graywhale, Crucialfest showcases one of the heaviest lineups around town for a full weekend of headbanging and moshing. The full lineup includes: Black Tusk, Mars Red Sky, Jaye Jayle, Gost, Frail Body, Midwife, The Well, Howling Giant, Ex Everything, State Faults, The Otolith, Aerial Ruin, Horseburner, Triphammer, Somnuri, Chrome Ghost, Dark Crone, Last, Voidstrider, Onsetter, Iota, Violet Temper, Dehorn, Moray, Eleuthero, Blackshape and Honor Hour. The bands are spread across three days, and each show features nine bands, so that's a lot of rocking to be done! You can grab tickets for individual nights, or bundle to save some money if you have the energy for all three shows. The lineup consists of a mixture of big names with locals for an excellent mix of metal awesomeness. Don't miss this epic lineup Friday, Sept. 13 - Sunday, Sept. 15. Individual tickets, VIP tickets and multiple day bundles range from $22-125. Grab tickets at 24tix.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

• MCDJ
• Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino @ Delta Center 9/14
There is nothing trivial about art or Childish Gambino. Multi-hyphenate Donald Glover (a.k.a. Gambino) is hugely talented in virtually all arenas of entertainment. His latest LP from earlier this summer, Bando Stone & the New World, shows that he sits at the intersection of so many influences and cultures. The genre-hopping in it is exciting to listen to because you never know what's coming next, and the individual tracks range from decent to amazing. The moments of acting thrown in makes the whole album feel imbued with human connection, fun and life. However, Bando acts as a curtain call for the Childish Gambino persona, as Glover stated recently it just doesn't scratch that itch to him like it used to. "It really was just like, 'Oh, it's done.' It's not fulfilling," Glover told the New York Times in July. "And I just felt like I didn't need to build in this way anymore." Bando Stone & the New World is a culmination of everything that has come before. Back at the start of Donald Glover's rap career, he barely had the opportunity or means to have collaborations, or the luxury of making music. He has shown his prowess as an actor, director and now as a fully-fledged artist by solidifying his final album. Come say goodbye to Gambino as the New World tour hits the Delta Center on Saturday, Sept. 14. Doors at 8 p.m.; Willow Smith opens. Tickets for the all-ages show are $93 can be found here ticketmaster.com. (Mark Dago)

• Variety
• Fred Again

Fred Again @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre 9/15
Frederick John Philip Gibson is a British producer who has found a way to sell out his surprise Australian tour—which included both arena shows and DJ pop-ups—in under five seconds. Fred Again (and Again and Again and Again) is often described as the Taylor Swift of EDM, due to his insane hype and fan base. How did it all begin? Gibson has been making music for a decade, including for mainstream pop artists like Rita Ora and Demi Lovato. But it wasn't until U.K. pandemic lockdowns (which lasted 18 months straight) that he really blew up with his trilogy of albums Actual Life, which sampled conversations with his friends within house tracks. Since then, it's been a lot of success in very little time. For example, he won Producer of the Year at the Brit Awards in 2020 (the youngest producer to ever win the title). Then, in 2022, he performed a set for Boiler Room in London, the third most-watched set on their YouTube channel. He's gone on to release collabs with Swedish House Mafia and Skrillex (the single "Rumble" featuring Skrillex also won Gibson a Grammy), playing alongside Four Tet at Madison Square Garden as well as Coachella last year. Maybe it is all just hype, or maybe he is just that talented. Likely, his genre-bending production and mixing abilities make his appeal to a wider audience. His music can be best described as first and foremost indie pop and dance music that draws inspiration from deep and progressive house, breakbeat and garage. He just finished headlining the Reading Festival, and starts his North America tour with Salt Lake City as the second stop. To no surprise, this show will likely sell out, so hurry and get your tickets for Sunday, Sept. 15. Doors open at 8 p.m. general admission costs $68.20. Go to livenation.com. (Arica Roberts)

• DavidMcClister
• Hayes Carll

Hayes Carll and Band of Heathens @ The Commonwealth Room 9/15
Given the fact that Hayes Carll and Band of Heathens are both from Texas, it's hardly surprising that they've pursued parallel paths. Carll was cited as "Best New Act" by the Houston Press following the release of his first album, while Band of Heathens were voted "Best New Band" at the 2007 Austin Music Awards. They also reached number one on the Americana Music Association's radio chart for their 2008 self-titled studio album, and were subsequently nominated by the AMA as "Best Duo/Group of the Year." So too, their 2013 release Sunday Morning Record reached the number two position on the Americana charts. Carll's been compared to any number of great Texas songwriters, including Townes Van Zandt, whom he cites as a prime influence. Carll's song, "She Left Me For Jesus," from his album Trouble in Mind, was chosen AMA's Song of the Year in 2008. In addition, his album KMAG YOYO & Other American Stories received a nomination for Best Album by the AMA in 2011. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2016, courtesy of his track, "Chances Are." Meanwhile, Band of Heathens originally coalesced as a group of solo songwriters. Carll and the Heathens have performed together frequently over the years, so be assured that their joint appearance at The Commonwealth Room will offer a true taste of Texas tenacity. Hayes Carll and Band of Heathens perform a 21 + show at The Commonwealth Room at 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 15. Tickets cost $35 - $110 (plus taxes and fees) at axs.com. (Lee Zimmerman)

Crowded House @ Red Butte Garden 9/18
New Zealander guitarist, singer and songwriter Neil Finn launched Crowded House in 1985, out of the ashes of his previous group, Split Enz. Crowded House's note-perfect melding of classic pop melodic sense and sharp, emotionally resonant lyrics stuck a chord with listeners, as the band's breakthrough single "Don't Dream It's Over" from their self-titled debut album became a classic around the globe. Subsequent albums built upon and expanded Crowded House's musical vision; in the process, the band became one of the world's most successful rock groups, though success in the U.S. was more measured. Alongside Crowded House, Finn has found time to release nine solo albums, two with brother Tim, and one in collaboration with son Liam. In between all that, Finn even joined Fleetwood Mac for that group's 2018-19 tour. Crowded House's latest album is the sublime, subtle and engaging Gravity Stairs, released in May. These days, the group features Finn and founding bassist Nick Seymour, plus producer Mitchell Froom and two of Neil's sons, Liam and Elroy. Crowded House comes to Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. at Red Butte Garden; tickets for the concert are $80, and can be purchased via etix.com. (Bill Kopp)