Dierks Bentley at the Richmond Coliseum
He seems like such a nice boy for being from the school of country outlaws like Merle. But getting drunk and losing your best girl seem to be universal conditions, at least for a certain brand of musician. Bentley’s also a bit too pretty for what he’s doing, but he believed in “The Dukes of Hazzard” and has been known to play the occasional corn-dog fair, so in that way, he’s singing the songs of the people. Bentley plays Saturday, April 14, with Miranda Lambert and Jason Aldean at 7:30 p.m. $34.75-$39.75. Call 262-8100 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
804noise at Artspace
CNP Records, 804noise and the Virginia Art & Music Festival are the curious chemistry students of the music world, combining compounds to come up with something that might smell funny or eat your skin off, but has a reaction. They bring Baltimore avant-garde artists Human Host and We Are the Seahorses to Richmond to play with our own Suppression, SoMore and chefkirk for a night of experimental music, noise rock and other sounds that might explode when mixed. The show is Saturday, April 14, at 5 p.m. Donations suggested. 232-6464.
Johnny Hiland at the Canal Club
Considered by folks like Ricky Skaggs to be one of the most talented guitar prodigies out there, Hiland, despite being legally blind, made a name for himself alongside Joe Satriani and others of the Fender set. Now he pours his talents into everything from bluegrass to rock and gets guitars named after him. Which is why the Richmond Music Center is bringing him to the Canal Club Thursday, April 12, for a clinic and concert at 7 p.m. $8. 643-2582.
“Light in the Attic” Series at Café Gutenberg
The music series covers some unusual territory, in this case the bluesy ghost of slave spirituals care of Honne (pronounced Honey) Wells, the what-year-is-it folk rock of J Seger and the high-energy pop sideshow of The OK Bird. These three acts run the line from fairly weird to strangely excellent, a unique combination of sounds that gets you scratching your head as well as tapping your feet. The common ground here, if one can be found, is that all of them are playing music that sounds like it might have been around forever, but really, you might have a hard time remembering if you’ve heard it before. The show is Sunday, April 15, at 8 p.m. Free. 497-5000.
Gallery5 and RVA Turn Two
Both Gallery5 and RVA Magazine are now officially toddlers, breaking stuff and coming close to putting out their eyes, but being so gosh-darn adorable you can’t stand it. And they’ve brought a lot of joy into our lives these past years, what with all the color and art and fire-juggling and involvement. So let them get cake all over their faces on their birthday, listening to music by The Mason Dixon Disaster, David Shultz and The Skyline, Worn in Red, Landmines and the Single Spies (their last show). Plus Nintendo Wii battles! The party starts Saturday, April 14, at 7 p.m. $5. 644-0005.
She Keeps Bees at the Hyperlink Café
Maybe the name’s a warning, or maybe it’s the honey in singer-songwriter Jessica Larrabee’s voice, but She Keeps Bees is all delicious invitation and subtle distance. Her songs, backed by her growling guitar, are bold and primal things, the kind of sound you want to hear more of, even if there’s a good chance you’ll get stung. She Keeps Bees plays with psychedelic indie outfit The Love Story, singer-songwriter and Richmond ex-pat Emily Easterly and local rock lad David Shultz, Tuesday, April 17, at 7 p.m. $6. 254-1942. S
