They’re often classified as blues, but in truth, the sound of the Bayou Brothers is a Cajun/zydeco blend, straight from the streets of Louisiana. It’s a festive sound, sure to get a listener itchin’ to get on the dance floor. Appearing on Monday, June 23 at Humphreys Backstage Live, there are recordings and videos of the band available, but this is a group you want to experience live. Its onstage party atmosphere is a contagious thing. It will be like experiencing a little bit of New Orleans without leaving the county line. • THE BAYOU BROTHERS: Monday, June 23 at HUMPHREYS BACKSTAGE LIVE, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 9 p.m. www.humphreys-backstagelive.com. Does the world need more singer/songwriters? That depends. To be sure, there is a lot of mediocre music out there. It’s true they are everywhere these days, but good players and songwriters with a solid catalog are hard to come by. Writing one good song is tough enough. Coming up with dozens is a much trickier thing. There’s a reason why names like Tolan Shaw, Jeff Berkley, Jason Mraz and Gregory Page stand out. Trent Hancock, appearing at Beaumont’s on Wednesday, June 25, is one of the newer names that may be next to join that list of lofty names. The key is his passion, which permeates his music, whether it’s classic covers such as Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” or heartfelt originals like “Falling Faster.”
• TRENT HANCOCK: Wednesday, June 25 at BEAUMONT’S, 5662 La Jolla Blvd. 8 p.m. 21 and up. www.beaumontseatery.com. Jazz fans won’t want to miss an appearance by Los Angeles-based tenor saxophonist Charles Owen at Dizzy’s on Friday, June 20. He’ll be backed by a stellar combo of bassist Marshall Hawkins, pianist Joshua White and drummer Brett Sanders for a show that basically has four headliners in one. Owens has performed with everyone from Miles Davis to Barbra Streisand in a career that has seen him mentor generations of players following in his footsteps. Interestingly, Hawkins also performed with Miles Davis, among many other legends, making this a particularly choice pairing. If classic jazz is your thing, this is easily the week’s best bet. • CHARLES OWEN: Friday, June 20 at DIZZY’S, 4275 Mission Bay Drive. 8 p.m. $15. www.dizzysjazz.com. Anyone who ever wondered what if Sha-Na-Na had been Russian will want to check out the Red Elvises. Gimmicks and the visual have always been a big part of rock ’n’ roll, a fact not lost on this group. The Russian-American trio goes so far as to use a large red balalaika-shaped bass for emphasis in its 1950s-inspired, rockabilly-driven music. Formed in 1995, the Red Elvises have proven to have amazing staying power, appearing on TV shows ranging from “Melrose Place” to Penn & Teller specials and are still a big festival draw as it prepares its third decade as a group. Numerous band members have come and gone, but the group is still led by Igor Yuzov with a show that dazzles the eyes and ears. The message in the Red Elvises music is “fun.”
• THE RED ELVISES: Friday, June 20 at TIO LEO’S, 5302 Napa St. 9 p.m. 21 and up. Cover TBD. www.tioleos.com. Blending beats, reggae, funk and hip-hop rhythms, Timothy H may be just about be the ultimate beach-area musician. His are laid-back sounds that could soundtrack just about any evening spent somewhere near the ocean. Backed by an able band, song titles like the 2012 single “It’s a Good Day” give the general vibe of this sound. Aficionados of such combos as General Public and latter day Untouchables dub remixes will find much to appreciate in Timothy H’s groove. Located just feet from the water, this gig is about the perfect match of venue and artist.
• TIMOTHY H: Saturday, June 21 at the 710 BEACH CLUB, 710 Garnet Ave. 9 p.m. 21 and up. www.710bc.com.