Call it blues, R&B, swing, rock with roots or just plain great music, there is no one out there like Candye Kane. A commanding stage presence and bawdy, brassy vocalist, Kane is an all-around entertainer and one of the biggest talents to ever call San Diego home. Perennially on the road, she is currently touring to promote her new disc, “Coming Out Swingin’,” with a band that includes incendiary guitarist Laura Chavez. If you’re a fan of any of the aforementioned genre’s then you won’t want to miss Kane’s performance — between her and the band, this is as good as it gets.
Candye Kane: Friday, Jan. 10. Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St. 9 p.m. 21 and up. Cover TBD. www.tioleos.com While there are many cover bands out there playing classic rock, there is only one Rockola. Whether rocking a Beatles tune or playing early David Bowie, their exacting versions of the hits are a marvel. While the instrumentation is top notch, the secret is in the vocals, Rockola being one of the few local bands, original or coverwise, that can pull off four-part harmonies. Mixed in with the irreverent wit of frontman Bob Tedde and the impressive fretwork of Mark DeCerbo, the band never fails to put on a show that’s both musically entertaining and a lot of fun.
Rockola: Friday, Jan. 17 at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. 9 p.m. $12. www.humphreysbackstagelive.com Although she’s kept a relatively low profile since a mid-1990s heyday, Johnette Napolitano has by no means slowed down the pace. Appearing as a solo artist at The Griffin on Jan. 17, 9 p.m., Napolitano is best known as leader of Concrete Blonde. While the band is still an ongoing concern, these days she devotes much of her time to art and working with rescued horses, as well as writing (her first book, “Rough Mix,” was released last year). Napolitano has no new release to push this tour, so you can expect a crowd-pleasing mix of hits, including “Joey” and “Happy Birthday.”
Johnette Napolitano: Friday, Jan. 17 at The Griffin, 1310 Morena Blvd. 9 p.m. 21 and up. $20. www.thegriffinsd.com Anyone who enjoys their music on the rhythmic side will want to check out salsa, mambo and Latin jazz group Afroturko. Appearing at Dizzy’s on Jan. 19, 8 p.m., the 11-piece band, led by percussionist Charlie Chavez, is a whirlwind of sound and motion. Featuring lead singers Maguito Chavez and Roberto Lopez, the group comes complete with a horn section, the orchestra playing a mix of originals and genre classics by the likes of Tito Puente. Dizzy’s is by no means a dance club, but it will be hard to keep people in their seats for this one.
Afroturko: Sunday, Jan. 19 at Dizzy’s, 4275 Mission Bay Drive. 8 p.m. $15. www.dizzysjazz.com Mixing flamenco, jazz and classical stylings, guitarist David Maldonado, who performs at the Kona Kai on Jan. 11, paints aural pictures. Part of the famed Maldonado musical family, it’s only natural that he is both a virtuoso and passionate artist. He’s released five albums, each a worthy listen for fans of six-string prowess. But live is where the real fun is, where you can watch his fingers blur as they take another daredevil run. Maldonado’s intense performances are as riveting as they are skilled. David Maldonado: Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Kona Kai Resort, 1551 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island. 11 a.m. Free. www.resortkonakai.com On Jan. 11, the 710 Beach Club will be the site of a three-band show celebrating the release of “Empyrean Kings,” the debut album from alternative rockers Belmont Lights. A keyboard driven band, Belmont Lights excels at modern pop, atmospheric and anthemic, and fans of the likes of Coldplay will find much to admire. Meanwhile, second billed is Saint San Diego, a more traditional rock combo in the vein of the Violent Femmes. Opening the night will be Lyrical Groove, a five-piece combo that mixes spoken word with R&B rhythms for a sound that makes you want to both dance and listen. Belmont Lights: Saturday, Jan. 11 at the 710 Beach Club, 710 Garnet Ave. 8 p.m. $5. 21 and up. www.710bc.com