There's been a flurry of activity recently at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, and a few new music shows have been booked for later this year. This weekend is a two-night helping of girl-power rock with Melissa Etheridge, Friday and Saturday night, beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $57-$102.

On Tuesday, August 12, a trio of 1990s bands will be in town to take thirtysomethings back to their beer-soaked college days (which almost makes me obligated to go). Live, Blues Traveler, and Collective Soul bring the rock beginning at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $49.75. Hey, that's only $16 a band - I paid more than that in a night of binge drinking back in these bands' heydaze.

On Wednesday, August 20, the young 'uns will be invading Lowell when 2007 American Idol winner Jordin Sparks headlines a show that includes an opening set by Jesse McCartney (formerly of the boy band Dream Street). Show is at 7:30 p.m. Tix are $39.50 and $49.50, and they go on sale tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.

On Saturday, September 13, veteran folkie John Prine will bring his memorable tales to town in what is sure to be an oustanding show. That show starts at 8 p.m., and tix are $41.50 - $56.50.

Finally, on Friday, November 21, the Dark Star Orchestra will recreate the Grateful Dead experience once again, and with Bob Weir's closest stop being in Mansfield next month, this might be your best local Dead fix for a while. Tickets are $30.50 - $35.50, and they go on sale next Monday, July 21, at 10 a.m.

Someone's trying to give the Lowell Summer Music Series a run for their money, so take advantage of the friendly competition!

Well, I didn't make it to Richard Thompson on Saturday night - I was out at Tanglewood watching the live broadcast of Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion (featuring great bluegrass and gospel music by the Del McCoury Band!) - but I hear the performance was one for the record books, and that Madame Nature had mercy on everyone. Unfortunately, the lawn dwellers at Tanglewood with their high-falutin' picnic spreads weren't so lucky.

So here we are at week two, and Daryl Hall is going to be bringing his blue-eyed soul to town on Thursday night, July 3, to start the holiday weekend off right. For those of you who don't know it, Hall has a new webcast called Live from Daryl's House, and it is actually a pretty cool setup. He plays acoustic arrangements of his hits (and some lesser-known gems) and also teams up with up-and-comers so's to reach out to the young 'uns. It's good stuff, and I'm pretty excited about seeing him live. I did an artist spotlight on Hall for this week's Lowell Sun, and I'll post that interview right here on Thursday. In the meantime, pick up a ticket for Thursday's show if you don't already have plans.

On Saturday night, July 5, New York jam band Assembly of Dust will be dropping their "hick funk" (their words, not mine) on unsuspecting Lowellians. AOD were formed in 2002 after Reid Genauer left Vermont-based Strangefolk and hooked up with some funk and jazz cats in upstate NY.

It's a great summer of music in Lowell thanks to the Summer Music Series. So go see some shows before the summer goes.

www.lowellsummermusic.org

With his acoustic guitar and gravelly voice, Frank Morey is like Lowell's version of Tom Waits. He's a busy guy this summer, touring all over the Northeast and even sailing across the pond to play some dates in Europe. It would appear that the only chance to see him in Lowell for the rest of the summer (unless something unexpected pops up) will be this Friday night, June 27, at the Worthen House. Start time is around 9 p.m., so head over and take advantage of the opportunity.

Unless you’re agoraphobic, a vampire, or a heroin addict, you know that the Lowell Folk Festival is a big deal for the Mill City. Showcasing more ethnic musical styles than a satellite radio scan, the LFF brings people from all over the world, not only to participate in but also to enjoy the festival. Three days, six stages of music, and a crapload of ethnic foods – this is the Festival I can’t help but count down to. One look at the schedule and you, too, will marvel at the diversity of the artists.

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The 8th Annual African Festival is coming to Lowell this Saturday, June 21, at the Sampas Pavilion on Pawtucket Blvd., across from Heritage Farm Ice Cream. As it has in the past, the 2008 festival promises a full day of food, cultural activities, and most important (to me, at least), great African music.

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In the biggest transformation since Michael Jackson, the Jackson/Appleton/Middlesex section of Lowell, aka the JAM, will get more than just a new coat of paint over the next several years. If recent Lowell transplants have their way, the new Hamilton Canal district (another word for JAM) will be a wonderful "told you so" card to play for their friends who bought in Reading or Waltham back when they bought in Lowell for the reasonable price and potential opportunity

Hell, the locals are already celebrating. The JAMBRAree, taking place this Saturday, June 14, in the area of town in question, promises an "opportunity for residents, businesses and artists to come together in the spirit of cooperation and change." Even better, there will be art, food and some great music on hand to keep things interesting.

The event kicks off at noon, with live music from Lowell soul queen Jen Kearney (a solo show...apparently, she lost her Onions), followed by Boston singer/songwriter Tim Mann, a Latin percussion group, a Cambodian percussion group, and Lowell High Idol Marcella Cruz.

Things really open up...literally...at 5 p.m., when the Early Garage rooftop opens and hometown Zoograss boys Hot Day at the Zoo tear up their washboards at the event after-party. It's sure to be a big day for this soon-to-be-hotspot in town.

Effect is one-half of Lowell rap outfit Los Wunder Twins Del Rap. Dropping great rhymes that are equal parts urban slang and hipster pop culture disses, Los Wunder Twins are as talented in concocting their sonic playground as they are in writing the lyrics that populate it.

Effect treads similar ground on his new solo album, Fine Tuned Tantrum, due to hit stores July 1. A full CD review by yours truly is due right here sometime soon, but in the meantime, pay a visit to Effect’s CD release party this Saturday night, June 7, at the Old Court in Lowell. The party starts at 9 p.m., and tix are $5. Skittish-Voluptuous and the Mores are also on the bill.

Word.

No doubt those who will be excited about this announcement have already been notified via text, IM, or RSS feed, but Boys Like Girls - those lovable dudes who grew up in nearby Andover and have taken the MySpace music world by storm - will be screaming their emo hearts out at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell on August 15.

Joining them for the therapy session will be like-minded emo punks Good Charlotte and emo-with-a-synth Californians Metro Station. Tickets are $25 through Ticketmaster and go on sale Thursday, May 22 at 5 p.m., so better start hitting up your mom for money pronto. Enjoy!

Okay, punk/ska fans – your fantasy double bill is coming to Lowell. MassConcerts has announced that the Dropkick Murphys and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones will be playing three New England shows in July, and one of them happens to be at the home of the Lowell Spinners, LeLacheur Park! That show will be on Thursday, July 10. From there, the party continues at Hadlock Field in Portland on Friday, July 11, and on Saturday, July 12, the invasion moves south to McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.

Gates will be at 5 p.m. and show time will be 6 p.m. for all three shows, rain or shine. Tickets are $32.50 for each show, and for those who just can’t get enough, you can actually get a ticket good for all three for a discounted rate of $86. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, May 17, at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. Call (617) 931-2000 or (207) 775-3331. Or, of course, www.ticketmaster.com.

The Dropkicks are actually on tour all summer, but these shows with their old buds from the Bosstones are only for us lucky New Englanders. Sa-weeeet! In case you haven’t noticed, these three shows are all being held at the ballparks of minor league Red Sox affiliates, and that Celtic dancer (and part-time Red Sox pitcher) Jonathan Papelbon pitched on all three teams before joining the Sox. Oh, and this is the first concert (hopefully not the last) ever to be held at LeLacheur!

Here are some links in case you don’t know who these bands are. But seriously, if you don’t, why the hell are you still reading this? Crawl back under your rock.

www.massconcerts.com

www.dropkickmurphys.com

www.bosstonesmusic.com

The 119 Gallery on Chelmsford St. in Lowell has live music events on occasion, but Director Walter Wright and Music Director Dan Adam seem to be ramping things up as of late. This week, there are three shows on tap, all of them experimental in nature. For a change of pace, check out one of these brow-raising performances.

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If you've been to any of UMass Lowell's Urban Village Arts Society (UVAS) events, you know they are free monthly events at the National Park Visitor's Center in which three artists from varying backgrounds perform in their respective areas of expertise.

On Thursday, May 8, UVAS will celebrate the release of its first CD, "The Best of UVAS '07-'08," with a free party at the Revolving Museum from 7-9 p.m. The double-disc recording is a grab bag of performances from the past year - from musicians and singers to authors and poets.

The CD will be for sale at the event for a paltry $10, and there will also be readings by Lowell poet Ryan Gallagher and a performance by local bluegrass heroes Hot Day at the Zoo. Oh, and did I mention free grub? Boo-ya!

For deets about UVAS or the party, contact Gigi.Thibodeau@gmail.com or Todd_Avery@uml.edu.

I used to think Big Band music was for old people. Maybe that's because it reached its apex around 30 years before I was born. But in the last few years - not ironically, in the years since I met my wife - I've come to appreciate it and even manage to slip some Golden Era hidden gems into my indie rock mix discs...with mixed acceptance.

For those who still get giddy at songs like "In the Mood" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo," head on over to Indian Hill Music in Littleton this Sunday afternoon, May 4, at 3 p.m. Maestro Hangen and The Indian Hill Orchestra will be breaking out 20s and 30s classics from the fabulous Paul Whiteman era.

Included in the program will be Gershwin’s Blue Monday, along with many Whiteman favorites like Whispering, Dardanella, You’re The Top, It’s Only a Paper Moon, and The Whiteman Stomp. Plus, special guest vocalists Jean Danton and Mari Funaro will offer a salute to popular Whiteman songstress Peggy Healy.

The fun all happens at Nashoba Valley Tech Performing Arts Center, 100 Littleton Road (Rte. 110) in Westford, MA. Tix are $46, $33, and $20. Call 978-486-9524 or visit www.indianhillmusic.org for more info.