Paul McCartney comes to town Wednesday.: Getty
Sir Paul returns
Former Beatle Paul McCartney hasn’t been to Houston in seven years, but that changes now. McCartney’s first Houston performance was when the Beatles performed at the Sam Houston Coliseum in 1965. Since then, he visited Houston in 1976 on the Wings Over America tour, in 1993 on the New World Tour, in 2002 on the Back in the U.S. Tour and on The US Tour in 2005. “Kisses on the Bottom,” an album of covers, was released in February. When: 8 p.m. Wednesday; Where: Minute Maid Park, 501 Crawford; Tickets: $59.50-$250
Eddie Vedder goes solo
Eddie Vedder, the Pearl Jam frontman, says his first instrument was “a beat-up ukulele” when he was 10 years old. His mother would frequent garage sales, snapping up toys for Christmas, and happened upon the uke. That same sense of sentiment seeps its way into “Ukulele Songs,” now more than a year old. Vedder is still touring behind the effort, and these shows are a makeup for postponements earlier this year due to nerve damage in his right hand. When: 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; Where: Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana; Tickets: $76.50
Children's Festival has an A-lister
The 17th annual Children's Festival nabbed an A-list headliner this year — Barney, the purple dinosaur parents love to hate and find themselves all-too-often singing along with. Joining in the fun are the KIDZ Bop Kids, alarmingly upbeat kid singers who croon popular hits from Kelly Clarkson, One Direction, Justin Bieber and, um, Nicki Minaj. The festival includes kite flying, parachute races, arts and crafts, face painting and more. When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday; Where: The Woodlands Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive.; Tickets: $8 advance, $10 at the gate
Thursday 11.8
“Portraiture Now” and “kip fulbeck”: Asian-American stereotypes and life experiences are examined in this double exhibition opening, which also includes music from DMC World Champion DJ Qbert, who sees the turntable as a musical instrument. “Portraiture Now: Asian American Portraits of Encounter” is the Smithsonian’s first major showcase of contemporary Asian-American portraiture and features the work of seven artists. And “kip fulbeck: part Asian, 100% hapa” is a collection of portraits by filmmaker and artist Kip Fulbeck. Guests will be invited to be photographed and answer the question “What are you?” When: 7 p.m. Thursday;
Friday 11.9
“The Italian Girl in Algiers”: Houston Grand Opera stages the company premiere of Rossini’s earliest comic masterpiece. Mustafa, bey of Algiers, has designs on shipwrecked heroine Isabella, but she has her own ideas about foiling him and reuniting with her fiance Lindoro (even though he’s been captured as Mustafa’s slave). Daniela Barcellona, Lawrence Brownlee and Patrick Carfizzi star. Carlo Rizzi conducts and Joan Font is stage director of the new production designed by Joan Guillen. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Where: Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas; Tickets: $15-$350
Snow Patrol & Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds: It seems an odd pair-up, to say the least: sensitive alt-rock outfit Snow Patrol, best-known stateside for weepy hit “Chasing Cars;” and hotheaded Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher, now working his own High Flying Birds. But no reports yet of fistfights. Snow Patrol released top-five album “Fallen Empires” earlier this year. High Flying Birds’ 2011 debut also proved a worldwide hit. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday; Where: Bayou Music Center, 520 Texas; Tickets: $38-$55
“Stormy Weather”: Diva meets diva in this “music and multimedia presentation” on the life of Lena Horne, left, the iconic performer who starred in the 1943 film and recorded the song of the same name. Mary Wilson, inset photo, a founding member of the Supremes, takes on the role of Horne and performs several signature songs. “Stormy Weather” is based on the book by James Gavin, who will narrate the live event. When: 7:30 p.m. Friday; Where: Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive; Tickets: Free; tickets for covered seating available 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on the day of show at the box office.
Saturday 11.10
Waka Flocka Flame has worked with Houston's own Slim Thug.: Handout
Waka Flocka Flame: The Southern rap star broke through in a big way with 2010 hit “No Hands,” though he hasn’t since been able to repeat that success. But he’s managed to stay in the game by collaborating with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Trey Songz and Drake and Houston’s own Slim Thug. When: 8 p.m. Saturday; Where: Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel; Tickets: $27-$33
Galleria Tree Lighting: The crowd might be wearing shorts, but that won’t stop the Galleria from ushering in the holidays with its 24th annual Ice Spectacular. The highlight is the lighting of the 55-foot Christmas tree, which boasts 450,000 lights and 5,000 ornaments. Baytown teen RaeLynn, who was featured on Season 2 of “The Voice,” will perform a few songs. Earlier in the day, tThe mall will host performances from area schools and set up face-painting and balloon animal stations. When: 6 p.m. Saturday; Where: Galleria, 5085 Westheimer; Tickets: Free
Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights: As musical signifiers go, “blues-rock” sounds about as dull as they come, but this Dallas ensemble has developed a devoted following for its electrified live shows. “Pardon Me” is now 2 years old, so expect some new songs in the mix. With Second Lovers. When: 8 p.m. Saturday; Where: Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak; Tickets: $10
You’d be hard pressed to find a better second act than Ray Wylie Hubbard’s. The singer-songwriter has released 10 exquisite albums of sleazy folk/blues (flooze?) since returning from obscurity (or oblivion) nearly two decades ago. His latest is “The Grifter’s Hymnal,” which shakes off sparks from the opening stomper “Coricidin Bottle.” In concert, he’s a witty and wise host, with licks, quips and songs that burrow into your soul. When: 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday; Where: McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk; Tickets: $25-$27
Three years ago, it seemed like Other Lives was in Houston once a month doing opening duty for another band. Earlier this year, they did just that, only it wasn’t a club show but rather an opening gig for Radiohead. The Oklahoma band makes sweeping, dramatic indie rock that swells and recedes wondrously. They’re out plugging last year’s “Tamer Animals.” When: 8 p.m. Saturday; Where: Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak; Tickets: $12
Sunday 11.11
This week presents one of those living-legends-in-cozy-confines situations when ’60s folk/blues great Taj Mahal gets comfortable at the Dosey Doe. It’s been a while since the raspy voiced multi-instrumentalist released anything new, but honestly, his catalog is so deep that it doesn’t really need further cluttering. When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday; Where: Dosey Doe, 25911 I-45 N, The Woodlands; Tickets: $88-$128
Tuesday 11.13
Singer-songwriter Peter Case has an informative and amusing FAQ page on his website that offers a better thumbnail of his music than I could. “Are you a folksinger, a rocker, a punk, or what?” goes the question. “I tell people, now I play folk-rock, and they seem to understand ... but the whole truth is more complex: I’m a singer-songwriter that uses all the American styles to get my stories across: Blues. Rock ’n’ roll. Country. Soul. R&B and folk ... plus some rhythmic influences from around the world. I’m trying to forge my own style out of those inherited materials. I’ve always been into dynamic, emotionally charged music you could use to tell a story or paint a picture. So in other words, yes.” Case is an always riveting performer, and he should be armed with some new songs on this visit. When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; Where: McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk; Tickets: $20-$22
Jens Lekman returns with a new album.: Handout
Wednesday 11.14
Jens Lekman is a smart and funny singer-songwriter from Sweden who has an easy way with melody and an ability to make his delicate songs seem both lush and spacious. His new album is his first in five years, and its title is pretty telling: “I Know What Love Isn’t.” These are songs about relationships gone bad. When: 8 p.m Wednesday; Where: Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak; Tickets: $20