Pumpkin ale? Check.
Foliage-peeping bifocals? Check.
Music? We’ve got that for you, from summer songs that’ve overstayed their welcome to edgy indie rockers in sweaters, tweedy U.K. singer-songwriters and masked Heartland rockers. Check out these 20 shows that have absolutely no artificial pumpkin flavor.
Planet Hip Hop Festival: Daytime workshops give way to evening performances by spoken-word duo Poetic Pilgrimage, Algerian singer-songwriter / rapper Meryem Saci, emcee Mumu Fresh and the Nomadic Wax Collective. Sept. 20, all day, $6-$18. World Music Hall, Wesleyan University, Middletown, wesleyan.edu.
Pink Martini: Portland’s multi-lingual pocket orchestra returns to CT with vocalist-extraordinaire China Forbes, back from her brief hiatus. With the Von Trapps. Sept. 25, 8 p.m., $67-$70. Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, 203-438-5795, ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
Cher: We still believe in life after love. And even though she promised she would, Cher never stops touring, and that’s good for us. Oct. 11, 8 p.m., $29.50-$129.50. XL Center, Hartford, 877-522-8499, xlcenter.com.
Iggy Azalea: Critics unanimously bestowed upon Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” the honorary title “song of the summer.” It’s still summer, in our hearts. Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m., $55-$75. Grand Theater at Foxwoods, Mashantucket, 866-646-0609, foxwoods.com.
David Gray: Autumn’s a good time for laid-back singer-songwriter vibes. And as his recent “Mutineers” demonstrated, the U.K.-based Gray still has plenty to spare. Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m., $43-$53. Toyota Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, 203-265-1501, oakdale.com.
B.B. King: A partnership between Infinity Hall and Torrington’s Warner Theater brings the undisputed king of the electric blues to the state’s Northwest Corner, with Kal David and the Real Deal opening. Oct. 8, 8 p.m., $49-$95. Warner Theatre, Torrington, 860-489-7180, warnertheatre.org.
Martina McBride: By the time McBride’s “Concrete Angel” hits its second, piano-and-strings driven verse, you’re already reaching for the tissue box. How fall is that? Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m., $45-$65. Palace Theater, Waterbury, 203-755-4700, palacetheaterct.org.
Ziggy Marley: The son of a reggae legend preaches “Love is My Religion” and sings about a “Beach In Hawaii.” Count me in. Oct. 12, 8 p.m., $35-$45. The Klein, Bridgeport, 203-259-1036, fairfieldtheatre.org.
Mötley Crüe: The boys in the Crue are hanging it up, we’re told, but they’ve decided to go out with a bang. How typical. Influential glamster Alice Cooper opens. Oct. 26, 7 p.m., $69-$89. Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, 860-862-7163, mohegansun.com.
Jason Derulo: A succession of more than two dozen pop hits — the 2013 R&B-flavored “Talk Dirty” (featuring 2 Chainz), for example — makes for a pretty good excuse to get out of the house on a Sunday. Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m., $35. Toyota Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, 203-265-1501, oakdale.com.
Primus and the Chocolate Factory: A trio of iconoclastic West Coast punk-funkster tackles music from a cult classic movie. Pure imagination. Oct. 28, 8 p.m., $39.50-$59.50. Palace Theater, Waterbury, 203-755-4700, palacetheaterct.org.
Ex Hex, Speedy Ortiz: Indie rock figurehead Mary Timony (Helium, Wild Flag) does her power trio thing, while Speedy Ortiz, a Western Mass-based quartet, plays some of the best off-kilter, heavy music you’ll hear. (Bonus: it’s Halloween.) Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m., $12. The Ballroom at the Outer Space, Hamden, 203-288-6400, manicproductions.org.
Fleetwood Mac: It must have taken a team of mediators to bring the classic Fleetwood Mac lineup back together (or maybe it was truckloads of cash in small bills). Either way, they’re still making near-perfect music together, and that’s wonderful. Nov. 1, 8 p.m., $49.50-$179.50. XL Center, Hartford, 877-522-8499, xlcenter.com.
Andrew McMahon: Ex-Jack’s Mannequin frontman McMahon arrives at Hartford’s Webster Theater armed with “Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness,” a collection of piano-pop tunes that will have just stores. Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m., $26-$28. Webster Theater, Hartford, webstertheater.com.
Usher: Go check out this true R&B megastar, who’ll be slinging his UR Experience all over North America. Then hit the slots. Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m., $85-$105. Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, 860-862-7163, mohegansun.com.
Buddy Guy: Everyone touts Guy’s ability to bend and twist strings as he pleases (Jimi Hendrix did), but not enough people praise the blues legend’s voice, which is one of the best in blues — or anywhere — ever. Matt Andersen opens. Nov. 16, 8 p.m., $92.50. Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, 203-438-5795, ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
Dave Davies of the Kinks: Brother Ray usually gets all props. But Dave’s fuzzed-out guitar riffs on tracks like “You Really Got Me” and “All Day and All of the Night” launched a thousand garage bands. (He wrote good songs, too.) Nov. 20 (Norfolk), Nov. 21 (Hartford), 8 p.m., $50-$70. Infinity Hall, 866-666-6306, infinityhall.com.
Living Colour: The pioneering funk-rock group scored a massive hit in 1988 with “Cult of Personality.” They still have a cult following. Dec. 3, 8 p.m., $30-$35. Stafford Palace Theater, Stafford Springs, 860-851-9780, thestaffordpalacetheater.com.
Slipknot: Drummer Joey Jordison left (or was asked to leave) after 18 years of rocking out with the rest of Slipknot, who’ll release their fifth studio album, “.5: The Gray Chapter,” in mid-October. Korn opens. Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., $35. Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, 860-862-7163, mohegansun.com.
Editor’s note: This story has been edited from a previous version to remove information about the Diana Krall concert previously scheduled for Dec. 3 at Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford. That concert has been cancelled.
