Livewire: 10 reasons to rock out in metro Detroit this week

Wednesday, 4/13 Hanging Hearts @ Cliff Bell’s The Hanging Hearts are a free jazz trio with strong melodic roots that hang heavily on improvisation. They originally formed in 2013 after saxophonist Chris Wells collaborated with his friends Devin Drobka on keyboards and Cole DeGenova on the drums. And while their sound is firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, they cross between rock, pop, and experimental sounds all the time, making their shows feel fresh and new. All three musicians are classically trained, and their skills really shine when they play together. Doors at 8 p.m.; 2030 Park Ave., Detroit; Tickets $10.

Thursday, 4/14 Andrew Bird @ Royal Oak Music Theatre A lot can change in four years. For Andrew Bird, in the four-year gap between album releases, he’s experienced married life and fatherhood. Bird’s latest release, “Are You Serious,” shows a slightly more mature side to the Chicago musician. Maturity does not take away from the singer-songwriter’s easy-going and mellow style, however. In celebration of the release of his long-awaited new album, Bird is bringing his six-string around the country, performing new tracks and some throwbacks. So indulge yourself this Thursday, and enjoy the mature and mellow song stylings of Andrew Bird. Doors at 7 p.m.; 318 West 4th St., Royal Oak; royaloakmusictheatre.com; Tickets start at $36.

Thursday, 4/14 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band @ The Palace We realize that you don’t need any introduction to legend Bruce Springsteen and his even more legendary E Street Band, but the Boss is returning to Detroit this week, and we can guarantee it’ll be pretty special. Springsteen is celebrating the 35th anniversary of The River with the recent release of Ties That Bind: The River Collection — a box set that contains the original album, unreleased songs, and a two-hour concert film from 1980. Tonight, Springsteen and Co. will perform the entire album front to back before kicking into their classic canon with songs like “Born to Run” and “Dancing in the Dark.” Be prepared: setlists for this tour have been very long, with the band playing up to three and a half hours. But if you’re a die hard Springsteen fan, that won’t be an issue at all. Doors at 7:30 p.m.; 6 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; Tickets $36-$150.

Friday, 4/15 Simon Shaheen with Qantara @ Michigan Theater As part of its Global Music Series, the Universal Musical Society brings music from around the world to Michigan’s stages. This Friday, the UMS is featuring Simon Shaheen’s musical program Zafir. Directed and orchestrated by Shaheen, Zafir mixes Arab music from Al-Andalus with flamenco. While it sounds like an odd mix, the styles blend together seamlessly under the direction of the award-winning instrumentalist, creating a memorable performance that you wouldn’t want to miss. The event features Shaheen’s band Qantara, as well as the musical talents of Juan Pérez Rodriguez and Auxi Fernandez. Doors at 8 p.m.; 603 East Liberty St., Ann Arbor; michtheater.org; Tickets start at $20.

Saturday, 4/16 Drinkard Sisters @ Hagerty Conference Center When asked about upcoming shows for her absolutely terrific country-rock band Drinkard Sisters, Caitlin Drinkard replies that “the only other show we have booked now except for some daytime music festival in April at a community college in Traverse City — really hitting the big time now!” And while she was joking, her band should actually hit the NPR/Pitchfork big time any day now, as they are so seriously plugged in to the finest and most cosmic Americana like no one else in the state. This here fest, the fifth annual Sweet Earth Arts & Music Festival, at Northwestern Michigan College, up and over in Traverse City, looks to be fun as heck, with Charlie Millard, Third Coast Kings, and the Ragbirds also performing. Road trip? Starts at 1 p.m.; 715 E. Front St., Traverse City; nmc.edu; free.

Saturday, 4/16 Matthew Shipp Duo, Karuna @ Trinosophes Matthew Shipp is performing in a duo with Michael Bisio, while Karuna is the name for a collaboration between Adam Rudolph and Hamid Drake. That makes for a world-class event. Rudolph co-founded the stupendous Mandingo Griot Society in the mid 1970s. Hamid Drake has been one of the finest percussionists in the world for at least 30 years, now. Pianist and composer Matthew Shipp has been at the forefront of free playing since the early 1990s. And he plays telepathically with bassist Bisio. You might want to bring a pillow for your knees, as you’ll be bowing uncontrollably all night. Doors at 8 p.m. 1464 Gratiot, Detroit; trinosophes.com; Reserved seats $20, general admission $12.

Saturday, 4/16 Jai Wolf @ The Blind Pig Gaining the attention of Skrillex with a bootleg remix of “Ease My Mind,” Sajeeb Saha, better known under his stage name Jai Wolf, quickly made himself a household name for electronic music fans. Signed almost immediately after his remix was discovered, Wolf began working with big-name EDM artists including Alesso and ODESZA. Last summer, he released his first original single, “Indian Summer,” which showcases his futuristic pop and hip-hop style. The track met with rave reviews, and earned the up-and-coming producer spots at Coachella and Bonnaroo. Doors at 9 p.m.; 208 S. 1st St., Ann Arbor; blindpigmusic.com; Tickets start at $15. Show is 18 and up.

Sunday, 4/17 Slum Village @ The Majestic Infamously formed on the streets of Detroit 25 years ago, Slum Village is the true embodiment of Motor City hip-hop. The original lineup, of course, featured J. Dilla, Baatin and T3. Presently, despite having only one surviving member, Slum Village continues to bring Detroit’s underground hip-hop scene across the country, and the world. Today, the core of the band is the duo of T3 and producer Young RJ. Their latest release,Yes! features tracks that were co-produced posthumously by late members J. Dilla and Baatin. The event will be filled with the loud sound of Dilla, and reverberate with love for the innovative genius. Doors at 7 p.m.; 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit; slumvillage.com; Tickets start at $20.

Monday, 4/18 Eef Barzelay, Lac La Belle @ the Matrix Theatre Here’s a fun, intimate event featuring international cult singer-songwriter Eef Barzelay (the main guy from Clem Snide) with local act Lac La Belle. NPR Music wrote that Barzelay “may be the most underrated songwriter in the business, with a sneakily firm grasp on poignancy and humor, and his live performances convey a kind of awkwardly fidgety fearlessness.” Lac La Belle is so much better than their peers in the vest-folk community that it’s not even fair; Jennie Knaggs and Nick Schillace aren’t just heartfelt, but they rule. Doors at 8 p.m.; 2730 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-967-0999; $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

Monday, 4/18 Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridges @ Magic Bag Catch two up-and-coming, talented, young singer-songwriters for the price of one tonight. Memphis’ Julien Baker is touring behind an acclaimed and deeply honest album release, Sprained Ankle, on the 6131 label. Phoebe Bridges is based in Los Angeles and is touring behind a 7-inch single that was produced by Ryan Adams. She’s got a great voice, very strong songs, and did we mention her voice? It really does sound like some Dr. Moreau-styled hybrid of Gillian Welch and Elliott Smith. Catch these strong performers here; next time through they’ll likely be playing a far less intimate space. Doors at 8 p.m.; 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; themagicbag.com; $12.