friday

Lee Fields & the Expressions

7 p.m. Tremont Music Hall, 400 W. Tremont Ave. $13-$15. www.ticketfly.com.

The Eastern North Carolina native – who channels authentic soul, funk and R&B – has been making a steady comeback since the ’90s working with soul-funk revival labels and taking a similar trajectory as Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley and Betty LaVette.

Gasoline Heart

8 p.m. Milestone Club, 3400 Tuckaseegee Road. $5-$7. www.etix.com.

A working-class thread weaves through 2012’s “Thanks for Everything,” which expands on the act’s punk roots. Frontman Louis DiFabrizio performs songs solo and with the band. Also on the bill: Pullman Strike, AM/FMs, and Death on Two Wheels.

Popa Chubby

10 p.m. Double Door Inn, 1218 Charlottetown Ave. $10-$12. 704-376-1446.

Despite losing his lower Manhattan studio to Hurricane Sandy, the brawny NYC native is back, tempering his rowdy electric blues attack with introspective, mature new songs and the introduction of Beethoven and Judy Garland into his canon.

Jessica Lea Mayfield & David Mayfield

10 p.m. Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. $15. 704-376-3737.

The Ohio sister and brother are exceptional solo artists in their own right. Here they team for the Sibling Rivalry tour, performing as an acoustic duo unearthing rarely played gospel and bluegrass numbers as well as material from their own catalogs.

saturday

Steep Canyon Rangers

7 p.m. Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. $15-$25. 704-358-9298.

The Western North Carolina band takes a break from moonlighting as actor Steve Martin’s Grammy Award-winning backing band to perform its own bluegrass originals on the 2012 album “Nobody Knows You.”

Richard Elliot and Nick Colionne

8 p.m. Halton Theater, 1206 Elizabeth Ave. $30-$49. www.tix.cpcc.edu.

Scottish saxman Elliot has a penchant for wildly ornate instruments and for reworking familiar pop and R&B tracks. He’s paired with award-winning singer/guitarist Colionne, who adds his own soul-funk take on contemporary smooth jazz.

Desert Noises

10 p.m. Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. $8-$10. 704-376-3737.

There’s plenty of buzz around this Utah outfit, which recalls a more rock-oriented, ’70s Southern California-rooted Band of Horses (less twang, more pop) and features boyish bassist Tyler Osmond (yes, he’s a relative of Donny and Marie).

tuesday

Marina & the Diamonds

7:30 p.m. Fillmore Charlotte, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd. $26.50. www.livenation.com.

This Welsh/Greek pop singer combines the voice and intelligence of Kate Bush with the imagery, aesthetic and hooks more akin to a bubblegum Britney. On stage, she’ll go from tongue-in-cheek to waxing poetic about bulimia and girls’ struggles.

thursday

Wanda Jackson

8 p.m. Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. $20-$35. 704-358-9298.

Having enjoyed yet another comeback with the assistance of producer Jack White, the 75-year-old rockabilly star teams with second-generation folkie Justin Townes Earle, who brings out her country, gospel and early rock roots on her latest album.