Music Picks June 26-July 2 | Live: Utah Arts Festival, Chris Hough, Mushman, Monorchist 

Thursday 6.26
UTAH ARTS FESTIVAL
Utah Arts Festival organizers went above and beyond this year in the music department, gathering a panel of “experts” (myself included) to help determine the local lineup with unprecedented attention to homegrown talent. The three-day event will feature Utah’s own Cavedoll (see p. 56), Bronco, Atherton, Vile Blue Shades, Calico, Cosm, VCR Quintet, The Mollies, Pink Lightnin’, Stacey Board, Purr Bats, Red Rock Rondo, Michael Lucarelli, DulceSky, Eliza Wren & The Jewel Thieves, Funk Fu, Free Press and many others. National acts include Moreland & Arbuckle, Chuck Prophet, Indigenous, Janiva Magness, Eric McFadden Trio & Bernie Worrell, Passafire, Javier Garcia, Traveler, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Three Squared, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper. For a complete schedule of performances, visit UAF.org. Library Square, 200 E. 400 South. All-ages. Daily through Sunday.

• Also Thursday: Ask the Dust & DJ DC CD Releases (Trapp Door); Faun Fables, Purr Bats, Chaz Prymek (Kilby Court); Hillbilly Hellcats (Bar Deluxe); Dan Weldon (Wine Cellar, Ogden)

Friday 6.27
CHRIS HOUGH CD RELEASE
Local jazz guitarist Chris Hough draws on both a formal training background and plain old life experience to shape his signature style. The Connecticut native honed his skills at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, but it took more than a fancy degree to inspire the new full-length album. Hough played around Boston for 20 years, hitting up tony galas and outdoor festivals before a bit of ennui set in. For one reason or another, he decided to jumpstart his career by relocating to Utah. With a little extra prodding from his wife, Hough got finally got down to business. The result: Turn For the West, a collection of 10 solid original compositions that coast along lighter-than-air drums, low and funky bass and, of course, Hough’s nimble strings. Listen closely, and you might hear the strain of shoveling snow, or struggling through unemployment. Or just close your eyes, and drift away. Zanzibar, 679 S. 200 West, 9:30 p.m. Info: 746-0590

GREGG GINN & THE TAYLOR TEXAS CORRUGATORS
Gregg Ginn is coming to town! But fair warning to diehard Black Flag fans: Neither the Taylor Texas Corrugators nor fellow Ginn project Jambang are hardcore—not in the traditional sense, at least. Ginn, former guitarist for the seminal ‘70s/’80s punk band, is still righteously bad-ass, but these days he applies his wicked skills to everything and anything that floats his boat. That includes the Corrugators, a group of seasoned artists who mess around with traditional jazz, country and blues for one heck of a smooth, instrumental groove. Ginn hits another steady stride with JamBang, swapping twang for vocal-free electronic/organic experimentation. Both bands recently released albums on Ginn’s SST Records, a label that continues to prove that the fire isn’t out—it’s just burning in new directions. If you’re still craving aggressive, intelligent rants and political commentary, there’s always Henry Rollins. Brewskis, 244 25th St., Ogden, 10 p.m. Info: 801-394-1713

• Also Friday: Utah Arts Festival (Library Square); Band of Annuals, The Devil Whale (Kilby Court); Somer Lei, Mike Iverson Band (Snowbird); Soulja Boy, J. Holiday & V.I.C. (Sandy Amphitheater); Tim McGraw (Usana Amphitheatre); The Aggrolites (Music School); 18 Wheels of Justice (Pat’s BBQ); Eric McFadden Trio, Labcoat (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Red Bennies CD Release (Urban Lounge); Too Slim & The Taildraggers (Bar Deluxe); Drop Dead Julio (Liquid Joe’s); Controversy (Wine Cellar, Ogden); Pigeon John (Paladium); Mark Chesnutt (Outlaw Saloon, Ogden)

Saturday 6.28
MUSHMAN CD RELEASE
In some respects, Lost Like Children (Fox on a Hill) is an old friend. Much of the album has been brewing for years, with several tracks creeping onto mix tapes and into live shows before principle songwriters David Fetzer and Patrick Fugit lassoed a proper sophomore album. And yet, the Salt Lake City troupe’s follow-up to Eddie Do is plenty surprising, from two songs spotlighting Fugit’s insanely deep Johnny Cash baritone to shiny retooled versions of “Eddie’s Balloon” and “Spaceman.” Mushman layers childlike wonder over jaded realism for a counterculture-lullaby effect that’s charming and a tad unnerving. It’s sweet, bizarre, brilliant folk-pop without parallel. The Lost Like Children release show coincides with Independents’ Week festivities: sidewalk sales, chalk art, food and giveaways. Slowtrain will even be accepting corporate music store gift cards to redeem in its own store! That’s something else. Slowtrain, 221 E. Broadway, 4 p.m. Info: 364-2611; Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7:30 p.m. All-ages (w/ RuRu, Chaz, Prymek, Aye Aye)

MONORCHIST CD RELEASE
We love Monorchist. The Salt Lake City punk band had us at “Action Girl,” an infectious riot-grrl-style single fueled by Kourtney Farnsworth’s bratty, deadpan vocals. At the time, they certainly weren’t the tightest band in town, but rough edges only added to their all-heart appeal. We’re not sure whether they’ve sharpened their skills since playing City Weekly’s 2008 SLAMMys (for which they won Best Punk Band), but if the new album, DQ-d, is anything like last year’s raw, stripped-down Keep Your Eye On the Ball, we’ll keep raising one fist in the air for Monorchist. Bar Deluxe, 666 S. State, 9 p.m. Info: 521-5255

• Also Saturday: Van’s Warped Tour (Utah State Fairpark—See Essentials); Utah Arts Festival (Library Square); Richard Marx (Sandy Amphitheater) Ingrid Michaelson, Greg Laswell (Avalon); Mad Max & The Wild Ones (Pat’s BBQ); Broke City (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Salt City Derby Girls After-Party w/ Chasing Zen (The Woodshed)

Sunday 6.29
The Chop Tops (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Utah Arts Festival (Library Square); Jackie Campbell, Tony Oros (Snowbird)

Monday 6.30
Snoop Dogg, 311 (Usana Amphitheatre); The Faint (In the Venue); Marie Digby, Eric Hutchinson (Avalon); El Olio Wolf, Dead Horse Point, The Black Hens (Urban Lounge)

Tuesday 7.1
The Veronicas (Kilby Court); Frank White (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Gutter Butter (Broken Record)

Wednesday 7.2
Tilly & The Wall (In the Venue); Legendary Shack Shakers (Bar Deluxe); Johnny & The Pacheos (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)

Coming Up
Maria Taylor, Jonathon Rice (Kilby Court, July 3); The B52s (The Depot, July 4); Styx (Logan Cache County Fairgrounds, July 4); The Randies (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, July 5); Girl In a Coma (Burt’s Tiki Lounge); Constantines, Ladyhawk (Urban Lounge, July 6); Underoath (In the Venue, July 7); The Slow Poisoner (Burt’s Tiki Lounge, July 9); The LBC (Harry O’s, July 10); Blackhole/Madraso Split EP Release (Urban Lounge, July 11)