MUSIC PICKS MAR 20 - MAR 26 

• NMA website
• North Mississippi Allstars

North Mississippi Allstars @ The Egyptian Theatre 3/21-23
Formed in 1996, the four-time Grammy nominees North Mississippi Allstars are led by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, who are deeply rooted in the Mississippi Hill Country blues tradition. Sons of famed record producer Jim Dickinson (Big Star, Green on Red, The Replacements), the brothers have a deep, abiding love and understanding of American musical forms. The Allstars' music blends Southern rock, blues, soul and funk, creating a unique sound that reflects their regional influences. In their early years, Luther (guitar and vocals) and Cody (drums) were accompanied by bassist Chris Chew and guitarist Duwayne Burnside; since 2016 the brothers have—in the studio, at least—taken on all duties. On record and in live performance, the North Mississippi Allstars showcase a raw sound built on improvisation. Today, with 12 studio albums (2022's Set Sail being their latest), four EPs and nine live releases, the North Mississippi Allstars continue to carry the tradition of roots music into the present day, positioning it to endure into the future. The group comes to Park City's Egyptian Theatre for three consecutive dates (Friday, March 21 and Saturday March 22 at 8 p.m., Sunday March 23 at 5 p.m.). Tickets are $35 at egyptiantheatrecompany.org. (Bill Kopp)

• Bellamy Brewster
• Cassian

Cassian @ Boxpac Project 3/21
Combine heavy synthesizers and live instruments with samples of classic soul, funk and disco songs, and you get Cassian's (Cassian Stewart-Kasimba) signature nu-disco sound. Hailing from Australia, he's been locked in as a successful progressive house music producer in his home country for more than a decade. Stewart-Kasimba's single "Running" positioned him as one of Australia's rising EDM performers in 2015. Five years later, he secured a Grammy nomination in 2020 for his role mixing the pop-centric dancefloor melter "Underwater" for Australian dance music trio RUFUS DU SOL. Two years later, he won a Grammy alongside RÜFÜS DU SOL for the Surrender single "Alive." Stewart-Kasimba has gone on to release a lot of his own successful singles like "Lafayette," "Same Things" and "Magical" with ZOLLY (Phil Slabber of Crooked Colours). My personal favorite is his remix of Aussie 1970s rock band Icehouse's song "Great Southern Land." Cassian's remix adds a more atmospheric element to the song that transports you to the "endless ocean," "lost at sea," and "prisoner island" referenced in the song. He is at the point where he's consistently at the top of Beatport's charts and has played at all the major festivals, so it will be fun to see him in Mutiny Music Collective's more intimate warehouse, Boxpac Project. Check out Cassian's North America Tour on Friday, March 21 at 9 p.m. Only Tier 3 tickets are left at $30 at press time. Go to seetickets.us for tickets and event information. (Arica Roberts)

• via Instagram
• Ivy Avenue

Mopsy, Ivy Avenue, Porq @ Kilby Court 3/23
If you're looking for a fight night and want to chill with some awesome locals, you won't want to miss this show at Kilby. This show is going to be loud and high energy, so don't come if you get headaches easily. Garage rock band Mopsy is at the top of the bill, and you can always count on a good time with them. They're consistently rocking so hard at all of their shows, and fans are always moshing in the pit. One of their most popular songs, "Oh Honey," is lively and dynamic, and will easily get you moving. Their most recent single "I Call All My Homies Baby Girl" is fast and crunchy, giving off awesome rock/grunge/punk vibes. Also on the bill is Ivy Avenue, an SLC alt/indie band who have a wholesome sound that pairs with lovely storytelling lyrics. You can also find awesome guitar solos and unique riffs in their music like on their debut single "I-15." You'll be singing along with the lyrics to "I-15" in no time; it's a fun and sweet track that's hard to forget. Their newest single "Halfway" has much of the same, and the more you listen, the more you'll hope to hear more from Ivy Avenue soon. Bringing up the rear is punk/garage/rock band Porq, who released their debut album & Beans in February. Its balls-to-the-wall sound will have you headbanging so hard your neck will definitely hurt the next day. Come have fun at this all-ages show on Sunday, March 23 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be found at 24tix.com. (Emilee Atkinson)

• Cyph Jones
• Masta Killa

Masta Killa @ Urban Lounge 3/24
We have an APB of an MC Killa, looks like the work of a Masta. In terms of emcee-ing skills, the Wu-Tang Clan differs from pretty much any hip-hop collective ever in that they all have that uniqueness, their individual style and flow, constantly feeding off of and outshining each other—you could make a case for each of the members of the Clan to be one of the meanest rappers ever. Wu member Masta Killa (Jamel Irief, born Elgin Evander Turner) projects a distinct personality on record and with his live performances. He is a student of the game. "I was still learning and perfecting my craft. I was on [Enter The Wu-Tang] 36 Chambers but I was only on "Da Mystery of Chessboxin," Killa told Forbes. "Do you know why? Because that's the only rhyme that I had. That was the first rhyme that I ever wrote." Just try to imagine 99% of contemporary performers desperately attempting to ride the tsunami of grit of Wu-affiliated tracks. Look, Masta Killa's LP's No Said Date and Made in Brooklyn are both excellent, and I still get a flutter of adrenaline when the drum kicks in on "Duel Of The Iron Mic." Make sure you are in the place when the high chief Jamel Irief takes the stage. Grvnola & DJ Juggy open. Catch these musicians at the Urban Lounge on Monday, March 24, doors at 7 p.m. Tier 2 tickets for the 21+ show are $20 and can be found at 24tix.com (Mark Dago)

• Slpashley
• The Rocket Summer

The Rocket Summer @ Soundwell 3/24
It's not unusual for artists to adopt an alter ego. Is Lady Gaga a given name? We doubt it. And Madonna? Again, there's cause for skepticism. Chris Cornell once referred to himself as "Poncier." Dave Grohl used the aliases "Dale Nixon" and "Alex McCloud." Billy Corgan is especially prolific in that he's operated under the aegis of "Johnny Goat," "Billy Burke" and "Mr. Lemon." Consequently, there seems nothing unusual about the fact that multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter and producer Bryce Avary brands himself as The Rocket Summer. Yet there's no reason for him to be modest. With eight studio albums and various EPs to his credit, he's made an impact as an indelible artist whose career took flight at the tender age of 17. The nom-de-plume was inspired by Ray Bradbury's sci-fi masterpiece, The Martian Chronicles, and was affixed to the title of his initial EP. Then, after rocketing up the Billboard Top 200 and various Modern Rock charts, he's become a singular sensation, an artist whose penchant for power pop, expressive instrumentation and assured arrangements has made him something of an indie icon. Allmusic described his sound as ranging from "headlong blasts of pure power pop cheer to sonata form and ballads," summing it all up as simply "infectiously joyful." Considering the fact that Avary alone pilots Rocket Summer, that seems a pretty impressive achievement. Clearly, Rocket Summer offers a sound that's suitable for all seasons. Rocket Summer's "Hello, Good Friend" 20th Anniversary Tour comes to Soundwell at 8 p.m. on Monday, Mar 24. Tickets for this 18+ show cost $27 at tixr.com. (Lee Zimmerman)