Robert Plant and his band The Strange Sensation, which includes former members of such acclaimed acts as Portishead and the Cure, are touring in support of their new release, “Mighty Rearranger,” due in stores Tuesday. After recording the Grammy-nominated 2002 solo album “Dreamland,” Plant laid low until recently when he wooed crowds at Austin’s South by Southwest music festival in March. He was also the keynote speaker. Plant and The Strange Sensation appear at Universal Lending Pavilion on July 12. Tickets on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. ($39.50-$65, Ticketmaster).
The Black Eyed Peas first surfaced in the mid-’90s with impressive mic skills and an infectiously positive energy. But between countless primetime TV ads in recent years and the incessant rotation of the 2003 album “Elephunk,” Will.I.Am, Apl de Ap and friends have lost some respect among rap enthusiasts. The Los Angeles group plays Universal Lending Pavilion July 26 in support of their forthcoming CD “Monkey Business,” out in early June. Tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday ($35, Ticketmaster).
Hoobastank and Collective Soul have been added to the concert lineup at the Colorado State Fair, which happens Aug. 26-Sept. 3 in Pueblo. While past state fairs have centered on country- and-Western acts, this year’s organizers underscored an effort to diversify their live music offerings. Other artists appearing at this year’s fair include Kenny Rogers, .38 Special and Uncle Kracker. Tickets for each concert are sold separately and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. ($15-$33 per event, Ticketmaster).
May Daze is shaping up to be one of summer’s most raucous local jam-band parties. Drummers, spinners, campers, pig roasters and improv-loving musicians will commandeer a 30-acre ranch in Strasburg over Memorial Day weekend for this resurrected hippie hoedown. The lineup includes Shanti Groove, Shakedown Street, the Flying Other Brothers, One Kind Favor, The Menagerie, Electric Side Dish and others. Tickets are on sale ($30-$75, 303- 544-5875, cervantes.baselineticketing.com).
-Elana Ashanti Jefferson
