M.I.A. employs a stunning grab-bag of sounds in her nervy dance manifestos, although the 29-year-old singer-producer, born Maya Arulpragasam, also makes it sound stunningly easy. Widely considered one of 2007’s best discs, “Kala” cemented M.I.A. as one of the most fearless, exciting voices in music. If her 2005 Denver appearance was any indication, we’re in for another treat when she plays the Fillmore on May 17. Tickets are on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. ($25, Ticketmaster)
Mile High Music Festival’s previously announced lineup of Dave Matthews Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, John Mayer, Steve Winwood, the Black Crowes and others should ensure plenty of pre-sales when tickets are available at 10 a.m. Saturday. Check for updates to the July 19-20 festival, which takes place around Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. ($85-$150, TicketHorse)
Carrie Underwood isn’t finished with Colorado: If you missed the pop-country vocalist at the Pepsi Center on March 9, you can see her at the World Arena in Colorado Springs on May 13 with Josh Turner. Tickets are on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. ($32-$53, )
Journey will kick off its national tour with Heart and Cheap Trick at Coors Amphitheatre on July 9. Tickets are available at 10 a.m. April 5. Check back here for prices.
Nick Lowe’s work as a producer (Elvis Costello, the Pretenders) has the potential to overshadow his own music, but a recent reissue of 1978’s brilliant “Jesus of Cool” should help lessen that risk. Tickets for Lowe’s April 15 Boulder Theater show with Ron Sexsmith are on sale now. ($20- $27.50, )
Jim Gaffigan easily sold out the Boulder Theater nearly a year ago. Now the stand-up will graduate to the roomier Buell Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets for his Oct. 10 set are on sale at 10 a.m. today. ($42.75, Ticketmaster)
R.E.M. chose wisely when nabbing respected indie acts Modest Mouse and the National as openers for a June 3 show at Red Rocks. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. April 5, although members can get them a day early online. Check here for the latest updates.
Wilco will bring its increasingly glossy alt-country to the Pikes Peak Center on May 8. Tickets are on sale now. ($30-$35, Tickets-West)
She Wants Revenge will lead Be Your Own Pet, the Virgins and Switches on the Nylon Magazine Music Tour at the Gothic Theatre May 12. Tickets are on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. ($20-$22, Ticketmaster)
Celtic Thunder plans to make Denver one of 50 stops on its current tour, which finds the quintet of vocalists belting out traditional tunes like “Mountains of Mourne” and pop-rock like the Eagles’ “Desperado.” Tickets for its Dec. 12 concert at the Wells Fargo Theatre are on sale at 10 a.m. Monday. ($37.50-$57.50, Ticketmaster)
