Social Animals (Photo by Brian K Vaughan)

TUESDAY, JULY 17

On its 2016 debut EP, Minnesota-based indie rock band The Social Animals sings, “Sometimes when life’s too easy, it can feel too hard.” Yeah. See them at DC9 with Augustus James. Doors 7:30 p.m. $10-$12. All ages, inaccessible venue.

A cappella legends Straight No Chaser have come a long way (“Julio, serve that scampi“) since their 1998 “12 Days of Christmas” video. Hear them in all their beatboxing glory at Wolf Trap. Doors 6:30 p.m. $30-$125. All ages, accessible venue.

Pearl Charles (Photo by Filip Milenkovic)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

Vocalist, drummer, guitarist, and autoharp player Pearl Charles brings her lithe alt-country pop to Black Cat, with Fascinator and The Dawn Drapes. Doors 7 p.m. $12. All ages, accessible venue.

British new wave band Boy George & Culture Club and the Athens, Georgia-based B-52s have had eight hits in the Billboard Top 10 between them, including a song that no doubt makes thousands of wedding reception playlists each year. See both bands with Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey at Wolf Trap. Doors 5:30 p.m. $42-$90. All ages, accessible venue.

When Clarence Clemons, perhaps the best known saxophonist in a modern rock band, died in 2011, his nephew Jake Clemons soon took on his role with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. But don’t expect him to play a slew of songs from the Boss; Clemons is a singer-songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist in his own right. Catch him with Brian Dunne at Union Stage. Doors 6:30 p.m. $20-$40. All ages, accessible venue.

Knox Hamilton (Photo by Connor North)

THURSDAY, JULY 19

Give your iPhone’s Sencha alarm tone a rest (unless it sounds like this) and switch to “Work it Out” by Knox Hamilton to get you up and out of bed every day. Hear the synthy pop-rock trio with Brother Sundance and Joseph Tilley at Gypsy Sally’s. Doors 7 p.m. $13-$15. 21+, accessible venue.

“Do you wish for world peace? Do you like music?” Then the World Peace Ensemble may be the band for you, if the group’s Facebook page has anything to say about it. Hear the eclectic group that formed at the Frost School of Music perform at Velvet Lounge with Kyle Guffey and American Darling Valve. Doors 7:30 p.m. $10. 18+, inaccessible venue.

Fort Reno holds its annual Night of 1,000 Cakes featuring Jerry Busher, Baby Alcatraz, John Davis—who will be joined for a song by Washington Post pop music critic and fellow Paint Branch bandmate Chris Richards—and others. Doors 7 p.m. FREE. All ages, accessible venue.

Queen Latifah (Photo courtesy of Wolf Trap)

FRIDAY, JULY 20

Film and music stars Queen Latifah and Common (who incidentally appeared together in 2010’s Just Wright) both take the stage at Wolf Trap. Doors 6:30 p.m. $45-$105. All ages, accessible venue.

For some of us, the opening credits to Dawson’s Creek were better than the ’90s teen soap itself, and we have Paula Cole to thank for that (and not Alanis). Hear the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter at City Winery. Doors 6 p.m. $30-$38. All ages, accessible venue.

Canadian singer-songwriter Ahi performed an emotive set at a Tiny Desk Concert earlier this year. See him with Reed Appleseed at DC9. Doors 7:30 p.m. $12. All ages, inaccessible venue.

The fact that ABBA is making new music after 35 years begs the question: Will the Swedish superstars perform with obvious fans Arcade Fire? See the Canadian indie rock band with Hamilton Leithauser at Jiffy Lube Live. Doors 5:30 p.m. $22-$70+. All ages, accessible venue.

Ezra Mae and the Gypsy Moon (Photo courtesy of Julio Jimenez)

SATURDAY, JULY 21

Bliss out with Ezra Mae and the Gypsy Moon, a sort-of psychedelic shoegaze D.C. outfit, at Rock & Roll Hotel with Rob Stokes Band and Stray Fossa.. Doors 7 p.m. $13. All ages, accessible venue.

The National Symphony Orchestra takes on one of cinema’s most recognizable themes (best-loved by beginning piano students everywhere) for Jaws in Concert at Wolf Trap. Doors 7 p.m. $40-$65. All ages, accessible venue.

We’ll spare you the “six degrees” jokes and just say that, yes, Kevin Bacon indeed sings with his brother, Michael, in a duo that’s headed for the Birchmere for a three-night run, Friday to Sunday, with Janie Barnett. Doors 6 p.m. $45. All ages, accessible venue.

SUNDAY, JULY 22

In case you missed it, ’90s pop-rock band Weezer recently released a cover of Toto’s immortal pop tune “Africa” (Here’s an explainer for just what that song is about.). Hear them with alt-rock lords the Pixies and Sleigh Bells at Jiffy Lube Live. Doors 6:30 p.m. $20-$89. All ages, accessible venue.

Grammy-winning Latin jazz conga player, vocalist, and bandleader Poncho Sanchez plays Blues Alley, as part of a mini residency Thursday to Sunday. Doors 6 p.m. $50. All ages, accessible venue.

The NRIs (Photo by David McKittrick)

MONDAY, JULY 23

Local bands The NRIs (whose most recent EP, An Echo for Each One of Us, is full of passionate folk rock), Small Dad, and Cave Baby play Fort Reno. Doors 7 p.m. FREE. All ages, accessible venue.

If you haven’t yet settled on a soundtrack for your own biopic, you might consider using the final four minutes of Yes’ “Starship Trooper” for a climactic scene. For a little more research into their catalogue, catch their show at the Warner Theatre. Doors 7 p.m. $37-$77+. All ages, accessible venue.