Groove: August concert calendar

Top performers coming to San Diego this month include Ed Sheeran , Sam Hunt, Idina Menzel , Young the Giant and Tony Bennett.

8.1 AFI & Circa Survive

AFI, who released their self-titled (also known as “The Blood Album”) 10th studio album in January, join forces with Circa Survive, who are planning on releasing their sixth studio album, “The Amulet,” next month.

@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast

8.4 P.O.D.

After spending the end of last year on the “Make America Rock Again” tour with the likes of Alien Ant Farm, Puddle of Mud and Drowning Pool, San Diego’s Grammy-nominated rock vets hit the road on their own.

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego

8.4 Eagles of Death Metal

With Queens of the Stone Age releasing a new album, don’t expect to see Josh Homme here. But that won’t stop bandleader Jesse Hughes from delivering a rock and roll extravaganza in Del Mar.

@ Del Mar Turf Club, dmtc.com

8.5 The Crystal Method

It’s the 20th anniversary of Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland’s platinum-selling debut album, “Vegas,” and Kirkland is hitting the road by himself to help celebrate the big-beat milestone.

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com

8.6 Metallica

This hard rocking band will be near the end of its HardWired tour promoting its new album “Hardwired...To Self Destruct” when its members take the stage at Peto Park.

@Petco Park, ticketmaster.com

8.6 KRS-One & Slick Rick

This is a rare chance to see two of hip-hop’s legendary pioneers on the same stage on the same night - for $10! Don’t miss it.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

8.6 Ed Sheeran

Stars don’t get much bigger than the English singer-songwriter these days, and while he hits San Diego as part of the fourth leg of his Divide World Tour, the ginger-haired crooner will be on the road for another solid year.

@ Valley View Casino Center , valleyviewcasinocenter.com

8.6 Sergio Mendes

The Grammy-winning and Academy Award-nominated Brazilian musician has over 55 releases to his name. Mendes has worked with everyone from Antonio Carlos Jobim and Cannonball Adderley to Justin Timberlake and The Black Eyed Peas.

@ Embarcadero Marina Park South, sandiegosymphony.org

8.8 James Vincent McMorrow

The 34-year-old Irish singer-songwriter covered Chris Isaak for HBO’s “Game of Thrones” and worked with Kygo last year. He released his fourth full-length, “True Care,” in May.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

8.8 Neil Diamond

Already owning the title of “most ever appearances by any artist at the Valley View Casino Center,” the 76-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee returns to the venue in Point Loma to add to his total.

@ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com

8.9 Creepseed

Josh Kmak, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, one-time front man for local rockers Shady Francos, and contributor to both the Schizophonics and the New Kinetics, brings his solo project to The Belly Up.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

8.10 The Avett Brothers

The band’s ninth studio album, “True Sadness,” was produced with frequent collaborator Rick Rubin last year. It was nominated for Best Americana Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards.

@ The Civic Theater, sandiegotheatres.org

8.10 Sam Hunt

Before embarking on his own career, Georgia-born country music singer-songwriter Sam Hunt penned tunes for the likes of Reba McEntire, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney. His recent smash hit, “Body Like A Back Road,” is from Hunt’s upcoming second studio album.

@ Mattress Firm Amphitheater , livenation.com

8.10 Steve Earle & The Dukes

The veteran singer, songwriter and activist collaborated with Shawn Colvin on the album, “Colvin and Earle,” last year, and released his 16th solo studio album, “So You Wannabe an Outlaw,” in June.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

8.12 GZA

The oldest founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, GZA (aka Gary Grice) last released a full-length album in 2008. Since then, he’s lectured at Harvard, Oxford, USC, NYU and MIT (among other prestigious colleges), and collaborated with both Tom Morello and Vangelis.

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com

8.12 Ludacris

Christopher Bridges hasn’t released an album in two years. The three-time Grammy winner has been busy starring in The Fate of the Furious and hosting the reboot of Fear Factor. But new music is rumored to be on the way.

@ Del Mar Turf Club, dmtc.com

8.12 Hans Zimmer

The Academy Award-winning German composer and producer has created music for more than 150 films -- including the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, “The Dark Knight
trilogy and Disney’s “The Lion King.”

@ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com

8.12 2 Chainz

2 Chainz? At HOB? What else is there to say? The Atlanta-based rapper released his fourth album, “Pretty Girls Like Trap Music,” in June.

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego

8.12 Steve Martin & Martin Short

No, it’s not a “Three Amigos” reunion or a live-action third installment of the ‘90s “Father of the Bride” reboots. These guys are actually going to play music together. But there will likely be some comedy as well.

@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast

8.14 Neon Indian

Mexico-born, Texas-based electronic composer Alan Palomo last released an album, “Vega Intl. Night School,” in 2015. He appeared earlier this year in the Terrence Malick film, “Song to Song,” with Ryan Gosling, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Iggy Pop and more.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

8.15 Royal Blood

The Brit hard rock duo of Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher released their second studio album, “How Did We Get So Dark,” in June. It debuted at the top spot on UK charts, while hitting No. 6in the U.S.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

8.15 Tony Bennett

Two weeks before this living legend takes the stage at the Embarcadero, he will celebrate his 91st birthday! Only slightly less amazing, Bennett has won 19 Grammy Awards and sold more than 50 million albums.

@ Embarcadero Marina Park South, sandiegosymphony.org

8.15 Jill Scott

Can’t get tickets to the actress and three-time Grammy-winning R&B singer’s show here in San Diego? No sweat. Just head up the road to the Pechanga Casino where she plays a few nights later on 8.18.

@ Copley Symphony Hall, sandiegosymphony.org

8.16 Matthew Sweet

Now more than 30 years since his debut, the singer-songwriter released his 15th album, “Tomorrow Forever,” in June. It was funded on Kickstarter and features appearances from the Jayhawks’ Gary Louris and the Bangles’ Debbie Peterson.

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com

8.17 Brazilian Girls

The electronic quartet last released an album in 2008 - the Grammy-nominated “New York City .” After a few years on hiatus, the band started playing again in 2012 and a new album funded through Pledgemusic is said to be coming soon.

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com

8.18 DJ Quik & Scarface

In April, West Coast hip-hop legend Quik, and fellow Compton rapper Problem, released “Rosecrans,” a full-length follow-up to their 2016 EP of the same name. Scarface, veteran MC of Houston’s Geto Boys, released his last solo album, “Deeply Rooted,” in 2015.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

8.18 Steel Pulse

The greatest non-Jamaican reggae band of all time, these Grammy-winning British veterans still feature founding lead vocalist David Hinds and keyboardist Selwyn Brown.

@ Del Mar Turf Club, dmtc.com

8.18 Dungen

The Swedish psych rockers released their ninth album, “Häxan,” last year. It is the band’s first all-instrumental collection and is based on 1926’s “The Adventures of Prince Achmed” - thought to be the oldest surviving full-length animated film.

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com

8.19 Maceo Parker

In addition to his extensive work with everyone from James Brown and Prince to Ani Difranco and Parliament, the legendary sax man is an outstanding bandleader in his own right.

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com

8.20 Atmosphere

The Minneapolis-based indie rap duo hit the road on their Welcome To California Tour with ZULUZULUU and Greg Grease. Slug and Ant released their 11th studio album, “Fishing Blues,” last year.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

8.20 311

311 is still making music? Who knew? But then again, Korn is back on the road this summer (with a 12-year-old bassist, no less) and Zima has returned to liquor store shelves. So maybe it’s not so weird after all.

@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast

8.24 Young The Giant

Orange County alt rockers Young The Giant bring Cold War Kids and Joywave with them to San Diego for this special triple bill. YTG’s latest album, “Home of the Strange,” came out last summer.

@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast

8.24 Mew

The long-running Danish quartet has been a trio now for two years and released their first album as such, “Visuals,” in April.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

8.25 Dierks Bentley

The country singer/songwriter was last here in September to promote his 2016 album, “Black.” He returns on his What The Hell World Tour this time - a nod to album cut “What The Hell Did I Say?”

@ Mattress Firm Amphitheater, livenation.com

8.26 Pink Martini

Portland’s “Little Orchestra” returns to Shelter Island after last hitting Escondido in December. The ensemble released their 10th album, “Je Dis Oui!,” at the end of last year. It featured appearances from longtime friends Rufus Wainwright and NPR White House correspondent Ari Shapiro.

@ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com

8.26 Slightly Stoopid

Everyone’s favorite Ocean Beach stoner collective always saves the best stash (of songs and special guests) for hometown shows and still boasts local legend Karl Denson on sax.

@ Del Mar Turf Club, dmtc.com

8.26 Sylvan Esso

The North Carolina-based electro-pop duo is comprised of singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn. The pair released their second album, “What Now,” in April.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

8.27 Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and St. Paul & The Broken Bones

It’s a Southern-fried funk fest with the Louisiana brass of Troy Andrews’ Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue joining forces with Alabama soul six-piece St. Paul & The Broken Bones.

@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast

8.27 Ozomatli

Still going strong in their 22nd year, the long-running bilingual funk collective continues to tour regularly, has released a children’s album, and served as the house band for all three seasons of Gabriel Iglesias’ Comedy Central show.

@ Embarcadero Marina Park South, sandiegosymphony.org

8.29 Idina Menzel

Make room for the Broadway superstar, singer and reason every human on earth knows the words to “Frozen’s” “Let It Go.” She hits San Diego on a tour promoting the release of her 2016 eponymous fifth studio album.

@ Copley Symphony Hall, sandiegosymphony.org

8.29 KALEO

The Icelandic blues-rock quartet released their second full-length, “A/B,” last summer. Their songs can also be heard in a trailer for the Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black,” a trailer for the Marvel X-Men spinoff film “Logan” and in the “FIFA 16” video game soundtrack.

@ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu/calcoast