Groove: May concert calendar

Top performers coming to San Diego this month include E-40, Chris Stapleton, Melissa Etheridge, The Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse.

5/2: Kiefer Sutherland

From 2002 to 2009, the “24” and “Lost Boys” actor ran the record label Ironworks. Last year, with an assist from Warner Bros. Records, Sutherland released his own debut, “Down in a Hole,” on the label.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

5/3: Leela James

The soul and R&B siren released her sixth studio album in March, “Did It For Love.” The show also features British singer Daley, who was discovered by Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego

5/4: Dweezil Zappa

After years of performing his father’s music as Zappa Plays Zappa, the Grammy Award-winning scion returns for this special anniversary run titled, “50 Years of Frank.”

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

5/5: Soulfly

Ex-Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera returns with the thrash-metal band he started in 1997. Soulfly released their 10th studio album, “Archangel,” in 2015. The band also features Cavalera’s son, Zyon, on drums.

@ Brick By Brick, brickbybrick.com

5/5: Oddisee

Washington, D.C. rapper and beatmaker Oddisee released a pair of albums last year, “The Odd Tape” and “Alwasta.” In February, he followed them with a new 12-track collection called “The Iceberg.” Oliver St. Louis joins him on this “Beneath The Surface” tour.

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com

5/5: Mariachi El Bronx

Los Angeles garage punks The Bronx switched gears in 2009 and began to infuse their music with traditional Mexican sounds. After three studio albums, they released “Live Cuts: Mariachi El Bronx Live at Teragram Ballroom and the Independent” last year.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

5/6: Face to Face

The long-running punk outfit returned with their ninth studio album, “Protection,” last year. The band is still fronted by founder/singer Trever Keith, who released the solo album “Melancholics Anonymous” in 2008.

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com

5/6: Diet Cig

New York pop-punk duo Diet Cig (Alex Luciano and Noah Bowman) released their debut album, “Swear I’m Good at This,” last month.

@ Ché Café Collective, thechecafe.blogspot.com

5/7: The Flaming Lips

Wayne Coyne and the gang return to San Diego for this all-ages show. The Grammy-winning experimental psych rockers from Oklahoma released their 14th studio album, “Oczy Mlody,” in January.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

5/7: Bob Schneider

After releasing a trio of EPs in 2015, the Austin, Texas-based singer and songwriter gathered 41 live tracks and packaged it as “Best of Frunk 2015.” Two of the songs included were recorded at the Belly Up. Recent San Diego Music Award winners Trouble in the Wind open the show.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

5/9: At The Drive-In

Fresh from their collaboration as Crystal Fairies, the recently reunited At The Drive-In brings Le Butcherettes out on the road with them. The former also released a new album this month, “In•ter a•li•a,” their first studio album in 17 years.

@ SOMA, somasandiego.com

5/12: Timber Timbre

The Canadian freak-folk four-piece returns to San Diego to promote their April-released sixth studio album, “Sincerely, Future Pollution.”

@ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com

5/12: 933 Summer Kickoff

Can’t wait for everyone’s favorite stretch of lazy, fun-filled months? Let Channel 93.3 help usher it in with an eclectic lineup that features David Guetta, DNCE, Backstreet Boys, Halsey, Hailee Steinfeld and more.

@ Mattress Firm Amphitheater, livenation.com

5/14: Conor Oberst

The Nebraska-born singer/songwriter once known as Bright Eyes released his eighth solo studio album, “Salutations,” in March. The hour-plus, 17-track opus came on the heels of Oberst’s “Ruminations” album, released in October of 2016.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

5/15: Brother Ali

This month, the Minneapolis rapper released his sixth full-length studio album, “All The Beauty In This Whole Life.” The 15-track collection was entirely produced by Ant Davis of fellow Minnesota crew Atmosphere. Best part: This is a $5 show!

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

5/16: E-40

Veteran Bay Area rapper, actor and entrepreneur E-40 heads up the “On One Tour” which follows his 2016 releases “The D-Boy Diary: Book 1 and 2” - his 23rd and 24th studio album releases.

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com

5/18: Chris Stapleton

The multiple Grammy-winning country musician and songwriter is headed out on his 2017 “All American Road Show.” He also made an appearance on the new live compilation album “Outlaw: Celebrating the Music of Waylon Jennings.”

@ Mattress Firm Amphitheater, livenation.com

5/18: Matthew Logan Vasquez

The former San Diegan and Delta Spirit frontman is on tour in support of his third solo release, April’s “Does What He Wants.”

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com

5/18: DIIV

Zachary Cole Smith’s Brooklyn indie four-piece released their sophomore album, “Is the Is Are,” last year. It contains the track “Blue Boredom (Sky’s Song),” featuring singer and actress Sky Ferreira.

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com

5/19: SWMRS

Before it was re-released a few months later through Fueled By Ramen, SWMRS’ 2016 third studio album, “Drive North,” came out on their own label, Uncool Records. The Oakland-based pop-punk quartet is fronted by brothers Cole and Max Becker.

@ The Irenic, theirenic.com

5/19: Chris Brown

The controversial singer and actor hits the road on his “THE PARTY” tour, which also features 50 Cent, Fabolous, O.T. Genasis and Kap G. Brown’s new album, “Heartbreak on a Full Moon,” is due to be released soon.

@ Viejas Arena, viejasarena.com

5/19: Thundercat

After winning a Grammy with Kendrick Lamar in 2016, Thundercat (aka L.A.-based singer, bassist and producer Stephen Bruner) returned in February with his third full-length studio album, “Drunk.”

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

5/21: Ann Wilson of Heart

It’s an evening with half of the legendary rock duo as she heads out on a new 20-date solo tour. The new run comes on the heels of Heart’s 2016 release “Beautiful Broken” and a long stretch of shows with Joan Jett and Cheap Trick.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

5/22: Bryan Adams

The Grammy Award-winning Canadian singer is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, with sales in excess of 100 million records. He last released a studio album in 2015, titled “Get Up.”

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

5/23: Rodriguez

After the 2012 Academy Award-winning documentary Searching For Sugar Man brought him back into the spotlight, veteran singer Sixto Rodriguez has regularly hit the road to perform and re-released his two studio albums - 1970’s “Cold Fact” and 1971’s “Coming From Reality.”

@ Humphrey’s, humphreysconcerts.com

5/24: Brian Wilson

The legendary Beach Boys singer has been hitting the road in recent years, but the name of this tour (“Brain Wilson presents Pet Sounds: The Final Performances”) adds an extra incentive to fans who want to make sure they don’t miss the icon playing one of the greatest albums of all time.

@ San Diego Civic Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org

5/24: Melissa Etheridge

The 55-year-old multiple Grammy-winning singer and activist (who has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame) released her latest album, “Memphis Rock and Soul,” in 2016.

@ Humphrey’s, humphreysconcerts.com

5/30: Modest Mouse

Isaac Brock continues to lead this nearly 25-year-old indie rock outfit with original drummer Jeremiah Green still in tow as well. The band last released an album, “Strangers to Ourselves,” in 2015.

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