Top concerts this week in San Diego (May 7-13)

May 7, 2018 6 AM PT

Top performers coming to town this week include K. Flay, Franz Ferdinand, Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite and Kendrick Lamar.

5.8: K.Flay

K.Flay loves the Observatory! The Chicago-based hip-hopper and multi-instrumentalist was last at the venue in January supporting her Grammy-nominated second album and major-label debut, Every Where Is Some Where. Now she’s back for an encore.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

5.8: Erika Wennerstrom

After fronting Cincinnati-born, Austin-based garage rockers Heartless Bastards for the last 15 years, the gravelly-voiced Wennerstrom tries things on her own. Wennerstrom’s solo debut, Sweet Unknown, was released last month.

@ Casbah, casbahmusic.com

5.9 Built To Spill + Afghan Whigs

Two indie rock stalwarts unite for a super-sized double bill. While BTS haven’t released an album in three years, the Greg Dulli-led Afghan Whigs dropped their eighth album, In Spades, last May on Sub Pop Records.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

5.9 Taimane Gardner

The virtuoso ukulele player and composer was discovered by Don Ho and has shared the stage with Earth Wind and Fire, Chris Isaak and more. In addition to a handful of self-produced albums, Gardner also released the 2015 instructional guide, Ukulele Songbook With Taimane.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

5.10: George Ezra

The English singer-songwriter’s 2014 debut, Wanted on Voyage, has already been certified four times platinum in his home country, and once claimed the top spot on Billboard’s U.S. Folk Chart, as well as the U.K. Albums Chart. The 24-year-old’s highly anticipated follow-up, Staying at Tamara’s, was released in March.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

George Ezra. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for CBS Radio)

5.10: Slayer

Metal’s most dangerous band is hanging it up after 37 years of incessant head-banging and mosh pits. This farewell world tour also features performances from Anthrax, Lamb of God, Testament and Behemoth.

@ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com

5.11: Hot Snakes

After taking over the Casbah two months ago, San Diego rock godfather Swami John Reis and longtime collaborator Rick Froberg bring their long-running band to a much larger venue. The first Hot Snakes studio album in 14 years, Jericho Sirens, was released in March.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

5.11: Tech N9ne

Tech N9ne, aka Kansas City rapper Aaron Dontez Yates, returns to San Diego in support of his 18th studio album, Planet. Released in March, the 19-song collection features collaborations with one-time San Diegan Snow Tha Product, Machine Gun Kelly, King Iso and more.

@ House of Blues, houseofblues.com/sandiego

5.11: Channel 933 Kickoff

After headlining the Valley View Casino Center one year ago by themselves, the Chainsmokers’ Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall grab some friends to join them at this star-studded summer kick-off show. Also scheduled to perform are Ne-Yo, Miguel, Meghan Trainor, Troye Sivan, Iggy Azalea, Lauv and In Real Life.

@ Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, livenation.com

5.11: Zaytoven

The German-born, Atlanta-based Grammy-winning producer and DJ has worked with the likes of Usher, Future, Migos, Lil Uzi Vert, and Gucci Mane. In March, he collaborated with Waka Flocka Flame and Big Bank on the eight-song album, Brick House Boyz.

@ Parq, parqsd.com

5.11: Rusko

When British DJ/producer Rusko was in San Diego last April he was happily getting pelted by paint at Life in Color’s 10-year anniversary show. It must’ve provided some inspiration, because he’s already released five singles — Guérilla, Look Out!, Kolamaya, Flash Gordon, and Hot — so far in 2018.

@ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com

5.11: Pan-Pot + Lee K

German tech-house duo Pan-Pot (Tassilo Ippenberger and Thomas Benedix) teams up with San Diego’s own Lee K for a sweet double bill.

@ Bang Bang, bangbangsd.com

5.12: Dirty Projectors

Still fronted by founder David Longstreth, the long-running, Brooklyn-based indie rockers return to San Diego. The band’s self-titled seventh studio album was released last year.

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com

5.12-13, 15-16: Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite

Damn, dudes! Four sold-out nights?! You guys go on with your bad selves. After winning a Grammy for their 2013 collaborative debut album, Get Up!, Harper and harmonica legend Musselwhite followed it up with last month’s No Mercy In This Land.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

5.13: Franz Ferdinand

Although founding guitarist Nick McCarthy left the band, the Scottish rockers returned with their fifth studio album, Always Ascending, in February. It was produced with help from Cassius’ Phillippe Zdar.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

5.13: Kendrick Lamar

This show is technically billed as Top Dawg Entertainment: The Championship Tour, but everyone knows it’s really all about K-Dot. The rapper, winner of multiple Grammys and, recently, a Pulitzer Prize, will be joined by label mates SZA, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and SiR and Lance Skiiiwalker.

@ Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, livenation.com