Music: Best Bets

AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FESTIVALS IN NEW ORLEANS, Essence Music Festival tends to attract some of the top acts in R&B and hip hop to the Superdome year after year. Beyoncé is the headliner this time around, along with Maxwell, Keyshia Cole, LL Cool J, Trey Songz, Jill Scott, Emeli Sandé and Solange. Janelle Monáe (pictured), who performs Sunday, is currently riding high on a new single, “Q.U.E.E.N.,” an irresistibly funky track that features Erykah Badu and an outro rap from Monáe. Her first full-length LP, 2010’s The ArchAndroid, was an ambitious, futuristic concept album that heralded the star power of this charismatic vocalist. Her live shows with a full band and backup dancers were equally impressive. Expect a lot of that album’s crowd-pleasers during her Essence set, along with possibly a few new tracks from her upcoming album Electric Lady. Essence Music Festival is set for July 4-7 at the New Orleans Superdome. essence.com/festival

JULY 7: Nashville-based digital pop-rockers Paper Route perform at the Spanish Moon. thespanishmoon.com
JULY 12: Famed New Orleans bassist George Porter Jr. and his band the Runnin’ Pardners perform at Chelsea’s Café. chelseascafe.com
JULY 16: Catchy pop music abounds at the Varsity Theatre with danceable Brazilian band CSS—you’ll recognize their track “Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex” from those iPod commercials a few years ago—and the gleaming synth-pop of MNDR. varsitytheatre.com
JULY 19: Local seven-piece Lucy and the Gamblers bring a funky old-school sound to Chelsea’s Café.
JULY 20: British pop band The Psychedelic Furs brings ’80s classics to the Varsity Theatre.
JULY 25: Turnpike Troubadours, an Oklahoma roots rock band that often nods to Louisiana in its musical style and song lyrics, performs at the Varsity Theatre.

IN NEW ORLEANS: Lafayette favorites Brass Bed play the new venue Gasa Gasa on Freret Street July 5. American Idols Live! hits the UNO Lakefront Arena July 30.