NYC summer concert calendar: July

Orange numbers indicate outdoor concerts
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4 Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band + Jenny Lewis
Every July 4, the River to River festival throws a huge, free concert at Battery Park. This year, the day is presided over by one of indie rock’s most thoughtful songwriters, young Manhattanite Conor Oberst, performing with his non–Bright Eyes outfit. Oberst’s songs touch on New York, his Midwest roots and political protest. Talented opener Jenny Lewis has been a child actor and a member of Rilo Kiley; she has lived to sing about both. FREE River to River Festival, Battery Park. 3:30pm.

7 Scanner + Mountains
The Winter Garden may be a great place to do lunchtime shopping or takeout-munching, but the atrium is also ideal for seeing live music. Tonight both Scanner and Mountains offer experimental ambience—by turns ominous and blissful—that’s sure to mesmerize (or unnerve) any clueless passersby. FREE River to River Festival, Winter Garden at the World Financial Center. 9pm.

8 Juana Molina + Curumin
Juana Molina began her showbiz career not as a singer-songwriter, but rather as a television comedy star in her native Argentina. Her music is bubbly, poppy and soft—yet deeper and artier than it first seems. At SummerStage, she headlines a night of artists from Argentina and Brazil, including São Paulo’s Curumin. FREE Central Park SummerStage. 7pm.

9 Matt and Kim
Having recently ignited an online firestorm with their video for “Lessons Learned,” which features them streaking through Times Square, this button-cute Brooklyn indie-pop duo serenades its legions of fans at scenic Pier 54. You can safely expect plenty of catcalled requests for nudity—if not the actual thing. FREE Pier 54, Hudson River Park. 7pm.

10 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart may never live down the Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine comparisons (are we the only ones hearing the Stone Roses?), but no matter: The local quartet’s brand of dreamy shoegaze is nonetheless a bright addition to the indie scene. FREE River to River Festival, South Street Seaport. 6pm.

13 Wilco + Yo La Tengo
Many hard-core Wilco fans were disappointed by 2007’s Sky Blue Sky, but the recent DVD Ashes of American Flags proves that the Chicago band can still absolutely shred live. If that’s not enough, perhaps a new (flashily titled) full-length, Wilco (The Album), will redeem the group in June. Yo La Tengo makes the trek across the rivers to solidify this never-say-die bill. KeySpan Park. 8pm, $45.

14,15,19,20,21 Jonas Brothers
America’s squeakiest boy band may be mocked on South Park, but the Jo Bros. have proved lately that they can goof around with the best of ’em—check out the trio’s hair-metal skit on SNL for evidence of this. If bubblegum guitar pop isn’t your bag, don’t worry: You won’t hear a thing above the screaming. July 14, 15: Izod Center. 7:30pm, $26.50–$86.50. July 19–21: Nassau Coliseum. 7:30pm, $26–$86.

16,17,19 Ponderosa Stomp
Touring the soul and sounds of New Orleans all over the map for the eighth year running, Ponderosa Stomp comes to Lincoln Center, starting with two outdoor shows concentrating on R&B (July 16) and rockabilly (July 17). During the final date, Alice Tully Hall will be rocking to the sounds of Dr. John, the Dixie Cups, Zigaboo Modeliste, Wardell Quezergue and other Big Easy legends. July 16, 17: Damrosch Park Bandshell. 6:30pm, $15. July 19: Alice Tully Hall. 8pm, $30–$40.

18 Q-Tip + Chester French
Adenoidal hip-hop icon Q-Tip, frontman for seminal combo A Tribe Called Quest, serves up some of the loose-limbed, funky jams from his latest solo disc, The Renaissance. Sharing the show is Chester French, a pop duo fledged at Harvard University and currently the toast of the hip-hop elite. FREE Central Park SummerStage. 3pm.

18 Siren Festival with Built to Spill + The Raveonettes + Frightened Rabbit + Monotonix and more
This annual summer festival can be a bitch to deal with, but year in and year out, the lineup makes it worth braving the sweaty crowds. This July’s docket boasts a major coup (Built to Spill) as well as cult artists (the Raveonettes, Monotonix) and emerging indies. More announcements about the lineup are coming down the pike; keep your eyes peeled (siren.villagevoice.com/siren) and stock up on sunscreen. FREE Coney Island. Noon.

19 Rock the Bells with Nas and Damian Marley + The Roots + Big Boi + Common and more
The season’s biggest hip-hop package tour is headlined by Queensbridge hero Nas and reggae royal Damian “Junior Gong” Marley, highlighting material from their new collaborative album, Distant Relatives, which weds Nas’s distinctive spitting with Marley’s hard-hitting beats. The top-to-bottom solid bill also includes the Roots, OutKast’s Big Boi, Common, Busta Rhymes and the GZA, as well as strong comers like the Knux, Mickey Factz and Slaughterhouse. Nikon at Jones Beach Theater. Noon, $40.50–$130.50.

What to expect: NAS
A while back: Fan Jay Newman was at the Nokia Theatre in 2006 when Nas gave “a rare performance of the 2001 Jay-Z dis track ‘Ether,’ Busta Rhymes filled in for Diddy on ‘Hate Me Now,’ and scores of people hopped the fence to get in.”
This summer: One of the more intriguing team-ups in recent hip-hop, Nas and reggae star Damian Marley (Bob’s son) have already hit the studio to record a forthcoming record. At Rock the Bells (July 19), we all get to hear the sound of their wild collabo.

19,20 Summer Slaughter Tour with Necrophagist + Suffocation + Ensiferum + Darkest Hour and more
Hypertechnical German death-metal outfit Necrophagist has made a habit out of headlining the Summer Slaughter tour. Following a considerable buildup, word has it that the band will finally have a new album to hawk. Also on board are the ever-vicious NYC speed freaks Suffocation and Finland’s folk-infused Ensiferum. Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza. 6:30pm; advance $27.50, day of show $30.

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AUGUST

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