• Machine Head and In Flames are set to perform Friday at 6 p.m. at the Santander Arena in Reading. Machine Head is a perennially vital force in heavy music. Machine Head have continued their exhilarating evolution, while never losing the furious spirit of their old school, underground roots. In Flames has continued to stick out in a music scene full of seemingly endless subgenres and transient trends. In Flames are an example of what it means to steadfastly stay true to your vision. Since forming in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1990 the legendary melodic metal act have toured the planet countless times and influenced many of today’s biggest metal acts without ever ceasing to push their own signature sound forward. Tickets start at $30. For more information, go to santander-arena.com/events/.
• Comedian Tom Cotter is set to perform Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Miller Center for the Arts in Reading. Cotter took the comedy scene by storm after finishing runner-up and becoming the Breakout Star from Season 7’s “America’s Got Talent.” He lost to a dog act, but don’t hold that against him. Cotter was the first comedian ever to be a finalist on the show and was the highest finishing human being on the show that year. The next year, “AGT” asked Cotter back to perform as a special guest star (along with Train) and then again to host “The Season 8 AGT Snapple Viewing Party.” More recently, Cotter was again invited back to the “AGT” stage — this time to perform against the best of the best “Got Talent” performers from other years and around the world in “America’s Got Talent: The Champions.” In one of the most talked about sets of the entire competition, Cotter received a standing ovation from the adoring crowd. You can find him headlining at all of America’s most famous comedy clubs including The Comedy Cellar, The Improv and Caroline’s On Broadway. Cotter has also been featured at the Montreal “Just For Laughs” Festival, the HBO Comedy Arts Festival and headlining “America’s Got Talent Live” show at the Palazzo, Las Vegas. Tickets are $32. For more information, visit millercenter.racc.edu/tom-cotter.
• The Back to the Eighties Show with Jessie’s Girl is set to take place Friday at 8 p.m. at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside. Jessie’s Girl has mastered stunning renditions of the world’s most vibrant songs, all while dressed up as the unforgettable characters of that decade. Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and many more come to life right before the dazzled eyes of the crowd. It is theatre meets live music, smothered in ’80s glitz. Jessie’s Girl primary lineup includes a team of NYC’s top rock and pop vocalists: up-and-coming superstar Jenna O’Gara, off-Broadway’s Chris Hall and renowned Sting impersonator Mark Rinzel. They are backed by one of the tightest bands in the city, made up of 20-plus-year veterans of the NYC music scene: Eric Presti on guitar, Sky on keys, Drew Mortali on bass and Michael Maenza on drums, each with dozens of credits performing with authentic ’80s icons who made the music famous to begin with. Tickets start at $24. For more information, go to keswicktheatre.com/events/.
• 10,000 Maniacs are set to perform Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside. Celebrating their 40th anniversary, 10,000 Maniacs have a lot in common with Jamestown, N.Y., the city that spawned them back in 1981. Both are honest and hardworking, a step outside the mainstream, and both possess a bit of magic. “It’s a city of blue-collar poetry,” says keyboardist Dennis Drew. “And that’s what we’re about, real-life stories. We’re a family, we do real work and we keep moving forward.” The band has covered plenty of ground in its 40 years, from cult stardom to international stardom, to their current status as a cornerstone alternative band. But the sound and spirit of 10,000 Maniacs remains consistent. The live shows embrace their entire catalogue, and the lineup is still anchored by four of the six original members. Drew, guitarist John Lombardo and bassist Steven Gustafson co-founded the band in 1981. Drummer Jerome Augustyniak joined in 1982, solidifying the rhythm section. And the two new members have long been part of the family: Mary Ramsey toured and recorded with the Maniacs as a viola player and backup singer beginning in 1991 before stepping into the front woman’s role 27 years ago. Tickets start at $56. For more information, see keswicktheatre.com/events/.
• Chris Kasper with The Lowlands are set to perform Friday at 8 p.m. at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville. Kasper is an American songwriter based in the Philadelphia area. He’s been active in the local and national scene for the last 20 years. Over that time, he has released seven records and toured with acts like Amos Lee and The Wood Brothers. His music traverses the Americana, blues, folk and rock spectrums, blurring the lines between genres. Kasper’s evolution into a no-nonsense songwriter is heard throughout his latest album, “Sunlight In An Empty Room,” with nods to songwriters of the ’70s like Bobby Charles, Lowell George and Neil Young. The Lowlands’ music is steeped in the raw spirit of old-time bluegrass and country, yet pulses with something unmistakably their own. Their lone album, “Bark and Twine,” gave us songs like “Old Piano,” “Pack of Seeds” and “Gambling Soul” — songs that stuck, songs that felt lived-in. They made waves in the Philadelphia scene, caught the ear of WXPN and shared the stage with legends like David Bromberg and Peter Rowan. Now, they reunite to open the show for their own Chris Kasper. Tickets start at $25. For more information, go to st94.com/events/.
