> CONCERT SAMPLER

Live music highlights from June 11 to 17.

Thursday Kirk MacDonald Jazz Orchestra, “Labyrinthe.” Big-band incarnation of the veteran T.O. saxophonist’s jazz vision is horn-heavy, right in the middle of a three-night stand through Friday that’ll bop along sweetly just ahead of jazz fest time. Some of the aces who helped on the Juno Awardwinning record Vista Obscura will be there, including Neil Swainson on bass and Pat LaBarbera among the brass. (The Rex, 9:45 p.m.) Friday Atlantis Airport, “Events Within a Movie.” Driven by bright keys and matching lead vocals from Sone, the Japanese fivesome sits at the hookier end of the prog-pop spectrum, balanced on the bill by the fierce no-wave thrash of Otori. That’s how rangy a grab-bag this Next Music from Tokyo typically runs to, now into its seventh year thanks to the curating and organization of Steven Tanaka. (Soybomb, doors 8 p.m.) Florence and the Machine, “Ship to Wreck.” Florence Welch & Co. bring in Britain’s No. 1 record with Jamie xx right behind at No. 3. Given that we do love us some Britpop, that fact that both are top of the bill for the inaugural Bestival Toronto seems fitting. The latter is down for a DJ set, which gives you an idea of the template for this festival imported from the U.K.’s Isle of Wight. (Hanlan’s Point, gates noon daily) Saturday Algiers, “Irony. Utility. Pretext.” The trio, originally from Atlanta and now out of New York, brings a heady mix of ingredients to their melting pot (mid-Atlantic post-punk, Bible-belt gospel, electro-goth and soul etc.). Beyond that, there’s a bristling political awareness shot through it all, delivered with spitting conviction by Franklin James Fisher. They only started performing together last summer in London, which led to a tour with Interpol. Just a hunch that they may well be on the way to big things. Pick of the week. (Silver Dollar, doors 9 p.m.) Elliot Cole, “Babinagar.” The New Jersey-based composer’s gorgeous “living-room song cycle” based on an Afghan folk tale gets its Canadian premiere as part of Fossegrimen, a three-part presentation of original opera (Chris Thornborrow’s The Moon) and chamber music from Ensemble Polaris, as the Music Gallery finishes another fine season. (Music Gallery, doors 7 p.m.) Marinella, “Stalia Stalia.” The Sampler’s mother-in-law used to put on the radio at 9 p.m. every Sunday and lie down alongside her favourite program of folk music from the old country, “the Great Lady of Greek Song” among the regulars, including no doubt this first big hit from the late 1960s. At 77, she rarely tours, marking this visit as something special. (Danforth Music Hall, doors 7 p.m.) Sunday Wrekmeister Harmonies, “Then It All Came Down.” The apocalyptic weight of this slice of droning metal from J.R. Robinson is no accident. Its inspiration is a Truman Capote jailhouse interview with Manson family murderer Bobby Beausoleil. Robinson’s Chicago crew hit with a big punch, landing in the same netherworld favoured by Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Swans, with a bent for the occult and performance settings like graveyards. They finish off the inaugural Sound Seance festival. (Geary Lane, 8 p.m.) Monday Paul Weller, “Going My Way.” Greying and chiselled and bearing up quite well beneath the Modfather nickname that will never leave him, Weller swings between pensive and upbeat on this track from latest record Saturns Pattern, with a voice as weathered as his Rushmore-like visage. It’s his first headlining visit to T.O. in three years; that he’s lasted for nearly four decades says a lot about his ever-changing moods and rocksolid dependability. (Danforth Music Hall, doors 7 p.m.) Tuesday Nneka, “Book of Job.” The Nigerian singer-songwriter is back on tour with a new self-produced record, My Fairy Tales, that leans more to Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat and, on this track, Marley-inspired roots reggae. She’ll bring more to the table live, drawing from her own stuff and tours with Damian Marley and Nas, but the themes remain constant: oppressors old and new and maintaining one’s belief system and one-love values in the face of them. (Tattoo, doors 8 p.m.)