Before you get inundated in street parties and music festivals, head out to see one (or more!) of these great shows at local venues this weekend.

Friday

Nickel Creek 

The acoustic trio returns in support of an excellent new album, A Dotted Line, which also marks the band’s 25th anniversary. Filled with the group’s honey drenched harmonies and impressive and respectful nods to bluegrass, folk and early American music, the show comes after a hiatus and is a welcome return to the three friends’ beautiful work together. Riviera Theater at 8. Tickets at jamusa.com.

Baths and Young Fathers

Los Angeles electronic and alt hip-hop label Anticon brings two of its artists in town tonight. Baths in the nome de plume of Will Wiesenfeld, an electronic producer and singer whose new record, Obsidian, will suit fans of blissful beats and earnest vocals just fine—think Twin Shadow with less '80s pop and more classical influence. Scottish crew Young Fathers, an experimental collective that falls in nicely with Anticon’s roster, supports. Concord Music Hall at 8:30. Tickets at concordmusichall.com.

Queens of the Stone Age and Chelsea Wolfe

Josh Homme’s band of brothers may never be as good as when they released Songs for the Deaf, but that’s OK. 2013 LP Like Clockwork was good enough to sate contemporary hard rock fans and Homme’s sexy onstage stoicism and killer guitar chops always make for a great live show. Lovely opener Chelsea Wolfe skews toward the goth side of experimentalism but much like a Zola Jesus, has the potential to cross over into pop fandom. Aragon Ballroom at 8. Tickets at jamusa.com.

Jessica Lee Mayfield

Ohio singer-songwriter Jessica Lee Mayfield embodies the delicate stoicism of outsider folk and imbues her twangy tunes with enough rock edge for a good stage show. Empty Bottle at 9. Tickets at emptybottle.com.

Saturday

Doug Paisley

Canadian singer-songwriter Doug Paisley’s newest record, Strong Feelings, delivers on its title with deep and devastating lyricism, and haunting, minimal, twang-infused arrangements. His song craft is at the level of great '70s folk and roots acts and tonight is a chance to catch in an intimate solo setting. You know headliner Gord Downie from the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. Lincoln Hall at 9. Tickets at lincolnhall.com.

Teen

Lady quartet Teen hits town behind their second album The Way and Color, which ditches their early guitar-driven fare for a stab at an artful take on '90s R&B. It’s the sound that seemingly every indie band strives for these days, but these gals actually pull it off to compelling effect. Schubas at 10. Tickets at schubas.com.

Slint

Lousville post-rock act Slint’s 1991 Magnum Opus Spiderland cemented the popularity of the genre (and the appeal of the crescendo). Though today the album sounds dated, tonight is an acceptable opportunity to thoroughly indulge in youth nostalgia with likeminded peers and newbie appreciators who wished they could have been there. Bottom Lounge at 11. Tickets at bottomlounge.com.

Timbre Timbre

Canadian folk collective Timbre Timbre captured the ears of the blogosphere with their 2009 Southern Gothic inspired tune “Magic Arrow,” which got prominent placement in an episode of Breaking Bad. Tonight they return to town behind 2014 album Hot Dreams, which continues in the same vein as their signature spooky, minimal indie blues. Empty Bottle at 6. Tickets at emptybottle.com.

Sunday

Marissa Nadler

There’s no denying the captivating power of Nadler’s soul baring rock compositions and confessional lyricism. On her new album, The Sister, she continues in that tradition, emoting personal struggle and growth through her beautiful voice that remains pure and front-and-center of her minimal arrangements to fruitful effect. Empty Bottle at 7. Tickets at emptybottle.com.