Can’t Be Beat

Amid hundreds of concerts this season, a few stand out. Stream these tracks before you see the acts hit the stage.

Jamison Ross gained fame with his Grammy-nominated debut album, Jamison, which was released in 2015 and features Jon Batiste on a few of the songs. The 30-year-old dropped his follow-up, All for One, this January and he stops at Scullers Jazz Club to play some beats off it on March 22. In the mix of covers and originals, keep your ear out for the rousing “Keep On,” a song the drummer/singer co-wrote with Richard Lollar.

The secret is out on Marshmello. The costumed DJ was unmasked as Chris Comstock a few months ago, nearly two years after he shot to popularity with “Alone,” which has more than 700 million views on YouTube. But now Marshmello will make you melt with his new single “FRIENDS,” which stars Anne-Marie and has nearly 40 million views in less than a month. Watch the house party-set video before his April 4-6 stint at the House of Blues.

Photo Credit: Peter Rigaud

Bill Murray’s musical career started as a joke decades ago on Saturday Night Live as a lounge singer. But after countless renditions of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at Wrigley Field, his dazzling turns on the piano in Groundhog Day and a jam session with Eric Clapton, he’s giving it a go as a working musician. (We can only guess that movie career just didn’t work out.) Last year he teamed up with Jan Vogler to release New Worlds, where he sings and reads classic American songs and literature. Before you check him out at the Orpheum Theatre on April 12, listen to his cover of Gershwin’s “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from Porgy and Bess.

Photo Credit: David McClister

Williams College grad Caitlin Canty drops her latest album, Motel Bouquet, on March 30 ahead of her Club Passim show on April 25. That gives you nearly four weeks to familiarize yourself with the new tracks from the Vermont native, whose songs tread the line between blues, folk and country. Canty’s playing two sets at the Harvard Square spot, so check out some of previous standouts such as “Get Up” off her Reckless Skyline album.

You might recognize multihyphenate star Kate Nash from her turns on Netflix’s GLOW or from her U.K. chart-topping singles such as “Foundations” or her 2013 Girl Talk album. The 30-year-old singer/songwriter/actress dropped her first single, “Drink About You,” in February off her upcoming Yesterday Was Forever album. Drink up the sun-splashed video of the pop-rock single before Nash stops at Royale on April 25.

Photo Credit: Wade Hudson

Roy Woods shot onto the music scene with a few early shoutouts from fellow Canadian Drake, and the singer’s embarking on a tour for his debut album, Say Less, at the Middle East on April 26. The album mixes his tastes for R&B, reggae and funk with a little electronic influence, and the titular track showcases his introspective lyrics alongside his crooning voice.

Berklee College dropout Clay Cook has done pretty well for himself after ditching classes to team up with John Mayer to work on their band, Lo-Fi Masters. Cook eventually toured with his uncle in the Marshall Tucker Band and then joined the Zac Brown Band as the guitarist. He recently released Unobstructed View, but listen to “Restless Man” off his 2013 North Star solo album before you catch him at the Red Room at Cafe 939 on April 28.

Providence-based band the Low Anthem spent a decade building up its reputation only to see it all hang in the balance after an auto accident while touring for 2016’s Eyeland. Amid a chaotic time and with some members of the band still recovering from the crash, Low Anthem’s latest, The Salt Doll Went to Meaure the Depths of the Sea, was born out of a Buddhist fable. The indie-folk band recorded the minimalist album in its Providence studio, and with a dozen short songs, it’s a quick listen before the group plays Brighton Music Hall on May 12.

100 Years since Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrence. The composer, who often worked with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the 20th century, is best remembered for his music in West Side Story, On the Town and a slew of other films and musicals. The Boston Pops continues its yearlong celebration of the Boston Latin and Harvard grad with the first of five tribute shows on May 11 that will play selections from Bernstein’s extensive canon

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