This weekend in Indianapolis music, frat boys jump out of their polo shirts and shell necklaces in excitement in Noblesville, Indianapolis businesses all over the city sell out of glow sticks for a certain party at Locals Only, gamers and DJ’s join forces and take over the Emerson Theater, bolo ties and cowboy hats migrate down to Bean Blossom for the mecca of bluegrass music, and soulful blues brings lawn chairs and music fans to Garfield Park. There’s a thousand musical things to do in Indianapolis this weekend, so get on out to those Indianapolis cultural districts!

The Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana has quite a big weekend coming up, with two massive names in United States music coming to the stage. First comes country crooner Tim McGraw’s Southern Voice Tour on Thursday. He’ll be playing with Lady Antebellum and Love and Theft in a show that patrons of 8 Seconds Saloon will love. Tim McGraw is sure to draw listeners from all over Central Indiana, so be sure to snag your ticket before they’re all gone. Also at the Verizon Wireless Music Center is jam band idol Dave Matthews, the rocker you either adore or ignore. He’ll be playing on Saturday and Sunday, so you’ll have two chances to attend this likely sold out show.

On the old Americana side of things, two Indianapolis festivals are going on this weekend that might get your goat. The first is the Pleasant Run Parkway Blues Festival that’ll take place in Garfield Park. Featuring lots of top Indianapolis blues artists, including Governor Davis and the Blues Ambassadors, the Pleasant Run Parkway Blues Festival is sure to features some sweet licks, soulful crooning, and a whole lotta heartache. If the Delta’s too hot for you, head into mountain country with the Bill Monroe Memorial Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival, which has been running this entire week. The final day for this massive Indianapolis event is on Saturday, so if you’ve got a pair of boots, stomp ’em down to Brown County to catch some top bluegrass groups.

And then there’s the wealth of special events going on at Indianapolis music venues around the Circle City. Locals Only is throwing their annual High Five! dance party this weekend, featuring Chicago remix master Midnight Conspiracy and Indy’s own hip-hop wordsmith, Grey Granite. Plenty of pulsing beats, careening glow sticks, and sweaty bodies will be at this party. On the stranger side of things, The Emerson Theater, normally the host of hardcore and punk bands, is holding a Super Street Fighter IV tournament this weekend with music provided by a cadre of Indianapolis DJ’s. Gamers and DJ’s are two sides of the computer-loving coin, so this pairing makes some sort of sense.

Of course, there’s lots more going on in Indianapolis than just the concerts and events above. Indianapolis bands are playing at Indianapolis bars, Indianapolis nightlife venues, and Indianapolis restaurants all over the city; that’s why we’ve got a show calendar. Take a look to see where your weekend will take you!

Indianapolis Music Venues

8 Seconds Saloon | Big Car Gallery | Birdy’s Bar & Grill | Chatterbox Jazz Club | Emerson Theater | Jazz Kitchen | Old National Centre | Radio Radio | The Vogue | More Indianapolis Music Venues

Indianapolis Bands

Amanda Overmyer | Cathy Morris | Flynnville Train | Gwen Stacy | The Elms | Haste the Day | Jennie DeVoe | Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s | Mudkids | Murder by Death | Sloppy Seconds | Straight No Chaser | More Indianapolis Bands

Indianapolis Musical Organizations

Arts Council of Indianapolis | Capital City Chorus | Ensemble Music Society | Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis | Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra | More Indianapolis Musical Organizations

Indianapolis Musicians

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds | Freddy Hubbard | Wes Montgomery | Cole Porter | James Spaulding | More Indianapolis Musicians

Indiana Music by City

Avon Music | Brownsburg Music | Carmel Music | Danville Music | Fishers Music | Greenfield Music | Greenwood Music | Martinsville Music | Mooresville Music | Noblesville Music | Plainfield Music | Westfield Music | Zionsville Music | More Indiana Music