After taking a summer long hiatus, the historic Orpheum Theatre off Tremont St in Boston will open its doors this fall to a variety of acts ranging from a children’s group to an orchestral ensemble, electronic mastermind, acoustic aficionado and jam band extraordinaire. Kicking off September at the Orpheum is Great Big Sea and Cake, Cake whom will also play a smaller set list when opening for Broken Social Scene at the House of Blues the night before their headlining performance. Great Big Sea, playing a repertoire that includes original tracks, is also well known for performing modern rock interpretations of tradition Canadian sailor songs dating back hundreds of years. Wrapping up September on the 28th is LCD Soundsystem, currently on tour for This is Happening, what they’ve confirmed to be the last album of the band’s short career- just their third studio album since their beginning in 2001.This tour has the potential to be LCD Soundsystem’s final go, with the band’s frontman James Murphy having made the statement, “LCD will still exist, to a certain degree, but people won’t have to disappear from their homes for months and stuff like that” in a June interview. LCD’s dance floor mastery will be accompanied by M.I.A.’s label’s latest sign- the chaotic, electronic/rock duo Sleigh Bells. October begins with a group from overseas, The xx. The group has soared in the past year, creating a buzz by attracting huge music festival crowds while keeping a pretty low profile in the meantime. The mysterious trio was met with critical acclaim after the release of their debut album xx, released last summer. The sleek, whispery nature of the album combined with the fact that it was made entirely in a garage just adds the The xx’s mystique. After playing at all five of the US’s most popular music festivals in the past year, the band is touring major cities, including New York, Philadelphia and Washington, coming to Boston’s Orpheum Theater on October 3rd. Also playing in October is Primus on the 10th, Lifehouse on the 16th and Thievery Corporation and Massive Attack co-headlining a show on October 19th. (more)

After taking his father’s place behind the drum kit for the London Led Zeppelin reunion in 2008, Jason Bonham, son of the late John Bonham, has decided to recreate the experience by taking it on tour. Citing that concert as “the highlight of his life”, Jason Bonham didn’t want the experience to end. While Zeppelin’s original band member Robert Plant refused to take part, saying “Led Zeppelin was John.” Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience will feature Jason on drums and an undisclosed cast of musicians playing Zeppelin classics alongside him, telling Rolling Stone, “Some of them are known people, and I wouldn’t want anyone to make a pre-judged idea of who these people are until they hear them on the first night.” After first rehearsing with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones for the reunion, Bonham’s hopes for a reunion tour were shot through the roof, realizing the potential in reincarnating the group. But with the band members expressing no desire to play along, Bonham began to seriously consider longtime offers to create a tribute band. “The people that put on the Beatles tribute show Rain approached me, and made me realize that I could do this while continuing to feed my own creativity and not feeling like a sell-out,” said Bonham. The tribute tour is set to kick off October 8th in British Columbia. Bonham says the show will feature his five piece band, archival video and his personal memories of Led Zeppelin. Bonham also revealed plans to tour with Black Country Communion, a new band featuring former Deep Purple bassist Glen Hughes and guitarist Joe Bonamassa. With this partnership, Bonham has expressed interest in the musicians appearing in songs like ‘Lemon Song’ and ‘I Can’t Quit You Baby’ and perhaps even Deep Purple Tracks ‘Burn’ and ‘Highway Star.’ Until the start of the tour, Bonham’s fingers are still crossed for Robert Plant to change his mind and join the Experience. The Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience will hit the Boston area on November 2nd at the Orpheum Theater.

The Allman Brothers Band will return to the stage once again late this fall for the first time since Gregg Allman’s liver transplant. Kicking off an intimate East Coast tour with three nights of shows at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre, the Allman Brothers will continue the eleven year touring span that’s been in full bloom since 1989. After years of health trouble stemming from Hepatitis C, in 2007, doctors deemed the damage to Gregg Allman’s liver so severe that a transplant was in order. Three years later, the wait for a donor was up and the founding member of the band underwent successful liver transplant surgery in late June. When the troubles first arose, the Allman Brothers were forced to cancel their annual residency at the Beacon Theater in New York City in 2008. The sudden surgery caused a similar interruption, forcing the band to cancel their performance at this summer’s Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago. Gregg Allman left the hospital on July 2 and set out for a quick recovery, with doctors suggesting a stage return by November, at the earliest. Allman has taken the doctor’s word and already planned a late 2010 tour to take place following recovery. “I’ve been itching to play since I got the operation,” Gregg Allman said in a statement. “Can’t thank everyone enough for their help and support.” Beginning with three shows at the Orpheum Theater, the rest of the “Evening With the Allman Brothers” tour dates have yet to be announced. Allman is crossing his finger with hopes to get back into performance mode before November, pressing to appear for a pair of solo shows at New Brunswick’s Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in mid-September. Allman will perform with the longstanding Allman Brothers lineup of guitarists Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes, drummers Butch Trucks and Jaimoe, bassist Oteil Burbridge and percussionist Marc Quinones at the Orpheum on November 18th, 19th and 20th, with tickets going on sale today.

Asthmatic Kitty Records announced yesterday that folk singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens will be on the road this fall, visiting historically iconic theaters across the country that he personally selected to visit along the way. This tour will mark the folk-pop king’s first proper big-venue North America tour in a long time, after opting to showcase his works-in-progress in intimate settings in 2009. Stevens’ third studio album, Michigan (2003), was the beginning of what was thought to be a “Fifty States” project- documenting his explorations of the US through studio albums, with one dedicated to each state. A hefty challenge to take on, Stevens has since expressed that it was just a gimmick, but continued to follow up the album with Illinois (2005). With songs about the people, places and historical events he came across upon visiting, the album proved to be his most successful record yet, critically acclaimed and featuring the well-known track “Chicago”. Sufjan Stevens latest studio album was released in 2009, The BQE, self-described as a “cinematic and symphonic exploration of New York City’s infamous Brooklyn-Queens Expressway”. The BQE was accompanied by an original film directed by Stevens, using the album as a soundtrack. The release was followed by a 3-night, sold-out live performance at the BAM Opera House with three dozen orchestral musicians, and even hula-hoopers, backing him. (more)

After wrapping up an incredibly busy festival season that followed their own world tour in promotion of their latest album This is Happening, LCD Soundsystem will return to the road, this time with like-minded electronic bands Hot Chip and Sleigh Bells in tow. Kicking off September 24th in Philadelphia, the tour will hit cities across the US for a month-long span, including stops at festivals like the Austin City Limits and Virgin Mobile Freefest. Though Hot Chip and Sleigh Bells are splitting the opening slots for the tour dates, the three bands will come together to play LA’s Hollywood Bowl on October 15th. So far it looks like the tour could be limited to the US after just having played an extensive world tour. The tour is scheduled to wrap up on October 23rd in St Paul, MN. This tour has the potential to be LCD Soundsystem’s final go, with the band’s frontman James Murphy having already confirmed that This is Happening is the last album of the band’s short career- the disc is only their third studio album released since 2001. Saying the band was consuming the member’s lives, Murphy added, “LCD Soundsystem will still exist, to a certain degree, but people won’t have to disappear from their homes for months and stuff like that” in a June interview. LCD’s dance floor mastery will be at Boston’s Orpheum Theater September 28th with an opening performance by M.I.A.’s label’s latest sign- Sleigh Bells. For now, the band is touring Europe, appearing at over fifteen festivals from now until the end of the summer before crossing the pond for what could be their last US tour. Check back soon for LCD Soundsystem tickets right here at Ace!

This week in Boston shows starts off with a performance tonight by Peter Wolf from the J. Geils Band. In addition to his work with that band, Wolf has frequently recorded and toured as a solo act. This year’s Midnight Souvenirs is his seventh solo album. Wolf will be performing at the Wilbur Theatre on Tuesday, May 25th with tickets currently priced at $55. Don’t miss Imogen Heap when she makes her way to the Orpheum Theatre this Wednesday. The Grammy Award winning artist is known to many as the singer from Frou Frou. In 2003 – 2004, Frou Frou had songs featured on a few popular soundtracks, including “Let Go” from the film Garden State, which led to a surge in the band’s popularity. She also has released three albums as a solo artist. Recently, Jason Derulo heavily sampled part of her song “Hide and Seek” in his hit “Whatcha Say,” which has led to another resurgence for Heap. Orchestra seats for Wednesday’s performance start at $89. On Thursday, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings will bring their funk/soul sound to The House of Blues. The Dap-Kings are the house band of Daptone Records, which is known for using analogue recording equipment (as opposed to more modern tools) in an effort to revive the essence of the genre in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Their cover of “This Land Is Your Land” is featured in the 2009 movie Up in the Air. General admission tickets for the show on May 27th are available for $69. Also at the House of Blues this weekend is Grace Potter & The Nocturnals on May 28th. The Vermont-based band is touring in anticipation of their upcoming self –titled album, which will be released on June 8th. They have been nominated for numerous Boston Music Awards and Jammy Awards. The opening act for Friday’s show is Anais Mitchell, and general admission tickets are available for $65. On Saturday, May 29th, New England’s Kiss Tribute Band ALIVE! will perform at The House of Blues. Appearing in full costume and makeup, the band will play all of your favorite Kiss classics from 1974 – 1978. ALIVE! will be joined by special guests Crazy Train (The Ozzy Tribute). General admission tickets are available for $55. Wrapping up the weekend at The House of Blues on Sunday will be Toots and The Maytals. Since the 1960s, The Maytals (as they were then called) have established themselves as one of the premiere ska and reggae groups around. After breaking up in the early ‘80s, the band reformed the following decade and has continued to tour and record successfully since then. You don’t want to miss this legendary band; tickets are still available for $75. Jersey Boys is still at the Providence Performing Arts Center, but won’t be for much longer. Catch it before it’s too late! This weekend’s performances have Orchestra tickets starting at $79.

Indie rock/pop duo Tegan and Sara are set to play the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA on Saturday, February 13th. The identical twins are currently touring major cities in the U.S. to further promote their sixth studio album “Sainthood” following its release in October. Featuring singles “Hell” and “Alligator,” the record went on to sell 22,665 copies in its first week while reaching #21 on the Billboard 200. Tegan and Sara first came together to make music in 1997 with their local school’s recording equipment. Soon after they entered and won the “Garage Warz Battle of the Bands” in Calgary. Over the years from six studio albums the sisters have won three Juno Awards, one WCM Awards and one YTV Achievement Award. Their most recognizable songs include “The First,” “Time Running,” “I Hear Noises,” and “Monday Monday Monday.” Tegan and Sara tickets are now available right here at Ace!

Longtime singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz is set to perform at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA on Wednesday, October 21st.  Before he makes his way there he will be playing a string of shows at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, and will also headline October 17th at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods.  The concerts are scheduled as a part of his 2009 American tour, where he has showcased his 2008 album titled “It Is Time for a Love Revolution.”  The album when released made it to #4 on the U.S. Charts.  From 1998 to 2002, Kravitz won the Grammy Award for Best Male Vocal Performance for four years in a row. He has sold around 40 million albums worldwide in total throughout his career.  Don’t miss your chance to see Lenny Kravitz rock out live. Tickets are now available!

Live Nation Inc will be selling the Opera House, the Orpheum, and the Paradise.  A group including Don Law and David Mugar are purchasing the venues for $22.5 million. (more)

The Pretenders are planning to go on tour in support of October’s Break Up The Concrete, their first studio album in six years. Chrissie Hynde and company will go out on a 34-date tour starting on January 29th. On February 4th they will make their Boston stop, playing the Orpheum Theatre. Fans can expect to hear songs from their new album, as well as “countrified” versions of many of their classics. Tour dates: January 29 – Albany, NY – The Palace Theatre January 30 – New York, NY – Roseland Ballroom January 31 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata-Music Box February 2 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club February 4 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre February 5 – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak February 6 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory February 7 – Ledyard, CT – Fox Theatre February 9 – Ann Arbor, MI – Michigan Theater February 10 – Cleveland, OH – House Of Blues February 11 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre February 13 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre February 14 – Akron, OH – Akron Civic Center Theatre February 15 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater February 17 – Milwaukee, WI – Northern Lights Theatre February 18 – Milwaukee, WI – Northern Lights Theatre February 20 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue February 21 – Kansas City, MO – Ameristar Casino February 22 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theater February 24 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre February 25 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen February 27 – Dallas, TX – House Of Blues February 28 – Houston, TX – House Of Blues March 1 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s March 4 – Phoenix, AZ – The Dodge Theater March 5 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues March 6 – Pala, CA – Pala Casino-Cabaret Room March 7 – Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues March 8 – Anaheim, CA – The Grove March 10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern March 13 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore March 14 – Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Casino The Pretenders Tickets are available now!