If he stays true to form, Jackson Browne's Vina Robles Amphitheatre show this Wednesday, Aug. 1 (8 p.m.; all ages; $55 to $95 at vinaroblesamphitheatre.com) will deliver a lot of his greatest hits. His last few shows have featured a very similar set list right down to the encore. If you're going and want to be surprised, don't read this! If you're on the fence and want to make sure he'll play your favorites, read on.

At both his July 20 show at Outlaw Field in Boise, Idaho, and his July 22 show at McMenamins in Troutdale, Oregon, he played "Some Bridges," "That Girl Could Sing," "You Love the Thunder," "The Dreamer," "Lives in the Balance," "Sky Blue and Black," "Doctor My Eyes," "These Days," "Lawless Avenue," "For a Dancer," "Looking East," "Your Bright Baby Blues," "Rock Me on the Water," "For Taking the Trouble," "Call it a Loan," "Red Neck Friend," the Little Steven cover "I Am a Patriot," "Never Stop," the Warren Zevon cover "Lawyers, Gun and Money," "In the Shape of a Heart" (he only played this one in Boise), "The Pretender," and "Running on Empty."

For his encore, he came back with the Eagles cover "Take It Easy" and "Our Lady of the Well," and when he was called out for a second encore at Edgefield, he finished with "The Load Out/Stay."

That's a pretty solid show, and with a few minor variations, it's the show he's been playing all summer. He's swapped in a few other songs, such as "Before the Deluge" and "Fountain of Sorrow," but the bottom line is this: If you're a fan of Jackson Browne, he's going to give you what you want next Wednesday in Paso!

He'll be accompanied by longtime bandmates Bob Glaub (bass), Mauricio Lewak (drums), Val McCallum (guitar), Alethea Mills (vocals), Chavonne Stewart (vocals), Jeff Young (keyboards), and acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz (guitar, lap steel, pedal steel).

Swamp funk!

Austin country-soul and swamp-funk act Shinyribs is coming to The Siren this Tuesday, July 31, thanks to Numbskull and Good Medicine Presents (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $15 presale at ticketfly.com and Boo Boo's or $20 at the door).

This band's a hoot! Fronted by singer-guitarist Kevin Russell (The Gourds), they mix country sounds with phat horns, backup singers, and R&B stylings. Russell's a ripping good guitarist and super fun singer. If you like Southern Culture on the Skids or Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats, you'll dig this! Still not sold? Go online and watch their cover of Bowie's "Golden Years." It's magic!

Also at The Siren this week, check out Lazer Lloyd on Wednesday, Aug. 1 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $15.50 presale at ticketfly.com or Boo Boo Records).

Lloyd—an international touring artist and roots rocking Americana singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist—can mix outlaw country and psychedelic rock or sing a heart-wrenching ballad with equal aplomb.

After playing The Siren, Lloyd and his band will co-headline the Mammoth Lakes Bluesapalooza the following day. Don't miss your chance to catch him in the intimate Siren! Local band, Blues Asylum, will back him up in Morro Bay.

Swoon!

Sixteen years ago, a new TV show took the country by storm. American Idol—inspired by the British show Pop Idol—set about discovering unsigned singers and letting viewers decide the winner via phones, Internet, and SMS text voting.

Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Hicks were a few of the show's season winners. There was also a panel of judges that critiqued contestants' vocal performances, including Paula Abdul, Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr., and others.

The show also introduced America to terrible performers like William Hung, and we developed our national love-hate relationship with Simon Cowell thanks to American Idol.

This Wednesday, Aug. 1, you'll have a chance to feel the excitement of American Idol Live! 2018 when it comes to the Fremont Theater (9 p.m.; all ages; $35.25 to $67 at eventbrite.com).

I have no idea who the contestants are, the judges, or anything else, but boy band In Real Life will open the show. The five members of In Real Life—Brady Tutton, Chance Perez, Drew Ramos, Sergio Calderon, and Michael Conor—were the finalists from the reality TV competition Boy Band.

A fair to remember

There are a few more days of musical entertainment at this year's Mid-State Fair. On Thursday, July 26, see Blood, Sweat & Tears for free at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. on the Fort Frontier Stage; and in the Chumash Grandstand Arena, see two-time Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $51 to $156 at midstatefair.com) and opener Jon Pardi.

On Friday, July 27, see Gary Puckett & The Union for free on the Fort Frontier Stage at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.; and in the Chumash Grandstand Arena, enjoy Music & Wine with KC & The Sunshine Band (7 p.m.; all ages; $26 to $46).

On Saturday, July 28, Kris Kristofferson plays for free on the Fort Frontier Stage at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. I'm pretty excited about this one! Kristofferson is an amazing dude. You might know him as a singer and actor, but in college he appeared in Sports Illustrated due to his rugby, football, and track and field prowess. He graduated summa cum laude in literature, earned a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford, and rose to the rank of captain in the U.S. Army, where he was a helicopter pilot (he also completed Ranger School, which means he can kill you with his thumb). Oh yeah, he's also written amazing songs such as "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," "Me and Bobby McGee," and "Help Me Make it Through the Night."

Finally, on Sunday, July 29, the fair wraps up with Saul El Jaguar playing free on the Fort Frontier Stage at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

The New Times Music Awards part 10!

Calling all local performers, music fans, and people who want to win a bitchin' Ernie Ball Music Man guitar!

New Times will begin accepting entries for the 10th annual NTMAs beginning this Thursday, July 26, through Monday, Aug. 20. You'll find entry forms and can read the rules on our website or in this issue on page 8.

Ernie Ball has generously donated a Music Man Valentine guitar (retail value of $2,199), which we're raffling off. Buy a $10 ticket for one chance to win or buy three entries for $25. You can get your raffle tickets at my805tix.com. All funds raised will help underwrite the costs of the music awards and live music event on Friday, Nov. 2, in the Fremont Theater.

Good luck and get those entries in!

More music ...

Yucca Valley Scotch- and Irish-centric act The California Celts play four shows this week: Thursday, July 26, at the Frog and Peach Pub (8 p.m.; 21-and-older); Friday, July 27, at the Avila Beach Farmers Market (4 p.m.; all ages); later that night in Mr. Rick's (8 p.m.; 21-and-older); and on Saturday, July 28, at Sweet Springs Saloon (8 p.m.; 21-and-older).

Shadowlands, our local ethereal folk pop super group, is releasing two new singles this month, and they have a few shows to promote the new recordings. You can hear "Father's Eyes, Mother Tongue" on the band's website, shadowlandscalifornia.com). Expect "The Wilderness" to be released by show time, which is Saturday, July 28, at Cambria's Stolo Family Vineyards (3 to 5 p.m.; all ages; free).

Santa Barbara's The Ulysses Jasz Band and SLO's The Tipsy Gypsies will play Hot Swingin' Jazz at the Basin Street Regulars' Sunday, July 29, afternoon concert at the Pismo Vets Hall (11 a.m. jam; 1 p.m. concert; all ages; $10).

Cambria Concerts Unplugged presents The Sunny Wright Trio on Sunday, July 29 (4 p.m.; all ages; $20 to $30 at my805tix.com). Expect jazz standards and old-fashioned elegance at the lovely and acoustically marvelous Old Santa Rosa Chapel. There are only 85 seats, so call now before it's too late!

Tex-Mex, folk, garage-psychedelic, and punk rock act Urban Desert Cabaret headlines the next Songwriters at Play at Sculpterra Winery on Sunday, July 29 (1 p.m.; all ages; pass-the-hat) and plays the Morro Bay Wine Seller on Monday, July 30 (6:30 p.m.; 21-and-older). Δ

Keep up with New Times Senior Staff Writer Glen Starkey via Twitter at twitter.com/glenstarkey, friend him at facebook.com/glenstarkey, or contact him at [email protected].