Pop & Hiss in Pacific Grove has some interesting musical adventures in the coming weeks. What caught my attention first was this Thursday’s concert with Matt the Electrician, a name I was familiar with from a number of other shows around the state over the years. Turns out the Austin-based musician, whose given name is Matt Severs, has a connection to our corner of the world. He grew up in Pacific Grove and his first gig while in high school was at a cafe called Bittersweet.

“From about 1988 through early 1990, every Sunday evening I’d be joined by some friends, and we’d gather and sing songs for free coffee, occasionally a sandwich, and whatever we made in the tip jar. It was, as far as I remember, a great time,” said Severs.

He’s chosen to start his Summer Tour at the intimate venue, record store, bar and hardware store. I’m joking about the hardware store part, there’s actually a patio aspect to the store, but I thought it kinda fit into the electrician aspect of Matt Sever’s stage name. He actually was an electrician once upon a time, when he was getting his start on the Austin music scene in the mid-1990s. It’s said that he would arrive at gigs still sweaty from a long day’s work in Austin’s summer heat, so he would often introduce himself, saying “Hi, my name is Matt, and I’m an electrician,” to explain his appearance. His fans started to call him The Electrician and the name stuck.

According to his bio, by the time he released his fourth album, 2004’s “Long Way Home,” and he’d begun to grow his notoriety in Europe and Japan, he decided to give up his day job and just stick with the name and the music career. The quirky name also happened to fit into his style of music, an offbeat indie folk pop bluegrass. I’ve been listening to a sampling of his songs and he’s really good. His return to his hometown at a small local club is so cool, in a “going full circle” kind of way.

“I tend to write about things that have happened to me and my family,” he said. “Songs about the small things in life, which, to me, are really the big things.”

His most recent album is his 13th, titled “The Ocean Knocked Me Down” released in February 2024. His show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $20, available in advance through www.matttheelectrician.com. Click on shows and then on the Pop & Hiss listing. More information on the venue is at www.popandhiss.net. Also, Thursdays on a regular basis in the record shop there is an open bluegrass jam hosted by The Otter Opry, a dedicated bluegrass presenting organization. You can find their concert information at www.otteropry.org. Both these events occur simultaneously.

Going forward, owner/operator Michaela Kuenster laid out the happenings, “This (First) Friday, Steb Montez DJs (aka DKBADDJ) and he’s always fun (he spins funk, soul, classic, hip-hop), and Saturday we have a listening party for Turnstile (‘Never Enough’) at 2 p.m., as well as some Oakland DJs in the evening (6 p.m.) who spin all 45s of classic R&B/Soul. It makes you feel like you’re in the movie ‘Dirty Dancing.’”

The following week on Saturday, June 14, Los Angeles folk/pop musician Omar Velasco performs, presented by (((folkYEAH!)). Velasco is an accomplished singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who draws inspiration from a range of artists, including Stevie Wonder, Milton Nascimento, Mercedes Sosa and folk luminaries like Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Silvio Rodriguez. Clay Finch of Mapache is also on the bill, doors are at 7 p.m., show is at 8 p.m. for all ages. Visit www.omarvelasco.com for more info and to buy tickets, $20.57 through Eventbrite.

The 6th Annual Monterey Bay Jade Festival takes place Friday-Sunday, June 13-15 at the Custom House Plaza, Monterey State Historic Park. With its focus on jade and the artisans who devote themselves to the collecting of the stone and carving beautiful art pieces, the festival is also hosting this year’s inaugural 2025 International Jade Summit. It takes place at the Stanton Center Saturday, June 14 with the goal of educating jade customers and sellers on the science, history and value of jade. To sign up for the Jade Summit, visit www.montereybayjadefestival.org/2025-international-jade-summit-at-the-mbjf/">www.montereybayjadefestival.org/2025-international-jade-summit-at-the-mbjf/ to read about the 9 a.m.-6 p.m. event and to buy tickets.

Jade vendors will be set up all around the plaza, Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., no fee to enter. Live music takes place each day to complement your activities at the festival. Friday, Dan & Laurel perform from noon-2:30 p.m.; Jesse DeCarlo Funk Trio are from 3-6 p.m. On Saturday, Al James Duo are at 10 a.m.- noon; Brad “Guitar” Wilson at 12:30-3 p.m.; and Red Beans & Rice are from 3:30-6 p.m. Sunday’s entertainment starts with Magenta Spreen, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and to end the festival, the Lighthouse Band plays from 1-4 p.m.

Visit the website at www.montereybayjadefestival.org to get the full story on an additional aspect to the festival, the 3rd Annual Georg Schmerholz Jade Carving Exhibition, named after the master sculptor and jade artist. The exhibition is located in the Stanton Center hosted by the Monterey History & Art Association and presented by Barrett Fine Art & Jade. Free entrance.

This Friday, Night Market 831 takes place in Sand City, 5-9 p.m., and the First Friday Pacific Grove, 6-9 p.m.

Producer of Night Market 831 Michelle Findlay said on her Facebook post, “I love producing the Night Market because it’s like throwing a big huge fun party every month for myself, friends, and the community — while uplifting entrepreneurs, musicians, and artists. It’s literally the best. I hope you come out this Friday and celebrate summer with us! The Tremolos is playing and we have a ton of free kids activities this month including MY Museum’s wheelie mobilee, a mobile escape room by Escape Room 831, free pinball by Lynn’s Arcade, as well as some killer food, beer, and wine!”

There’s also a special performance by Samz School of Rock. This month is being called The Big Summer Kickoff Party and it sounds like it will be a lot of fun. Especially now that it’s light out for most of the event.

Pacific Grove’s First Night focuses on downtown PG businesses with special music performances sprinkled around town. The PG Art Center usually has art openings and the Museum of Natural History has an Artists Marketplace from 6-8 p.m. You’ve got choices my friends.

The Golden State Theatre rocked out with Zepparella last Friday night and the ladies in the band raved about how beautiful the theater is. Each time I go for a concert there’s also that same feeling, of looking around at the classic Moorish design and marveling at the painted ceiling. It was a good night.

This summer is really shaping up to be filled with music and comedy at the historic theater. Just announced for an appearance July 16 is Rodrigo y Gabriela, with presale tickets opening up Thursday, 10 a.m. I’ve been a big fan of theirs for many years and I’m excited to see them stop in Monterey on their Summer Sounds 2025 tour. The Mexico City-based duo play two guitars with so much passion and excitement, it’s a thrill to hear them over and over. Check out the website to get your tickets first at www.goldenstatetheatre.com.

Coming right up Thursday, 8 p.m., is the legendary Three Dog Night, with Trapper Schoepp opening; followed on Friday, 8 p.m. by Rising Appalachia, and Porch Rippers. Three Dog Night formed in 1967 and had 21 Billboard Top 40 hits between 1969 and 1975. Some of their hits include “Mama Told Me Not to Come” written by Randy Newman, “One” written by Harry Nilsson, “Eli’s Comin’” written by Laura Nyro, “An Old Fashioned Love Song” written by Paul Williams and “Joy to the World” and “Never Been to Spain,” both written by Hoyt Axton.

Danny Hutton is the only original member of the band still performing today. Tickets for the show are from $58.11 — $151.84.

Rising Appalachia is a group led by multi-instrumentalist sisters Leah and Chloe Smith. The Southern Appalachia and New Orleans-based sisters work with an array of international musicians and the band incorporates everything from simple harmonics with banjos and fiddles, to a wide variety of drums, kalimbas, beatbox, djembe, baliphone, congas, didgeridoo, tablas, spoons and washboard, creating a full mix of world, folk and soul music. Tickets run $46.26 — $240.76.

And the following week, on Friday, June 13, 8 p.m., the great blues guitarist Walter Trout performs with supporting act Katie Knipp. Trout is known from his early career as a sideman with such legends as Percy Mayfield and Deacon Jones. He also worked with John Lee Hooker, Joe Tex, Big Mama Thornton and Canned Heat. A songwriter and singer of his own music, the 72-year-old bluesman tours in support of his latest album titled “Broken.” He’s lived as a blues/rock musician during the volatile decades of political upheaval of the 60s through to the current divisive society in the U.S. and he’s got some stories to tell.

“I’ve always tried to write positive songs, and this album is not quite that,” he said. “But I always hold on to hope. I think that’s why I wrote this album.”

Tickets range from $37.25 — $82.31. If shows aren’t sold out you can purchase tickets at the theater box office and hour before door time. Located at 417 Alvarado St., downtown Monterey.