Incoming

Chicago area fans of eccentric yet melodic rock songs from the U.K. should check out the Robyn Hitchock/Soft Boys Night: Certified as Good as Gold! event at Montrose Saloon this Wednesday. The local musicians involved include Dolph Chaney; The Embryos; The Dry Look; Phil Angotti; Phil Yates; Eric Chial; Danny Higgins; and Ken Robson. There is no cover charge, but patrons are encouraged to “tip hard!” Montrose Saloon is on the city’s north side at 2933 W. Montrose Avenue.

Robert Plant, whose Saving Grace album with vocalist Suzi Dian is now available, has Chicago area concerts with her coming up at The Vic Theatre this Wednesday and at The Old Town School Of Folk Music on Thursday.

Cheap Trick’s latest album, All Washed Up, is due out this Friday. The band has already teased fans with the catchy, energetic songs “The Riff That Won’t Quit” and “Twelve Gates.”

Long-time ska masters The English Beat will be ranking full stop tonight and tomorrow night at City Winery Chicago, just west of downtown.

The Black Harvest Film Festival has returned to the Gene Siskel Film Center in downtown Chicago and will run through this Sunday. Over 70 films from around the world will have had their Chicago premieres by the time the festival is over.

Big Brother’s Vinyl, a Chicago area band with a knack for performing classic rock songs that haven’t been covered endlessly by numerous other local acts, has a gig at Peggy Kinnanes in Arlington Heights this Friday.

International Pop Overthrow - Boston returns for its 22nd year this Wednesday through Saturday at The Square Root venue. Fittingly, 22 acts will perform over the four nights.

The Chicago-based Super Creeps David Bowie tribute band has a performance coming up this Saturday at Montrose Saloon. The Means (Of Joy Division) and that man of many bands, Eric Chial will be their special guests.

Gladys Knight’s concert with special guest saxophone player Harold Dawson takes place this on Thursday at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL. Knight recorded several rhythm and blues classics, including “Midnight Train To Georgia,” “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” and “If I Were Your Woman.”

The Webstirs, a Chicago-based band that’s been a reliable source for well-crafted and witty indie rock, will release its next album, High Up In The Trees, this Friday, and they’ll perform a free show in the Sidebar at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL that same night, with special guests recording artists Sunshine Boys.

The two-night 28th Annual Jeff Buckley Tribute at Uncommon Ground Lakeview kicks off this Sunday, with the second half taking place next Monday. Uncommon Ground Lakeview is located at 3800 N. Clark on Chicago’s north side.