It seems as if every other summer package tour — from Lollapalooza to Lilith Fair — is hyped as a stereotype-smashing breath of fresh air. In reality, most musical caravans end up reinforcing conventional notions about particular artists or musical styles. But the SUFFRAGETTE SESSIONS TOUR is one extravaganza that may live up to its billing. The tour gathers an impressive, diverse group of musicians and puts them together on stage simultaneously to perform songs selected by each member of the group. In the words of tour organizer Amy Ray: “The tour is a socialist experiment in rock ‘n’ roll. Gather a bunch of musicians from different musical genres who are relatively unfamiliar with each other and see what happens.” It’s hard to predict whether Ray’s experiment will be a revelation or a bust, but that uncertainty is exactly what separates Suffragette Sessions from the competition. Performers include Indigo Girls, Ann Wilson (Heart), Lisa Germano, Jane Siberry, Kate Schellenback (Luscious Jackson), Thalia Zedek (Come), Jean Smith (Mecca Normal), Josephine Wiggs (Breeders) and more. The Suffragette Sessions Tour comes to town Tuesday and Wednesday at the Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave. 312-559-1212.
Newport Folk Festival, Friday at the World Music Theatre: More a collection of roots rockers and singer-songwriters than real “folkies,” this auspiciously named gathering still boasts some remarkable talent. Performers include John Hiatt, Nanci Griffith, Marc Cohn, the Staple Singers, Rodney Crowell, Loudon Wainwright III, the Violent Femmes, Joan Baez, Wilco and many more. I-80 and Harlem Avenue, Tinley Park. 708-614-1616.
Bauhaus, Thursday and the 28th at the Riviera Theatre: Imagine Einstein walking into a convention of contemporary physicists, and you’ll have an idea of what this reunited quartet’s appearance means to the goth community. A recently released Bauhaus compilation, “Crackle,” succinctly demonstrates how, from 1979-83, Peter Murphy, Kevin Haskins, David J and Daniel Ash concocted the droning, tormented, sometimes grinding Wall of Macabre that’s come to epitomize goth rock. Scream, Dracula, scream! 4746 N. Racine Ave. 312-559-1212.
DJ Cam, Friday at the Smart Bar: Where many of his continental peers employ sampling to explore the farthest reaches of the techno-ambient universe, this influential French DJ uses his brilliant new sample-heavy record, “The Beat Assassinated,” to return to his hip-hop roots with an inspired, imaginative fusion of seismic grooves, deft guest raps and evocative sound collage. For this performance DJ Cam will pair up with DJ Djam. 3730 N. Clark St. 773-549-0203.
Guitar Shorty, Friday at Beale Street Blues Cafe and Saturday at Buddy Guy’s Legends: Perhaps the only bluesman whose moves are equally influenced by Guitar Slim and Kerri Strug, this somersaulting ax slinger is an acrobat on and off the fretboard. Shorty’s new LP, “Roll Over, Baby,” is a typically invigorating blend of Crescent City R&B, swinging soul and simmering blues welded together by terse, white-hot guitar work. Beale Street: 1550 N. Rand Rd., Palatine. 847-776-9850. Legends: 754 S. Wabash Ave. 312-427-0333.
Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Saturday at B.L.U.E.S.: If there were any justice in the world, Magic Slim would have exclusive rights to the term “Chicago blues,” as this longtime scene mainstay is one of the few performers who still plays it like it ought to be played: stripped-down, roughed-up and drawling a Delta accent. Slim and the Teardrops’ new record, “Black Tornado,” is a scintillating, cutthroat scrap of ragged rhythm and searing fretwork. 2519 N. Halsted St. 773-528-1012.
Other concerts
Dishwalla, Friday at Martyrs: The success of this nondescript California quintet should have the people at Hallmark scrambling to invent the 100-decibel greeting card. By delivering lines like “Let me be your healing star” through a set of Marshall stacks, Dishwalla has been able to spin gold records from utterly commonplace songcraft, proving that the difference between a cliche and an inspirational moment is amplification. 3855 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-404-9494.
Medeski, Martin & Wood, Saturday at the Vic Theatre: Nominally a funky organ-bass-drum trio, MM&W range like foraging nomads through R&B, hip-hop, pop and more via freewheeling jams that produce everything from avant-garde soundscapes to swinging jazz to silly stylistic collages. Often striking, sometimes trite. 3145 N. Sheffield Ave. 312-559-1212.
Gipsy Kings, Sunday and Monday at the Rosemont Theatre: Riding the same craze for innocuous exoticism that’s brought goat cheese, shitake mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes to American menus, the Gipsy Kings’ glossy, romanticized “rumba flamenca” has enjoyed remarkable success in the U.S. Although the Kings serve it up with passion and panache, their brand of flamenco is a touch too genteel to be real. 5400 N. River Rd., Rosemont. 312-559-1212.
Also: Slayer, Friday at the Aragon; Ray Charles, Sunday at House of Blues; Big Punisher, Wednesday at House of Blues.
