Music Forecast: Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen, Mavis Staples, Melanie Martinez

Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen

Thursday night at the Uptown, Grammy Award–winning artist Lyle Lovett co-headlines with fellow Texas singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen: two master storytellers with a long history of mutual admiration. For this show — one of just a few on this special spring tour — Lovett and Keen swap tales and songs onstage, armed with acoustic guitars. The concert is meant to recall “The Front Porch Song,” which Keen wrote with Lovett in the late 1970s, while they were both students at Texas A&M. Settle in for a long night of comfortable, insightful folk from two artists who are leaders in their category.

Thursday, March 10

Uptown, 3700 Broadway

Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples was a respected household name throughout the 1970s, back when she was singing with her brother, two sisters and father as the Staple Family Singers — the group that gave us “I’ll Take You There” and “Let’s Do It Again.” She got the spotlight back in 2010, when Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy collaborated with her on that year’s You Are Not Alone, which earned Staples her first Grammy Award (for Best Americana Album). You can’t really call that release a comeback, because Staples hadn’t retired, but it was nevertheless the gateway through which a whole new generation found Staples. And everyone else was reminded that she still had plenty of power in her pipes. Sunday, enjoy the company of two living legends: Appearing with Staples is Nick Lowe, a storied singer-songwriter (“Cruel to Be Kind”) making a rare local appearance.

Sunday, March 13

Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway

Melanie Martinez
If you’re a fan of The Voice, you likely remember Melanie Martinez from the show’s third season. If you’re too good for that show, there’s still a good chance you were introduced to Martinez with her debut full-length, Cry Baby, released last August. If you like your synth pop with a side of sad, delivered by breathy vocals, Martinez’s particular brand of bitter bubblegum should suit you well. And if you need further convincing: Martinez has been racking up sold-out shows on top of enthusiastic reviews on this tour. There are still plenty of tickets left for her Midland date, though, so maybe commit yourself to going out on a school night.

Tuesday, March 15

Midland, 1228 Main