The week ahead: Music

STUART MUNRO

RHYE The term “easy listening” was essentially made for the music of Rhye, a collaboration between singer Mike Milosh and producer Robin Hannibal. “Woman,” their 2013 debut, unfurled with an airy sensuality that blurred the lines between dance music, R&B balladry, and, for that matter, gender roles. Milosh sings with a feminine seduction that’s both disorienting and engrossing. Feb. 20, 9 p.m. Tickets: $22, $20 in advance. Royale. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com

THE CASKET GIRLS Creeping into town under the guise of the Graveface Roadshow, the Casket Girls are the main attraction on this multi-artist bill that showcases the dark-hearted Goth beauty of Graveface Records. Touring behind a new album, “True Love Kills the Fairy Tale,” the Casket Girls will be joined by labelmates the Stargazer Lilies and Dreamend. Feb. 20, 9 p.m. Tickets: $10, $8 in advance. Great Scott. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com

LOST IN THE TREES The first sound you hear on Lost in the Trees’ new album is of a woman’s otherworldly voice refracting as if echoing through a long, lonely tunnel. It’s a haunting liftoff for “Past Life,” from this North Carolina-based chamber-folk ensemble led by Ari Picker. It’s a dense, sophisticated album that will fit right in at the Museum of Fine Arts. Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20, $16 for students, seniors, and MFA members. Museum of Fine Arts. 800-440-6975, www.mfa.org/programs/music

STEPHEN MALKMUS AND THE JICKS “Wig Out at Jagbags” is the name of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks’ new album, and it’s a handy summation of just how loose and limber the songs are. Malkmus, the once and perhaps future Pavement mastermind, is a decade into his work with the Jicks, and they’ve hit their stride on their latest, which veers from jagged rockers to soulful ruminations. Feb. 25, 8 p.m. Tickets: $20. Paradise Rock Club. 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com

JAMES REED

ASAF AVIDAN His press has called him the love child of Dylan and Joplin, but with the singular sound of his voice, Asaf Avidan might just as easily be regarded as the sonic descendant of Little Jimmy Scott as well. The Israeli singer-songwriter is making his area debut Saturday. Feb. 22, 8 p.m. Tickets: $28. Somerville Theatre, Somerville. 617-876-4275, www.worldmusic.org

EILEN JEWELL Former Bostonian Jewell (now decamped to her native Idaho) makes music that perfectly encapsulates what is known nowadays as Americana, drawing on a myriad of American streams — country and folk, jazz and swing, gospel and blues, rockabilly and vintage rock ‘n’ roll — but ending up sounding like none of them in particular. Feb. 22, 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $18. The Sinclair, Cambridge. 800-745-3000. www.ticketmaster.com

THE WHISKEY GENTRY/THE DEFIBULATORS There’s a double shot of full-tilt twang on tap with this simpatico pairing. The Whiskey Gentry play high-test honky tonk fronted by Lauren Staley’s marvelous vocals, while the Brooklyn-based Defibs start from a classic country base and chop and channel it with the jittery energy of their hometown. Feb. 26, 9 p.m. Tickets: $10. Great Scott. 800-745-3000. www.ticketmaster.com

STUART MUNRO

SUN RA COSMIC CENTENARY A celebration of the 100th anniversary of the pioneering keyboardist and jazz visionary’s arrival on this planet, featuring former members of the Sun Ra Arkestra — Marshall Allen, Charles Davis, and Danny Ray Thompson — and an all-star Berklee faculty ensemble led by bass professor Dave Clark. Feb. 20, 8:15 p.m. Tickets: $8-$12. Berklee Performance Center. 617-747-2261, www.berklee.edu/BPC

DONAL FOX INNOVATIONS DUO WITH WARREN WOLF Groundbreaking pianist, composer, and improviser Fox’s music uncompromisingly melds Monk, Bach, and Afro-Cuban jazz with the poise of the Modern Jazz Quartet and the power of the John Coltrane Quartet. He’ll be joined in flight by the outstanding vibraphonist Wolf. Feb. 21, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Tickets: $25-$30. Regattabar. 617-395-7757, www.regattabarjazz.com

LEA DELARIA The outrageous and outrageously talented comedian, actress, and singer was the first openly gay comic to appear on a late-night talk show and has since scored triumphs on stage and screen, most recently on television’s “Orange Is the New Black.” She’ll sing Broadway, jazz, and American Songbook standards as well as material from her forthcoming recording of jazz interpretations of David Bowie tunes. Feb. 21, 8 and 10 p.m. Tickets: $30. Scullers. 617-562-4111, www.scullersjazz.com

JASON ANICK QUARTET A virtuosic performer on both violin and mandolin, the Boston-based Anick celebrates the release of his exuberant new CD, "Tipping Point," showcasing his unique blend of post-bop, classical, new acoustic music, and Gypsy jazz. Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $18. Regattabar. 617-395-7757, www.regattabarjazz.com

KEVIN LOWENTHAL

BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck leads the BSO in Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony and Dvorak’s Violin Concerto, with Anne-Sophie Mutter as soloist.
Feb. 20-22, Symphony Hall. 617-266-1200, www.bso.org

CANTATA SINGERS The chorus under David Hoose offers a free Saturday performance of Mendelssohn’s oratorio “Elijah,” preceded by a free open rehearsal on Feb. 21 at 1:30 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 8 p.m., Jordan Hall. 617–868-5885, www.cantata
singers.org

KRISITIAN BEZUIDENHOUT The eloquent South African fortepianist returns to the Boston Early Music Festival with an all-Mozart program. Feb. 21, 8 p.m., Jordan Hall. 617-661-1812, www.bemf.org

LEONIDAS KAVAKOS This formidable Greek violinist takes on three Beethoven Violin Sonatas, partnered by pianist Enrico Pace. Feb. 23, 3 p.m., Jordan Hall. 617-482-6661, www.celebrityseries.org

JEREMY EICHLER