The HillyTown Portland National Preview

Yes — the past few weeks have been filled with an onslaught of announcements of national acts coming to Portland (thanks to Lauren at the State Theatre and other bookers). Here are a few national acts coming to our city this spring and summer that we think you should check out — unless it’s a sold-out show (looking at you, Neutral Milk Hotel).

Or, at least the ones announced so far; after all, there is supposed to be a series of shows coming this year to the Maine State Pier with only a few announced so far.

• Hannibal Buress/The State Theatre, Thursday, March 12: Your probably know Hannibal from the weed haze that is Broad City — or as the comedian that opened the conversation about Bill Cosby. But he’s so much more than that and there is a reason he’s being booked for the State Theatre, some tickets are still available online.
• Lady Lamb the Beekeeper/Port City Music Hall, Friday, March 13: Our hometown heroine Aly Spaltro aka Lady Lamb is stopping by Port City later this week as part of her tour to promote her newest release After. The album is just as good as you were hoping — some other music website agrees.
• Screaming Females/SPACE, Tuesday, April 7: Ah, Screaming Females — how are they not honorary residents of Portland yet? Yes, the New Jersey trio stops in Portland a few times a year — but it’s okay with us. If you haven’t seen Marissa Paternoster and company do their thing live yet (what’s wrong with you?) this is a great chance to have your life changed.

• Matt & Kim/The State Theatre, Saturday, April 11: It hasn’t been that long since the seemingly endless energy possessed by Matt & Kim came to Portland — make sure you get plenty of rest the day before.
• Sufjan Stevens/The Merrill Auditorium, Tuesday, April 14:  Yes, it’s pricier than the last time Sufjan came to Portland in 2009 (it was a very intimate show at Port City in case you were wondering) but you know you will be there. Tickets are somehow still available though. But don’t worry — his new material is classic Sufjan — no Age of Adz electronics here.
• Ben Folds & yMusic/The State Theatre, Thursday, April 23: Somehow, Ben Folds is still around — and somehow Ben Folds is still releasing and performing great music. Don’t tell us “Brick” still doesn’t pull at least a few of your heartstrings to this day.

• Spoon/The State Theatre, Friday, June 19: Yes, that Spoon. Yes, that Spoon that has released some of our favorite albums in the last (almost) 20 years. There are still tickets available — you love them, your parents probably love them — it’s safe to say this is probably one of the biggest national shows coming this summer.

• Real Estate/Port City Music Hall, Thursday, June 23:  Seemingly every side project and affiliated group of Real Estate has come to our city but now, we finally get the main event. Real Estate haven’t released a bad record yet — and their newest release Atlas follows the trend.
• Interpol/The State Theatre, Monday, July 20: Although they have been here before, this will be the first time the Carlos D-less Interpol will be coming to our city. Let’s hope the power of their early records translates well to their slimed-down trio.

• Weezer/Maine State Pier Friday, July 31:  Let’s just all hope they stick mostly to their first two records.