A grab-bag of show announcements to start off the week:

*Atlanta prog-metal thrashers Mastodon will return to First Avenue on May 7 with French favorites Gojira opening. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon for $26.50. Mastodon just released a rather killer concert album, "Live at Brixton," and have been in a studio in Nashville working on their sixth studio record.

*Since it's too late now for them to finally take up my idea of moving their wildly popular toddler music fest to the Metrodome, 89.3 the Current and Children's Hospital & Clinics of Minnesota will once again host Rock the Cradle at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Children's Theatre on March 2. Grammy winners the Okee Dokee Brothers and unicorn realists Koo Koo Kanga Roo will both be a part of the lineup again, as will sun-dwelling haze-popsters Gustafer Yellowgold and kiddie-music newcomers the Ericksons. The party is free as always, and registration is requested but not required.

*Part of Katy Perry's rather perplexing performance at the Grammys, Juicy J is squarely in breakout mode right now and hitting the road as a headliner on the perplexingly titled Never Sober Tour, which stops March 28 at Myth in Maplewood. Tickets are already on sale for $26-$44. The Three 6 Mafia rapper just landed at No. 1 with Perry's hit "Dark Horse," and his own record, "Stay Trippy," was one of last year's biggest hip-hop albums.

*Myth also welcomes back Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society on the Revovler Golden Gods Tour, with openers TBA. Those tickets are also already on sale for $29.50.