FRIDAY

Texas lo-fi indie kings Spoon (8:45 p.m., M&Ms Church Stage) broke out of a decade-long cult following to become late-'00s favorites on the Current 89.3 and other hipster outlets with catchy, cool singles such as "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb" and the recent "Written in Reverse." Their two sold-out shows at First Avenue in April confirmed they're now headlining material. Virginia piano soul-pop hunk Eric Hutchinson is still riding his Perez Hilton-approved 2008 album, "Sounds Like This" (7:30 p.m., Sun Country Stage). Vermont beauty Grace Potter, 26, has a not-so-pretty, Alanis-like howl that's gaining her straight-up rock band the Nocturnals an industry buzz (7:25 p.m., M&Ms Stage). Animation-loving U.K. band One eskimO also opened for Tori Amos here last summer (6 p.m., Sun Country Stage). And don't forsake the local talent, including brooding popster Chris Koza's elegant band Rogue Valley (6:05 p.m.), plus electronic experimenters Dada Trash Collage and hip-hop-weened singer/writer Kristoff Krane (5 and 6:15 p.m., respectively, Vita.mn Stage).

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

SATURDAY

Sans fired co-lead singer Steven Page, Barenaked Ladies (9 p.m., Sun Country Stage) are a little less funny, and their repertoire has been pruned a bit (no "Brian Wilson," we've heard). But Ed Robertson is relying on his bandmates, especially pianist Kevin Hearn, to sing more in Page's absence. Maybe a better headliner option would be to check out the Avett Brothers (8:45 p.m., M&Ms Stage), the fast-rising North Carolina quartet that does proudly punkish (read: sometimes off-key) bluegrass/country/folk with irresistible energy, charm and originality. The biggest curiosity may be U.K. newcomer V.V. Brown (7:25 p.m., M&M's Stage), a soul singer following in the footsteps of Amy Winehouse and Duffy but with more girl-group verve, new-wave panache and the hit "Shark in the Water." Saturday marks the Basilica return of Guster (7:30 p.m., Sun Country Stage), the lovably sunny Boston popsters, and the first big-stage local performance of Ingrid Michaelson (6 p.m., Sun Country Stage), who is much funnier in concert than her hit "The Way I Am" might suggest.

JON BREAM