Arts

15 can't-miss concerts in Boston this August

From Coldplay to Jimmy Buffett, Alabama Shakes to J. Cole.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin performs at Gillette Stadium. Timothy Tai for The Boston Globe

British arena rock royalty and feel-good funk and soul vets are just two music events hitting Boston in August.

A slice of soul

Earth, Wind & Fire
 It may not be September just yet, but soul legends Earth, Wind & Fire will have you dancing all the same. The funk collective will be joined by R&B royalty CHIC featuring industry wizard Nile Rogers. (Saturday, August 5 at 8 p.m.; TD Garden; $24; all ages; with CHIC featuring Nile Rogers; tickets available here )

SZA
 Neo-soul songwriter SZA brings a fresh take to R&B on this year's debut album, Ctrl , complete with singles like "Love Galore" and collaborations with the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott. She'll appear at Royale along with St. Louis rapper Smino and Chicago singer Ravyn Lenae. (Friday, August 25 at 6:30 p.m.; Royale; $25; 18+; with Smino, Ravyn Lenae; tickets available here )

Punk of ages

Green Day
 Veteran West Coast punks Green Day have a raucous history in Boston . Five Grammy Awards, a Broadway musical, and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction later, the trio hasn't slowed. Catch the group at Xfinity Center as part of its Revolution Radio Tour. (Monday, August 28 at 7 p.m.; Xfinity Center; $59; all ages; with Catfish and the Bottlemen; tickets available here )

Sheer Mag
 Philly punk group Sheer Mag is one of the fastest-rising unsigned bands on the scene. Now, upon the release of the group's first full-length, Need to Feel Your Love , the riff-rocking quintet will ascend from the basement to play The Sinclair. (Thursday, August 31 at 8:30 p.m.; The Sinclair; $13; all ages; with Haram, Lost Balloons; tickets available here )

Local listening

Downtown Boys
 Providence punk rock crew Downtown Boys signed with venerable label Sub Pop to release its third record, Cost of Living . The band will come to ONCE Ballroom in Somerville for a record release show. (Saturday, August 12 at 8 p.m.; ONCE Ballroom; $13; all ages; tickets available here )

Girls Rock Campaign Boston
 Fourteen brand-new bands from Girl Rock Campaign Boston summer sessions will make their big stage debut at Brighton Music Hall. All proceeds from the show will benefit the local nonprofit, which has empowered girls through music and collaboration since 2010. (Saturday, August 12 at noon; Brighton Music Hall; $8-$15; all ages; tickets available here )

The Perceptionists
 It's been more than a decade since two of Boston's greatest rappers, Mr. Lif and Akrobatik, teamed up to release a debut album under the name The Perceptionists. The two revived the collaboration to put out a follow-up, Resolution , which they will celebrate with a release show at Middle East. (Thursday, August 17 at 8 p.m.; Middle East Upstairs; $13; 18+; tickets available here )

Hip-hop heavy hitters

J. Cole
 Carolina lyricist J. Cole solidified himself among hip-hop's elite with the release of last year's 4 Your Eyez Only , his fourth full-length in five years. The rapper will bring his tour of the same name through TD Garden, along with label mates Bas, J.I.D., and Ari Lennox. (Friday, August 4 at 8 p.m.; $65; all ages; with Bas, J.I.D., Ari Lennox; tickets available here )

Playboi Carti
 Atlanta cloud-rap youngster Playboi Carti hit it big this year with the viral "Magnolia," and will headline The Paradise in his first trip to Boston behind his debut self-titled album. He'll be joined by Southern mixtape king Young Nudy and producer and collaborator Pierre Bourne. (Saturday, August 19 at 8 p.m.; Paradise Rock Club; $25; all ages; with Young Nudy, Pierre Bourne; tickets available here )

Lil Yachty
 Atlanta hip-hopper Lil Yachty has done a little bit of everything this year, from collaborating with the likes of Migos and Diplo, to appearing in Sprite commercials with LeBron James, to releasing his highly anticipated debut record, Teenage Emotions . He will play two shows in one night at The Wilbur. (Saturday August 26 at 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.; The Wilbur Theatre; $29.50; all ages; tickets available here )

Rock of all sorts

T-Rextasy
 New York fuzz-rock quintet T-Rextasy has caught a buzz from the release of its standout 2016 album, Jurassic Punk . The band will stop by Lilypad as part of its summer tour, joined by locals Blau Blau and Peach Ring. (Tuesday, August 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Lilypad; $10; all ages; with Blau Blau, Peach Ring; more info available here )

Waxahatchee
 Prolific Philly-based songwriter Katie Crutchfield just released her fourth album, Out in the Storm , with her band, Waxahatchee. The band will play its largest Boston venue to date, along with locals Palehound and Atlanta-based Outer Spaces. (Saturday, August 19 at 6:30 p.m.; Royale; $16; 18+; with Palehound, Outer Spaces; tickets available here )

Alabama Shakes
 Southern blues rock collective Alabama Shakes has had an impressive past five years, which has led to two outstanding records and four Grammy Awards. The band will pack up harborside venue Blue Hills Bank Pavilion for a dose of summer soul. (Friday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Blue Hills Bank Pavilion; $55; all ages; with Emily King; tickets available here )

Big tickets

Coldplay
 The arena rockers of Coldplay put on a spectacle with each trip to Boston. With seven Grammy Awards and just as many albums to its name, the band will stop at Gillette Stadium as part of its A Head Full of Dreams Tour. (Friday, August 4 at 7 p.m.; Gillette Stadium; $83; all ages; with AlunaGeorge, Izzy Bizu; tickets available here )

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band
 No summer is complete without a visit from the king of Margaritaville. Grab your frozen drinks, because Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band will pull out all the hits in Mansfield. (Saturday, August 19 at 8 p.m.; Xfinity Center; $100; all ages; tickets available here )