Upcoming shows

Hideout Block Party

The venerable outdoor blowout salutes former Hideout bartender Neko Case, who headlines Saturday with an alt.country set, then returns Sunday with pop giants The New Pornographers. Other Saturday highlights include Malian blues scion Vieux Farka Touré, psychedelic hipsters Black Mountain and Israeli garage punks Monotonix. Electro-rockers Ratatat, Chi-town rapper Rhymefest and experimental mini-orchestra Dark Meat appear among Sunday's eclectic lineup.

11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 and noon Sunday, Sept. 21 at Hideout,1354 W. Wabansia Ave., Chicago. $25 per day, $45 two-day pass. (773) 227-4433 or hideoutblockparty.com.

Sigh

Avant-black veterans Sigh remain Japan's most bizarre extreme metal act, even if recent work like their new "A Tribute to Venom" EP seems comparatively normal. Support for the band's first-ever area show, which introduces new female vocalist/saxophonist(!) Dr. Mikannibal, comes from Montreal oddjobs Unexpect and locals Novembers Doom and Dissona.

7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 at The Pearl Room, 19081 Old LaGrange Road, Mokena. $18. (708) 479-5356 or pearlroomconcerts.com.

Janet Jackson

Although her soft coo hasn't developed any since her "Rhythm Nation" heyday, Ms. Jackson keeps pace with her peers on this year's "Discipline," which is chock full of anonymous dancefloor pop come-ons similar to those somehow keeping Madonna afloat. At the very least, Janet's post-scandal career is much healthier than her brother's. Fellow '80s survivor LL Cool J opens.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $49.75-$250. (312) 559-1212 or allstatearena.com.