Last year, the Marcus King Band strolled through the Summit City and put on a show-stopping performance at C2G Music Hall. Those of you lucky enough to attend know firsthand that this act is a force to be reckoned with.

As luck would have it, MKB is returning to town aboard their “Carolina Confessions Tour” on the evening of Sunday, July 21, at the Sweetwater Performance Pavilion. At only 23 years of age, Marcus King has been writing songs and performing onstage for half his lifetime, delivering a southern fried brand of blues and psychedelia inspired by rock n’ roll.

Since he was a teenager, he’s been trading licks with famous fans and mentors Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks whenever their paths have crossed. The last couple of years, his band has been tirelessly playing larger venues and festivals and creating a healthy fanbase along the way.

Tickets for the Marcus King Band go on sale Friday, May 3, at 10 a.m. at the Sweetwater campus, Neat Neat Neat Records, all area Wooden Nickel locations, and online via eventbrite.com and sweetwaterpavilion.com.

Three Rivers Festival Acts announced

What do the acts Goodnight Gracie, Uncle Muscle, Whoa, Man!, The Band Brother, Six Feet to Salvation, Daily Driver, Kenny Taylor Swingset Quartet, Chris Worth, Downstait, AFU, and the Fort Wayne Funk Orchestra all have in common?

They will all represent our local scene at the 51st Three Rivers Festival July 12 to 20. Each will perform during the 9-day stretch with some opening for touring acts such as The Boogie Wonder Band (July 12), Here Come the Mummies (July 13), The Motown Sounds of Touch (July 18), and Pop Evil (July 19).

You can see the complete entertainment rundown at threeriversfestival.org.

Foellinger Theatre’s heavy hitters

A couple days prior to the TRF announcement, the Foellinger Theatre announced their most-anticipated summer lineup. Whatzup was onsite when Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel read off this year’s lineup that features heavy-hitters such as Dwight Yoakam (May 25), Mitch Ryder (June 7), Boz Scaggs (June 19), Weird Al Yankovic (July 2), Collective Soul (July 12), Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (July 19), and Loverboy (July 27).

There will also be several free general admission concerts including the Fort Wayne Symphony and Concert Orchestra, the Fort Wayne Area Community Band, the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, and the New Millennium Jazz Orchestra.

New this year is the Clan Tynker Family Circus, a troupe of brothers and sisters who perform a stunning array of talents in a fanciful “Vaudeville” style of circus. This all-ages show will take the stage on Saturday, June 29, for two free performances, with a full afternoon of free kids’ activities. For the complete schedule, visit foellingertheatre.org.

Big shows on Friday, July 19

The evening of Friday, July 19, is going to be a busy one and force some of you to do some heavy decision-making.

That evening will feature Night Ranger at the Sweetwater Pavilion, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts at Foellinger Theatre, Pop Evil at the Three Rivers Festival, and ’80s rockers Faster Pussycat and Bang Tango at the Eclectic Room. Wow, that’s some worthy music for sure. Where will you be heading?

Better have July 19 circled on your calendar already.

Out and About covers Northeast Indiana’s most interesting music and arts events. Send your announcements to info@whatzup.com.