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This Week's Best Shows and a Spotify Playlist of the Bands

 Hungry for live music? We pick the best of New York City's gigs. 
	 
Gigs of the week Thursday, April 3
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Thursday, April 3
Atlanta folkie Shawn Mullins hit it big with his Grammy-nominated 1998 single "Lullaby." Since then, he's released 18 albums, most recently the 2010 collection "Light You Up," which was inspired by the birth of his first son. At The City Winery, doors 6 p.m. $25.



Friday, April 4
Legendary South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela is celebrating his 75th birthday tonight with a retrospective extravaganza at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Joined by special guest Paul Simon, Masekela will explore his fascination with American jazz and his deep roots in the Zulu folkloric strains of his homeland. At Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street.

Unsound Festival New York is a new music festival that aims to “stretch the ears and expand the mind.” An extension of the festival that originally began in Krakow, Poland, in 2003, Unsound tonight features UK duo Demdike Stare in collaboration with string players from Sinfonietta Cracovia. Master minimalist Phill Niblock will also perform against a projection of his 1971 film “Ten Hundred Inch Radii.” At the First Unitarian Church, 116 Pierrepont St, Brooklyn. $25, from 7 p.m. Unsound runs through through April 8.

Saturday, April 5
Africa Now! is a four day festival celebrating today’s African music scene. The centerpiece event on the Apollo Theater’s Mainstage tonight will showcase Les Frères Guissé, a griot trio from Senegal, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars (SLRAS), a roots-reggae/Afrobeat collective from Sierra Leone and Fatoumata Diawara, a dynamo diva from Mali. At Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street, Harlem.

Polarising pop star Miley Cyrus brings her Bangerz concert to the big stage at Downtown Brooklyn’s Barclays Center tonight. It’ll be non-stop pop from the word go with Swedish DJ duo Icona Pop and Sky Ferreira in support.

Joe’s Pub’s famed Loser’s Lounge celebrate the songwriting and singing of '70s icons Linda Ronstadt and Carly Simon tonight. From 7 p.m. $25

With their excellent new album “Atlas” Real Estate have nailed sounds and moods “nostalgic and reflective, regretful and romantic” (Under The Radar). Catch them with Pure X at Webster Hall, in the East Village, tonight and the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday.

Exuberant Irish three piece Ash (“Girl From Mars,” “Goldfinger”) were one of the bright spots of the Oasis/Blur led Britpop phenomenon of the '90s. Tonight they play a free show alongside Run River North, Golden Suits and Drop Electric at Brooklyn Night Bazaar in Greenpoint.

If you like Depeche Mode and New Order you’ll probably love local synth pop masters Holy Ghost! They’re playing the East Village’s Webster Hall Friday night, behind the recent release of their second album “Dynamics.” Tonight they’re playing Baby's All Right in Williamsburg.

Sunday, April 6
Irreverant Detroit rapper Danny Brown has earned a reputation as a true original in an era of cookie cutter rappers. Catch him tonight at the Lower East Side’s Bowery Ballroom and Tuesday at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Monday, April 7
From its early days as an ice-skating rink to the venue for Hillary Clinton’s birthday, Roseland Ballroom has seen it all. And before it is demolished to make way for another apartment block, Lady Gaga will take the stage tonight for one last party. The show is sold out but you can join the party by tuning into the live stream at GetMoreGaga.com

Tuesday, April 8
The sprawling Canadian post-rock ensemble Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra play Union Pool in Williamsburg tonight. Their fifth album “F**k Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything” was described by the Pretty Much Amazing music blog as an album that “explores the moral murk of our times with glorious abandon.”

Wednesday, April 9
Gigstock is a two-part festival, mixing showcase-length sets with conversation. Presented by WNYC’s Soundcheck and the Oh My Rockness music blog, part one tonight features two local bands — The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Parquet Courts — while tomorrow night’s show stars features singer-songwriters Conor Oberst and James Vincent McMorrow. At the intimate setting of The Greene Space, 44 Charlton Street, at the corner of Varick Street, West Village. $20 from 8 p.m.