This week in NYC live music marks the return of Bowlive, Soulive’s annual multi-night residency at Brooklyn Bowl which usually involves a slew of great special guests, cover sets, and interesting surprises. Also this week, we’ve got Craig Finn’s solo project, Leo Kottke, Cults, Van Halen’s triumphant reunion shows at MSG, and the Secret Policeman’s Ball w/ Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Jon Stewart and many others.

Bowlive III kicks off this week, with special guests including John Scofield, Jennifer Hartswick, Karl Denson, Luther Dickinson, Marco Benevento, and Rahzel, as well as openers Alecia Chakour Band and Nigel Hall Band. Those are just the announced guests, but there are usually a few surprises that pop up throughout the week. Also, if you’re a hardcore Bowliver planning to hit almost all of the shows, check out the 10-day pass for $125.

Bowlive Trailer

Soulive covering the Beatles “Eleanor Rigby / I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”

Soulive w/ John Scofield

Soulive w/ Karl Denson

Alhough Soulive’s sort of dominating the week, there are also a few other solid shows going on, including Leo Kottke at City Winery.

There are also quite a few indie rock-oriented acts that I dig playing shows this week, including Beach Fossils, Cults, School of Seven Bells, and Craig Finn’s solo project. Check it…

Beach Fossils

Cults

School of Seven Bells

Craig Finn

Also of note is LMB fav American Babies, who will be opening for Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds at the Bowery on Thursday night.

American Babies

Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds

For some bigass arena rock, look no further than MSG for Van Halen’s triumphant return on their reunion tour. They’re playing two shows this Tuesday and Thursday.

Van Halen

And last but not least, we’ve got this Secret Policeman’s Ball being put on by Amnesty International which features a bunch of big names including Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, and some comedians like Jon Stewart.

Mumford & Sons

Coldplay

It’s nice to see things picking up a bit as we head out of the February doldrums and into March. Read on for all the links and deets or for a few other interesting shows going on this week in NYC….

Interesting shows from this week’s NYC concert calendar:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27
Marc Ribot @ Iridium Jazz Club
Todd Rundgren @ City Winery

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28
Bowlive III – Soulive w/ John Scofield & Luther Dickinson @ Brooklyn Bowl
Bjork @ Roseland Ballroom
Kronos Quartet @ Carnegie Hall
Leo Kottke @ City Winery
Robert Glasper Experiment w/ Yasiin Bey, Chrisette Michele, Lalah Hathaway, Bilal @ Highline Ballroom
School of Seven Bells w/ Exitmusic @ Mercury Lounge
Van Halen w/ Kool & The Gang @ Madison Square Garden

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29
Bowlive III – Soulive w/ John Scofield & Luther Dickinson @ Brooklyn Bowl
Craig Finn (of The Hold Steady) w/ Marcellus Hall @ Mercury Lounge
Leo Kottke @ City Winery

THURSDAY, MARCH 1
Bowlive III – Soulive w/ Rahzel & Karl Denson @ Brooklyn Bowl
Craig Finn (of The Hold Steady) w/ Marcellus Hall @ Maxweel’s (Hoboken, NJ)
DJ Questlove Presents “Bowl Train” @ Brooklyn Bowl (late-night)
Eliot Lipp @ Webster Hall
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo @ Wellmont Theatre
School of Seven Bells w/ Rewards @ Mercury Lounge
Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds w/ American Babies @ Bowery Ballroom
Two Fresh, Nit Grit @ Highline Ballroom
Woodsman @ 285 Kent
Van Halen w/ Kool & The Gang @ Madison Square Garden

FRIDAY, MARCH 2
Beach Fossils w/ Mac DeMarco, Hoop Dreams, DIVE @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Bjork @ Roseland Ballroom
Bowlive III – Soulive w/ Karl Denson & Jennifer Hartswick w/ Alecia Chakour Band @ Brooklyn Bowl
Cults @ Maxwell’s (Hoboken, NJ)
Wyllys (Ft. Kraz) @ Brooklyn Bowl (late-night)
Xylos w/ Beacon, Grimace Federation @ Mercury Lounge

SATURDAY, MARCH 3
Bowlive III – Soulive w/ Marco Benevento & Jennifer Hartswick w/ Nigel Hall Band @ Brooklyn Bowl
Kidrocker’s Bowl w/ Soulive @ Brooklyn Bowl (daytime, 1pm)
Widowspeak w/ Quilt @ Glasslands
Tennis w/ Hospitality, Air Waves @ Bowery Ballroom
Wyllys (Ft. Kraz) @ Brooklyn Bowl (late-night)

SUNDAY, MARCH 4
Amnesty International Presents: The Secret Policeman’s Ball Tickets w/ Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Jon Stewart @ Radio City Music Hall