With his band the Blasters, Dave Alvin helped create the genre today known as Americana with a blend of rockabilly, blues, honky-tonk, and boogie. Since leaving the Blasters, the two-time-Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has stayed true to his roots with music that alternates between the down-home acoustic sounds of folk and the blistering electric attack of the Blasters. Alvin’s latest outing, West of the West, paid tribute to California songwriters from Merle Haggard to Kate Wolf. His pickup band includes Christy McWilson, fiddler Amy Farris, and local multi-instrumental whiz Nina Gerber. Thursday, June 28 at the Freight and Salvage. 8 p.m., $25.50 advance, $26.50 door. TheFreight.org
.Americana Pioneer
Dave Alvin at the Freight.