Get ready to stomp, shread or sing this week in CT arts

Some advanced practitioners of very specific musical genres bring their lively expertise to Connecticut stages this week.

1970s punk pioneers from two continents, The Damned and The Dictators, unite for a tour. A triumvirate of guitar-based metal bands from the 1980s (and early 1990s) can be found at Mohegan Sun. There’s a reunion of Aventura, the quintessential modern Latin bachata group. New Haven Symphony focuses on the Latin side of Broadway shows. Russian band Messer Chups specializes in horror-themed surf rock. Bryson Tiller exemplified a new breed of singer-songwriter, and the poets of County Durham forged a new form of Canadian folk blues.

Other pioneers and innovators featured include comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, rhythmic movement ensemble Stomp and a play about black baseball legend Toni Stone.

Here are some of the top things to see this week in Connecticut.

Slaughter, Ace Frehley and Aldo Nova
Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville

Original Kiss lead guitarist Ace Frehley is touring with a few bands who hit their stride after leaving that band and starting his solo career. Aldo Nova had a hit with “Fantasy” in the early ’80s, and Slaughter formed later in that decade, releasing their hit debut album “Stick It to Ya” in 1990. May 26 at 7 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena. $49.20 to $88.50. mohegansun.com.

Romeo Santos and Aventura
XL Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Hartford

Another big Latin music show is coming to the XL Center with the reunion tour of singer Romeo Santos, “the King of Bachata,” and his former band Aventura. The group, formed in the Bronx by four singers of Dominican descent, perfected the modern sound of bachata and released five albums between 1999 and 2009 before embarking on a solo career. Santos has had seven singles top the Billboard Latin charts and 17 top singles on the Tropical Airplay charts. There have been previous Aventura reunions, but “Cerrando Ciclos” claims to be the last of the group. May 27 at 8 p.m. The show is sold out. A number of “verified resale tickets” are available on the XL Center Ticketmaster page, most in the $200 range. xlcenter.com.

“Toni Pierre”
Theater on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford

Playhouse on Park stages Lydia R. Diamond’s biographical play about the woman who challenged the male bastion of baseball leagues. Jamil AC Mangan directs and the nine-person cast is led by Constance Sadie Thompson as Stone. May 29-June 16. Tuesdays at 2 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. $45-$55, $42.50-$52.50 students and seniors; Previews for $25 on May 29 and 30. playhouseonpark.org.

The damned and the dictators
District Music Hall, 71 Wall Street, Norwalk

The Damned were the first band of the British punk era to release a single (“New Rose” in 1976) and a full studio album (“Damned Damned Damned” in 1977), then go on to make classics like “Neat Neat Neat” , “Smash It Up” and “Love Song”. Dictators are their American equivalent. Formed in 1973, their hard rock origins morphed into an early model of punk rock, as evidenced by their debut album “The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!” “. Incredibly, both bands are still touring. Although some members have been left out, both groups still have key founders. May 30 at 8 p.m. $50-$60. districtmusichall.com.

Bobcat Goldthwait
Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville

Brilliant comedian and avant-garde filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait, who brought us a fiery TV talk show couch, “Shakes the Clown” and one of the most deliberately annoying comedic voices since Gilbert Gottfried, pays homage to Comix Mohegan Sun Comedy Club with its presence in May. June 30 and 1 at 8 p.m. and June 2 at 6 and 8 p.m. $20-$45. mohegansun.com.

Trample
Shubert Theater, 247 College Street, New Haven

The percussive performance troupe, capable of creating a light and intelligent symphony from mops, matchboxes and trash cans, returns to the Shubert on May 31 and June 1. Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. afternoon $58.30 to $105.90. shubert.com.

Hartford has talent
The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford

The local talent show has reached its finale. Participants include Vasyl and Khrystyna, Sebastian G. Graceson, Kings Soldiers, Dioney Gonzalez, David Lally, Nadia Sims, Ym Myla Neaj, Samantha Acosta, Joy Monroe and the Windsor High School Teens of Praise Gospel Choir. May 31 at 7:20 p.m. bushnell.org.

Poets of County Durham
Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main Street, Old Saybrook

Canadian blues/soul/folk band Durham County Poets have been around for over a decade but found great success with their 2019 album “Hand Me Down Blues.” May 31 at 8:36 p.m. $. thekate.org.

Michael Yo
Funny Bone Comedy Club, 194 Buckland Hills Dr., Manchester

Nationally known stand-up comedian Michael Yo, seen on “America’s Got Talent,” “Chelsea Lately” and other shows, is on his “Do I Lie?” tour, stopping at Funny Bone for three sets on May 31 at 7 p.m. and June 1 at 6:30 p.m. and 9:32 p.m. hartford.funnybone.com.

21 wild
Xfinity Theater, 61 Savitt Way, Hartford

British-born rapper 21 Savage kicks off the (almost) summer season at the Xfinity Theater with his “American Dream” tour June 1 at 7 p.m. JID, Nardo Wick and 21 Lil Harold are also on the bill . Savage 21 has been a big deal for almost a decade now. His hits include “Redrum,” “Creepin’,” “Circo Loco,” and “My Life.” concerts.livenation.com.

New Haven Symphony: “Latina Leading Ladies of Broadway”
Lyman Center for the Performing Arts, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven
Shelton High School, 120 Meadow Street, Shelton

New Haven Symphony is, as usual, doing two performances of the same concert in two days at two venues. This time it’s a lively “Latina Leading Ladies of Broadway”-style pop show with James Olmstead directing Linedy Genao (who grew up in Hamden and whose Broadway credits include the title role in “Bad Cinderella”) ) as lead singer and two special guests. groups: Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus and the Whitney Players. June 1 at 3 p.m. at the SCSU Lyman Center and June 2 at 3 p.m. at Shelton High School. Besides “Bad Cinderella,” Genao sings songs from “Evita,” “West Side Story” and even Gloria Estefan’s jukebox musical, “On Your Feet!” » $15 to $49; $10 students and children. newhavensymphony.org.

Paul Anka
Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville

Paul Anka recorded his first single, “I Confess,” when he was 14, and he is now 82. His accomplishments include writing “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” for Buddy Holly, composing the theme Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show”, adaptation of a French song in the Frank Sinatra classic “My Way”, making a major solo comeback in 1970 with the controversial “(You’re) Have My Baby” and making two albums of admirably ironic big band acts in the 90s where he gave a cheesy big band touch to current rock hits. Anka’s “Seven Decades” tour, named after her long career in show business, will take place at Mohegan Sun Arena on June 1 at 8 p.m., priced from $47.15 to $186.45. mohegansun.com.

Bryson Tiller
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, 500 Broad St., Bridgeport

Kentucky native singer/songwriter Bryson Tiller, whose hits include “Don’t,” “Exchange” and “Whatever She Wants” will be at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater June 1 at 8 p.m. alongside his own alter ego Slum Tiller . It’s its own opening act. DJ Nitrane is also on the bill. $92.50 to $478. Hartfordhealthcareamp.com.

Messer Chups
Cafe Nine, 250 State St., New Haven

Macabre horror rockabilly bands were once a staple of the small rock club circuit, and Russian band Messer Chups still flies the banner high, pledging allegiance to horror punk, vintage surf records, Italian slasher films , to “Pulp Fiction”, to lounge music and the theme song from “The Munsters”, among others. Relax in the cool darkness. Opening of Sunnyside Social Club in Queens, New York. June 1 at 9 p.m. $25, $20 in advance. cafénine.com.