It's a stretch to call Keith Urban and Taylor Swift country, but Urban is quite a guitar slinger, and the teenage Swift has shown remarkable songwriting maturity. They appear Aug. 1 at the Wachovia Center.

Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley, two of country's brightest young stars, exude boy-next-door wholesomeness, but they also possess a mischievous glint in their eyes. They will appear with Jimmy Wayne Aug. 15 at the Susquehanna Bank Center.

- Nick Cristiano

Piano Men

When you consider outdoor jams, you don't think of riffs on the 88s, ivory ticklers pounding in the hot sun, or piano men sweating by the pool.

Until now.

Lang Lang, the toast of Shenyang in Liaoning Province, China, covers the classics July 31 with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann with jazz-bo Herbie Hancock. With no new records to promote, Mr. Philadelphia Freedom Elton John and Bronx bomber Billy Joel reteam Aug. 1 for fun, friendship, and bags of cash at Citizens Bank Park. With a self-penned opera readied for the hot spell (Prima Donna opens in July in Manchester, England), Rufus Wainwright will play Aug. 6 at Longwood Gardens. And on Aug. 15 at the Mann, Philly soul-hopper John Legend strokes the keys at a gig with India.arie . . . who plays just plain old guitar.

- A.D. Amorosi

XPoNential Festival

Its name and venue have changed several times over 15 years, but WXPN's XPoNential Music Festival remains unfailing in its sonic diversity and feel-good vibe. This year's Wiggins Park event July 24 to 26 features nearly 40 genre-spanning acts over three days: everything from Robert Cray's funk-infused blues to the so-called Hillbilly Pink Floyd of Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams. And plenty of local talent, too, including Hoots & Hellmouth, Andrew Lipke, harpist Gillian Grassie, and actor Kevin Bacon, fronting the band he shares with big brother Michael. There's even a special kiddie-music lineup at the all-ages, rain-or-shine event.

- Nicole Pensiero

Summer music

Two of Britain's greatest gifts to rock music (sorry, Gallagher brothers, it's not you) will hit the Wachovia on June 12. Eric Clapton, meet Steve Winwood. Oh, that's right, you already met - in the short-lived supergroup Blind Faith.

If the performance DVD released a couple of weeks ago is any indication, the two legends are cooking up quite a feast.

You get a little Cream ("Crossroads"), a little Traffic ("Dear Mr. Fantasy"), a healthy helping of Hendrix ("Little Wing" and others), and a main course of Blind Faith (from "Can't Find My Way Home" to "Presence of the Lord").

Dig in, music fans.

OK, we're no Hurricane Schwartz, but we're forecasting a balmy night Aug. 8, when the double bill of Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal comes to the Mann. They've cleverly dubbed the tour BonTaj Roulet.

As often happens with two headliners, they will perform separately and deliver a duet set. Best of both worlds. It's hard to think of a more perfect pairing. You get two extraordinary blues artists who write great songs and have exquisite and eclectic tastes in interpreting the material of others. Two instantly recognizable singers who are also accomplished musicians.

Hey, Hurricane, want to go to a great show?