It’s the dead of winter.
What better time to see some acts with roots in Florida, Hawaii and California? And, look at that, the Showbox SoDo will host several in the days ahead.
First up is a stop from Iration at 8 tonight, Jan. 27. The reggae rock act formed in southern California when a bunch of Hawaii natives started playing together.
The group’s sunny take and pop-friendly melodies first won the band on college campuses, although that fan base has grown by leaps and bounds.
Iration performed at the Summer Meltdown in Darrington in 2015.
The band’s debut EP, “New Roots,” saw release in 2006. Since then, fans have lined up to hear tracks like “Time Bomb” and “Summer Nights.”
Tickets are $26.50 to $30 at axs.com.
Next up are long-running acts Less Than Jake and Pepper. The two will share the stage at the Showbox SoDo for a concert at 7 p.m. Jan. 31.
Less Than Jake may be the bigger name. The Florida-born ska-punk act flirted with the mainstream in the late 1990s thanks to albums like “Hello Rockview” and “Losing Streak.” The group’s tales of teenage angst and bright melodies have helped give them plenty of staying power.
Pepper, meanwhile, has a lot in common with Iration — it also deals in reggae rock, and its members also hail from Hawaii. The group’s sound has a slightly harder edge, though, bringing in punk influences.
Tickets are $29.50 at axs.com.
The Neptune Theatre also will stay exceptionally busy as the Seattle club hosts four shows in the next week.
Martin Sexton will kick things off with a visit at 8 p.m. tonight, Jan. 27.
The singer-songwriter is steeped in Americana. His rootsy albums have drawn on blues, gospel, country and rock. Known for his hectic touring schedule, he’ll hit Seattle now as he continues to tour behind his 2015 disc, “Mixtape of the Open Road.”
Tickets are $38.50 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
Then Bi-2 will venture a long way from its Russian homeland to play the Neptune at 8 p.m. Jan. 29.
The act, formed in Belarus, became a household name in Russia after its members got together in the 1980s. Now making a seven-date tour of America, the group promises to play its biggest hits during a rare visit to the United States.
Tickets are $60 to $70 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
Influential rapper Juicy J also will play the Neptune Theatre at 8 p.m. Jan. 30.
As a founding member of Three 6 Mafia, Juicy J first gained attention for horror-tinged rhymes and rough production. After that group became established, Juicy J started branching out with solo albums. Those include “Stay Trippy” and “Hustle Till I Die.”
His most recent effort, however, found him partnering with another superstar, Wiz Khalifa, on the disc “TGOD Mafia: Rude Awakening.”
Tickets are $36 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
Finally, famed South African act Ladysmith Black Mambazo will play the Neptune Theatre at 8 p.m. Jan. 31.
The act, founded in the 1970s, gained worldwide acclaim after Paul Simon featured the group on his hugely successful album “Graceland.”
The group’s harmonics — typically featuring seven bass voices, an alto, a tenor and a lead — were distinctive and resonant even when the group was singing in its native Zulu.
The group has released dozens of albums during its career. Its most recent, “Walking in the Footsteps of Our Fathers,” saw release in 2016.
Tickets are $33.50 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
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