Steve Earle, Jason Reeves in Des Moines

"Hard-core Troubadour" Steve Earle, the politically-charged country singer whose songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Johnny Lee and others, performs July 21 at Hoyt Sherman Place. Tickets are $35 and go on sale June 5 through Ticketmaster.

Fans of "The Wire" might remember Earle as Bubble's Narcotics Anonymous sponsor.

Warner Bros. artist and native Iowan Jason Reeves performs June 2 at the Vaudeville Mews. He's working on Colbie Calliat's upcoming album "Breakthrough" (and she's performing June 15 at the Simon Estes Amphitheater)