Fall into festivals, free music and rock favorites this week in CT arts

You can save up for school supplies or fall sweaters by taking advantage of some high-quality free entertainment this week in Connecticut.

The 1960s hitmakers The Rascals are playing the always-free Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun, and the Connecticut Folk Festival & Green Expo in New Haven and the Connecticut River and Roots Festival in Windsor are both day-long, multi-act free festivals (though donations are suggested and gratefully received).

Hartford Business Improvement District’s Audio Feed series books bands for free shows outside in State House Square on Tuesdays and inside the State House Food Court on Wednesdays, and Live & In Color is presenting readings of a new play and a new musical for free at The Bingham Camp in Salem.

Rock out and indulge in one of the final sunny weeks of summer.

Connecticut River and Roots Festival
Windsor Town Green, 275 Broad St., Windsor

A new folk music festival on Windsor Town Green is headlined by Jake Blount and also features performances by Aaron Athey, JM Clifford, Jennifer Kreisberg, Lee Mixashawn Rozie, Tang Sauce & TTQM, Cedric Watson Trio and Island Reflection Dance Theatre, as well as poetry readings, presentations, demonstrations, crafts, food and more. Sept. 1 from noon to 6 p.m. Free; $10 suggested donation. windsorartcenter.org/ctrr.

Matt Corman and Abstract
The Webster, 31 Webster St., Hartford

Two eclectic hip-hop artists, the Nashville-based and Wyoming-raised Abstract and Bostonian Matt Corman, team up for a tour that comes to The Webster on Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. Francc is also on the bill. $21.15. thewebsterct.com.

Circle Jerks, Gorilla Biscuits, Powerviolets
District Music Hall, 71 Wall St., Norwalk

Circle Jerks is one of best-known bands of the original late-1970s California punk scene and were on the forefront of the hardcore movement. There have been a few different lineups over the years, but founding members vocalist Keith Morris and guitarist Greg Hetson remain the two mainstays. The band plays Norwalk’s District Music Hall on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. with a New York punk act that’s nearly as old, Gorilla Biscuits, as well the Powerviolets, the solo project of Greg Hetson’s daughter Violet. $43.16-$69.92. districtmusichall.com.

Nichi-Ji
State House Square, Hartford

The local jazz/funk guitarist is the featured lunchtime act at the Audio Feed series on Sept. 3 at noon in State House Square. Free. hartford.com/audiofeed.

Built to Spill
District Music Hall, 71 Wall St., Norwalk

Alt-rockers Built to Spill have been active since 1992. The band put out a new album as recently as 2022, but this tour is devoted to the 30th anniversary of “There’s Nothing Wrong With Love,” the album that clinched a major label deal. Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. $49.32-$74.56. districtmusichall.com.

Deep Purple and Yes
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, 500 Broad St., Bridgeport

Two powerhouse ‘70s hitmakers that never really went away are on tour together with Deep Purple, featuring vocalist Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover and drummer Ian Paice, who have been with the band since the late ‘60s, and Yes, whose longest serving current members are now guitarist Steve Howe and keyboardist Geoff Downes. “Smoke on the Water” meets “Close to the Edge.” Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. $60.20-$258. hartfordhealthcareamp.com.

Seth Adam
State House Square Food Court, 30 State House Square, Hartford

New Haven singer/songwriter Seth Adam entertains in the food court of the State House in Hartford on Sept. 4 at noon. Free. hartford.com/audiofeed.

James Taylor
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, 500 Broad St., Bridgeport

He was bumped from playing “You’ve Got a Friend” at the Democratic National Convention, but James Taylor gets two full nights to himself on Sept. 4 and 5 at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport. Taylor’s “All-Star Band” on the tour includes vocalists Kate Markowitz and Dorian Holley, fiddler Andrea Zonn, pianist Larry Goldings, Lou Marini (of the Blues Brothers) on horns, Walt Fowler on horns and keyboards, guitarist Michael Landau, bassist Jimmy Johnson, drummer Steve Gadd and percussionist Luis Conte. $103.75-$340.15. hartfordhealthcareamp.com.

Tom Jones
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville

From movie themes (“What’s New, Pussycat?,” “Thunderball”) to Prince covers (“Kiss”) to more recent forays into roots rock and blues, Tom Jones’ extraordinary voice is the stuff of musical history. He sings on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena. $70.95-$318. mohegansun.com.

Crumb
Toad’s Place, 300 York St., New Haven

The Boston-based psychedelic rock band Crumb, whose members all went to Tufts University, play Toad’s Place on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. with L’Rain and Discovery Zone. $34.50-$212. toadsplace.com.

‘Get You a Babe Who Can Do Both Tour’
Parkville Market, 1400 Park St., Hartford

This lively, lingerie-clad live show blends the educational and inspirational oratorical aspects of TEDx (the grassroots offshoot of TED Talks) with the art of burlesque striptease. The empowering “Get You a Babe Who Can Do Both” event usually plays theaters and colleges, but you can find it at Parkville Market on Sept. 5 at 9 p.m. $28.52. eventbrite.com.

Crowded House
Foxwoods Premier Theater, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket

Crowded House had two major hits on its debut album in 1986, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “Something So Strong.” The band had a lengthy worldwide farewell tour in 1996, but has since regrouped more than once. The current lineup consists of founding members Neil Finn (the band’s frontman and main songwriter) and bassist/designer Nick Seymour, Finn’s multi-instrumentalist sons Liam and Elroy and the revered musician/record producer Mitchell Froom. A new Crowded House album, “Gravity Stairs,” was just released. Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. $61.65-$177.90. foxwoods.com.

West End Blend and One Time Weekend
Old State House, 800 Main St., Hartford

Two groove-driven funk ensembles, West End Blend and One Time Weekend, command the outdoor stage near the Old State House for the Hartford Live concert series on Sept. 7 at 5 p.m. Free. goodworkslive.com.

‘i know why iris chang died’
‘Zombies, Inc.’
Bingham Camp, 490 East Haddam Road, Salem

The theater development program Live & In Color supports inclusive and diverse new plays and musicals. Two of its June Bingham New Works commissions are getting readings at the Bingham Camp in Salem. On Sept. 6 at 7 p.m., it’s Esme Maria Ng’s new play “i know why iris chang died,” about a depressive graphic novelist and her twin sister. On Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. and Sept. 8 at 2 p.m., there is a reading of a new musical comedy by Marcus Perkins Bejarano and Kim Jinhyoung, “Zombies, Inc.” Free but registration is required. liveandincolor.org.

Band of Horses
College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., New Haven

The Seattle alt-rock band Band of Horses, which has been around for 20 years now and is still led by Ben Bridwell, plays College Street Music Hall in New Haven with two singular singer/songwriters as opening acts: the Canadian performer City and Colour and Ohio’s Nolan Taylor. Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. $54.99-$96.19. collegestreetmusichall.com.

Ivan Cornejo
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, 500 Broad St., Bridgeport

A big star in the Música Mexicana genre whose hits include “Baby Please,” Ivan Cornejo has a brand new album out and is at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater on Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. $32.30-$220.65. hartfordhealthcareamp.com.

Ballyhoo! and Mad Caddies
Infinity Hall, 32 Front St., Hartford

Two bands heavily into the Third Wave Ska sound of the ‘90s — the eclectic Mad Caddies from California and Baltimore’s poppy Ballyhoo! — join up for a bouncy night at Infinity Hall Hartford. The Quasi Kings are also on the bill. Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. infinityhall.com.

The Rascals
Mohegan Sun Wolf Den, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville

They were originally the Young Rascals, but founding members Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish are now in their 80s and haven’t gone by “Young” for many decades. Their hits don’t seem to have aged at all, among them are “How Can I Be Sure”, “Good Lovin’” and “People Got to Be Free.” (OK, “Groovin’” might seem a bit dated.) The Rascals do a free show at the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun on Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. Free. mohegansun.com.

Maren Morris
Oakdale Theatre, 95 S. Turnpike Road, Wallingford

Country star Maren Morris, known for “Girl,” “Chasing After You,” “My Church” and “‘80s Mercedes” and also known as a member of Highwomen, plays The Oakdale on Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. concerts.livenation.com.

Rod Stewart
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville

The raspy rocker turned crooner runs through every phase of his long career in his live shows. He played Bridgeport just a year ago with a setlist that ran from “You Wear It Well” to “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and now you can find him at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. $177.85-$701.50. mohegansun.com.