NOV. 17

Two-time Grammy winner Rita Coolidge, whose seductive voice kept hits like “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,” “We’re All Alone” and “The Way You Do the Things You Do” in ’70s heavy rotation, tours the islands. Neighbor island concerts are Nov. 16, 18 and 19.

7 p.m. / Mamiya Theatre / $45-$65 / bluesbearhawaii.com or 896-4845

NOV. 18

Hip-hop/R&B artists Ja Rule and Ashanti bring their chart-topping songs to Honolulu for two concerts. Ja Rule had six albums in the Billboard Top 200 between 1999 and 2005, while Ashanti’s eponymous debut album set a record in 2002 for best-selling album in first-week sales.

7 and 10:30 p.m. / Blaisdell Concert Hall / $44-$125 / ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000

DEC. 10

Guitarist Jeff Peterson, whose diverse talents include jazz and classical as well as slack key, performs his slack-key concerto “Malama Aina” with the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra. Peterson has won eight Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

4 p.m. / Blaisdell Concert Hall / $34-$92 / ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000

DEC. 12

The Shins made their mark on the indie-rock music map with a Best Alternative Album Grammy nomination for the 2007 album “Wincing the Night Away,” which hit No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200. They visit The Republik.

8 p.m. / The Republik / $37.50 / jointherepublik.com or 941-7469

DEC. 29

Russ brings his eclectic brand of rock, R&B and melodic hip-hop to Blaisdell Arena. His album “There’s Really a Wolf,” his first for a major label, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard R&B charts earlier this year and No. 7 on the Billboard Top 200.

8 p.m. / Blaisdell Arena / $39.50 / ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000

Pioneering island-contemporary band Kapena is featured in “Story of Kapena.” 7 p.m. Nov. 10, Hawaii Theatre, $11-$71. hawaiitheatre.com or 528-0506

The Average White Band gets people dancing with its funky style. 6:30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 6-10, Blue Note Hawaii. $29.75-$55. bluenotehawaii.com or 777-4890