J. COLE
Toyota Center, August 18
J. Cole has quietly become one of the biggest hip-hop stars on the planet. While Drake, Future and now, even a rejuvenated Jay-Z, get most of the run, J. Cole has managed to place his first four studio albums atop the Billboard 200. That includes his latest, last year’s 4 Your Eyez Only, which doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessor – 2014 Forest Hills Drive – but gets pretty damn close. J. Cole has been climbing the ladder as it pertains to Houston venues, having played Warehouse Live, House of Blues and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion for his last three outings. It’ll be interesting to see how his show translates to a full-fledged arena such as Toyota Center. CLINT HALE
ED SHEERAN
Toyota Center, August 19
Who would have thought a red-headed Englishman would jump-start his career with a song about homelessness, drug addiction and prostitution? At first listen, Ed Sheeran's "The A Team" sounds like any other forlorn pop ballad, but its melodic tune and soulful vocals belie its dark lyricism about what people do to keep warm at night. Perhaps even more unlikely than the single's success, Sheeran has become a sex symbol in his own right as of late, thanks to his emotive vocals. Fresh off the release of his third studio album — which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts both in the U.S. and across the pond —- Sheeran will return to Houston's Toyota Center on August 19. MATTHEW KEEVER
PRINCESS NOKIA
Warehouse Live, August 24
25-year-old Destiny Frasqueri, a.k.a. Princess Nokia, is a hip-hop/R&B rising star who not only entrances fans with females-to-the-front empowerment, bruja spirituality and ‘90s beats, but an assertive personality that encourages BFF status. She is the founder of the Smart Girl’s Club, a collective of artists and "urban feminists" who work to support each other’s creative visions. Her latest album, 1992, is a mixtape of storytelling through root magic and NYC hip-hop. Highlights like “Tomboy” and “Brujas” unapologetically fuse bounce, trap and outsider rap into fierce narratives. Speaking of unapologetic, one might recall the incident at Cambridge University earlier this year in which a male student woofed ribald comments at Nokia during a show. Known for zero tolerance towards the degradation of women, Nokia ran offstage and personally dealt with her harasser. This sets up a cautionary tale to men: Treat the princess with respect, please. VERONICA ANNE SALINAS
COLDPLAY
NRG Stadium, August 25
Somewhere along the way, Coldplay became the modern-day U2. Hell, like U2 did a while back, Chris Martin and crew are even headlining their own tour stop at NRG Stadium. Opinions of Coldplay certainly vary. Some see them as a once-great act who got away from their own successful formula in sorta losing their way. Others see a band that had the wherewithal to change its sound before becoming stale. The truth is likely somewhere in the middle, but one thing is for certain, Coldplay puts on an amazing live show. It’s theatrical. It’s dramatic. It’s everything you’d expect from a band that once titled a single, “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall.” CLINT HALE
MARLON WILLIAMS
House of Blues, August 28
Marlon Williams's self-titled album is a chilling, deep cut of Americana. This is strange, considering the artist originally hails from New Zealand. But Williams is right at home in the genre, echoing the sounds of Waylon Jennings or Johnny Cash with artful simplicity. Likely a product of his classical training, Williams has the ability to reach deep into emotional registers with his songs. The rollicking single "Hello Miss Lonesome" is a high energy two-stepper, complete some fine fiddling, while the song "Dark Child" reaches into the darkest quarters of human emotion, exploring the loss of a son to suicide. It's too bad that Williams is an opening act; Williams's sonorous, low voice deserves top billing, and his ability to take people to somber, reflective places will likely make him a hard act to follow. KATIE SULLIVAN