Recommended music: Golden Boys, AC/DC, Loudon Wainwright III and Richard Thompson, George Winston, George Winston, Some Say Leland, Jay-Z, Regina Spektor

Thursday

Golden Boys at Beerland.The Golden Boys' psychedelic, reverb-heavy country draws equally from Willie Nelson and the 13th Floor Elevators, a heady combination that should excite any longtime Austinite. With sloppy space-rockers the Dikes of Holland, Apache Dropout and Rubble. 8 p.m. 711 Red River St., www.beerlandtexas.com. — Patrick Caldwell

Also recommended:Austin Bleet-Up with Corto Maltese and Built By Snow at the Mohawk, Third Eye Blind at Stubb's, Automusik at the Scoot Inn.

Friday

AC/DC at the Erwin Center.When people say their band sounds like AC/DC, it just isn't true. Oh, they might think they sound like this crew of Australians' patented hard rock, but they don't. Very little sounds quite like AC/DC. The chunky riffs, the drumming's beyond-basic feel, Brian Johnson's ancient tomcat screech pretty much embody the idea of deceptive simplicity. Like the Ramones and Motorhead, the band struck upon a perfect song and just kind of kept playing it again and again. And like the Ramones and Motörhead, you can tell an AC/DC song about three seconds into it. This is, of course, where bands fail in their quests to become yet more AC/DC-like: They attempt to add to AC/DC, to combine it with something else. This is a mistake — you cannot improve upon rock perfection. 7:40 p.m. $89.50. Erwin Center. 1701 Red River St. www.uterwincenter.com. — Joe Gross

Also recommended: Eyehategod at Emo's; Mojo Nixon and the Toadliquors at the Continental Club; Gary Newcomb Trio at Lovejoys; Galactic at Stubb's

Saturday

Loudon Wainwright III and Richard Thompson at the Texas Union Ballroom. The Wainwrights — Rufus, Martha, Sloan and Lucy — are probably the closest thing American folk has to the Kennedys, with the talented, prolific and good-humored Loudon as the patriarch. Richard Thompson is a British folk legend whose compositions have been recorded by everyone from R.E.M. to Elvis Costello. Both are touring behind new releases — Wainwright a double-CD tribute to legendary hard-living banjo picker Charlie Poole and Thompson an exhaustive 4-CD retrospective. 8 p.m. $40. 2247 Guadalupe St., www.utexas.edu/txunion — P.C.

Also recommended:Voxtrot and the Octopus Project at the Mohawk, Jack Oblivian at Beerland, Negative Approach at Red 7.

Sunday

George Winston at One World Theatre.The capo de tutti capi of New Age-slotted piano players. There was a time when Winston's music was considered progressive — he first recorded for John Fahey's Takoma label and his sales practically built Windham Hill Records. Winston also has a long history with Austin — Waterloo Records was an early booster and he once sold out the Paramount. He also plays Friday and Saturday. 7 p.m. $20, $45, $60. One World Theatre. 7701 Bee Cave Road. www.oneworldtheatre.org — J.G.

Also recommended:Black Panda at Mixx; the Weird Weeds at the Salvage Vanguard Theater.

Monday

Some Say Leland at the Cactus Café. After the two-day musical bender that is Fun Fun Fun Fest, this night of acoustic experimental folk from one of Austin's most intriguingly cerebral bands should be the perfect chaser. Throw in one of the city's most intimate venues for an ideal cap to an exhausting weekend. 8:30 p.m. $7. 2247 Guadalupe St. www.utexas.edu/txunion/ae/cactus — P.C.

Also recommended: Dale Watson and his Lone Stars at the Continental Club, Bob Schneider's Lonelyland at the Saxon Pub.

Tuesday

Jay-Z at Erwin Center. Is he the greatest rapper of all time? You sure can make the argument. Start with his duet with Biggie Smalls on 'Brooklyn's Finest' ('Time to separate the pros from the cons/ the platinum from the bronze/ that butter soft (beep) from that leather on the Fonz'). Take a left at his smash 'Hard Knock Life' and 'Money Ain't a Thang,' to the UGK collaboration 'Big Pimpin'' to 'I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)' ('Yeah, save the narrative, you 'savin' it for marriage'/ let's keep it real ma, you savin' it for karats') to 'Numb/Encore,' the best rap-rock mashup since 'Walk This Way' to 'Takeover' to 'Izzo' to '99 Problems.' We haven't even touched on the non-hits. Or the stuff with other artists. G.O.A.T.? Your call. But the odds are good. 8 p.m. $25 to $75. Erwin Center. 1701 Red River St. www.uterwincenter.com — J.G.

Also recommended:Cheap Time at Beerland. Rob Zombie at Austin Music Hall, Barred for Life at Red 7, Alejandro Escovedo at the Continental Club.

Wednesday

Regina Spektor at Stubb's.The New York based singer-songwriter has built a super-loyal fan base with her distinctive brand of confessional piano pop. She'll stop at Stubb's in support of her acclaimed new album, 'Far,' a collection that once again emphasizes Spektor's non-traditional vocal style and catchy hooks. With Jupiter One. $25. 7 p.m. 801 Red River St. 480-8341. stubbsaustin.com — Peter Mongillo

Also recommended:Langhorne Slim, Dawes, Austin Lucas at Mohawk; Hallelujah the Hills, the Rocketboys, Paul Banks and the Carousels at the Mohawk (inside).