Jabe returns to Dover: It will be a homecoming of sorts for alternative rock band Jabe, a former Boston area staple and Barley Pub favorite. Former New Hampshire resident Jabe Beyer and his band will return to The Barley Pub in Dover on Saturday, April 30.

Consisting of Beyer on guitar and vocals, Jay Aucella on bass, David Westner on drums, and Sean Staples on mandolin, Jabe released five albums between 1999 and 2008. Beyer, also a member of such groups as Bender, The All Night Circus, and The Wheels, moved to Nashville about four years ago. But Jabe is swinging through the Northeast for a spate of shows in Cambridge and Somerville this month. The Barley Pub gig is the band’s only scheduled appearance in New Hampshire. The show begins at 10 p.m. on April 30 at The Barley Pub, 328 Central Ave., Dover, 603-742-4226.

State Radio plays UNH:  Boston-based rock band State Radio made a positive impression on students at the University of New Hampshire when they opened for Dropkick Murphys in 2008. The trio will return to the Field House—this time as headliner—on Friday, May 6. 

Formed in 2002, State Radio consists of drummer Mike Najarian, bassist Chuck Fay, and guitarist Chad Stokes, formerly of Vermont jam band Dispatch. They’ve released four albums, showcasing an indie rock sound with hints of reggae and ska.

The Student Committee on Popular Entertainment announced the show on April 19. It’s SCOPE’s second and final concert of the semester at UNH, following rapper Wiz Khalifa’s sellout performance at The Whittemore Center on April 8. 

The show begins at 8 p.m. on May 6 at the UNH Field House in Durham. Tickets are $10 for students or $20 for the general public, available at the MUB ticket office, 83 Main St., Durham, 603-862-2290, www.unhmub.com.

the King returns to Hampton Beach: For B.B. King, the thrill of playing the blues is far from gone. Now 85, he’ll return to the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom for a concert on Friday, Sept. 2, just two weeks before his 86th birthday. King has been performing and recording since the 1940s, releasing more than 50 albums in the process. Known for his iconic electric guitar playing and distinctive voice, he long ago established himself as the living king of the blues. The 18-plus show begins at 8 p.m. on Sept. 2 at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, 169 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, 603-929-4100. Tickets are $40 to $75.The Ballroom has already booked close to 40 music and comedy shows in its 2011 season. For a full schedule, visit www.casinoballroom.com.