Anthrax singer headed to Hampton: Joey Belladonna, front man of legendary thrash metal band Anthrax, is on his way to Hampton Beach. But he’s not playing at the Casino Ballroom. Instead, Belladonna will rock Wally’s Pub, the biker bar around the corner, on Sunday, Aug. 21.

Though not a founding member, Belladonna served as Anthrax’s lead singer during their most successful years from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s, a period during which the New York-based band received three Grammy nominations. Anthrax is often credited with helping to spearhead the thrash metal genre. 

Belladonna left the group in the early ’90s but returned in 2004 and again in 2010, rejoining original founding guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker. On Sept. 14, just a few weeks after the Hampton gig, Anthrax will play at Yankee Stadium with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer, who collectively refer to themselves as The Big 4.

Doors open at 4 p.m. on Aug. 21 at Wally’s Pub, 144 Ashworth Ave., Hampton, 603-926-6954. The show will also feature special guest Candy Striper Death Orgy. Tickets are $20.

Bill Staines kicks off music series in Kittery: The Kittery Art Association’s 10th anniversary concert series will begin with a performance by local folk icon Bill Staines on Friday, Sept. 2. The series continues with monthly shows through next June.

Staines has been performing for close to 50 years, recording 26 albums in the process. The singer-songwriter and guitarist cut his teeth in the Boston-Cambridge folk scene in the early 1960s and became one of the area’s favorite performers through the 1970s and ’80s. A number of other famous musicians have recorded his songs, including Peter, Paul & Mary, Tommy Makem and Nanci Griffith. 

Other performers this year include Al Derben on Oct. 14; Swing a Cat and Seasmoke with Joanne Connolly on Nov. 11; and a holiday show with Susie Burke, Dave Surette and Kent Allyn on Dec. 9. The series continues in 2012 with Sam Goodall on Jan. 13; Lillian Buckley and Kent Allyn on Feb. 10; student musicians on March 9; Sarah Bauhan and David Coffin on April 13; Gary Sredzienski on May 11; and Ben Baldwin and Kent Allyn on June 8. All shows are on Friday nights.

Staines will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 2 at 8 Coleman Ave., in Kittery, Maine. There is a suggested donation of $10. For more information, call 207-439-5401.

brass jazz in Portsmouth: A local quintet will bring its top brass to the Seacoast African American Cultural Center for an upcoming gig. Portsmouth Brassworks will perform at the center on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 21.

Founded in 1993, the band consists of Steve Workman, John Cardin, Keith Holt, Jen Larson and Fran Blanchard. They play a blend of holiday tunes, jazz numbers, contemporary works and classical compositions, all on a range of brass instruments including trumpets, trombone, tuba and French horn. 

Several of the band members graduated from Portsmouth High School and have maintained close ties with the school. They have a repertoire of more than 200 selections and often play at private functions and community events.

The show begins at 4 p.m. on Aug. 21 at the Seacoast African American Cultural Center, 10 Middle St., Portsmouth, 603-430-6027.