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Need a night out? Check out October's top 5 live music shows in Providence

Rob Duguay
Special to The Journal

I don’t know about you, but October is one of my favorite times of the year. Fall is in full swing, with crisp weather and brilliant colors in the landscape. There’s also pumpkin beer, cider doughnuts, apple picking, King Richard’s Faire in Carver, Massachusetts, and other cool things going on.

I can’t forget about Halloween, but I'll have another story coming next week that’ll let you know what's happening to mark that spooky occasion. In the meantime, live music is still going strong in Providence, and here are some shows to check out next month. 

October Fest II 

Where: Dusk, 301 Harris Ave.

When: Oct. 1, 2 p.m. (ages 18+)

Tickets: $10 

Info: (401) 714-0444, Dusk Providence on Facebook

Craft beer folks know about that other Oktoberfest, but Dusk’s own October Fest celebrates riffin’ and great live music while folks indulge in beer and other refreshments. Their first edition of this festival was a hoot, and the second one promises to be the best way to spend the first Saturday of the month. Sludge Metalheads DNR, hardcore punks The Paraplegics, noise rock phenoms Minibeast, Mötley Crüe tribute act Looks That Kill, grunge-punk duo Brown Apples, garage rock stalwarts Atlantic Thrills, New York City experimental rockers Joudy, gothic folk entity Vudu Sister, psychedelic punks Jade Tourniquet, punk rock power trio Ski Bunny, progressive alt-funk dynamos Northeast Traffic and garage rock rabble-rousers Joy Boys will be part of a stacked bill.

More:Swing into fall with these 5 fun autumn festivals in Rhode Island

Tinariwen 

Where: Columbus Theatre, 270 Broadway  

When: Oct. 4, 8 p.m. (all ages)

Tickets: $35 

Info: (401) 621-9660, columbustheatre.com

Presented by PVD World Music, this show will showcase a band that’s been around since 1979 but didn’t release its debut album until 2001. With roots in the North African country of Algeria and the West African country of Mali, Tinariwen is considered a pioneer of the “desert blues” style that has more recently been adopted by the likes of Mdou Moctar and Bombino. Their most recent album, "Amadjar," which came out in 2019, was nominated for a 2020 Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album and won the 2020 Libera Award for Best World Music Album.  

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John Petrucci 

Where: The Strand Ballroom & Theatre, 79 Washington St.

When: Oct. 5, 8 p.m. (all ages)

Tickets:  $45-$125 

Info: (401) 618-8900, thestrandri.com

Starting out at the Berklee College Of Music in Boston during the mid-1980s, Dream Theater is regarded as one of the most genre-defying progressive metal bands of all time. Guitarist John Petrucci is a legend in his own right, and he’ll be performing with fellow founding member of Dream Theater Mike Portnoy on drums and prolific bassist Dave LaRue. Thrash metal act Meanstreak, which features Petrucci's and Portnoy’s wives, Rena Sands and Marlene Apuzzo, on guitar, will be opening up the show.  

The Devil’s Twins, Tiny Stills and Senseless Optimism  

Where: Askew, 150 Chestnut St.

When: Oct. 15, 9 p.m. (ages 21+)

Tickets: $15 

Info: (774) 526-9736, Askew Prov on Facebook

The Devil’s Twins from Boston have a dynamic sound they like to call “noir-punk” that’s fueled by the alternating, and sometimes combined, vocals of Nicole Marie Coogan, guitarist Jeremiah John Louf, trumpeter Eric Ortiz and saxophonist Aitan Ben-Joseph. Coming from Los Angeles, Tiny Stills brings a mix of indie rock and power pop as part of a tour that has them trekking across the country. Starting things off will be the Boston artist known as Senseless Optimism who blends R&B, soul, funk, rock and blues into an intriguing and captivating style of music.  

Kal Marks  

Where: Fete Music Hall, 103 Dike St.

When: Oct. 27, 7 p.m. (all ages)

Tickets: $10 advance, $12 at the door

Info: (401) 383-1112,  fetemusic.com

Boston noise rock quartet Kal Marks has a knack for pushing boundaries. This is especially evident off their latest album, "My Name Is Hell," which I consider one of the best records to come out of The Hub so far this year. Local act Minibeast will also be part of this show, along with cello rock act Prior Panic, so arrive promptly.