It’s been a long hot summer, but this week’s local concert schedule is going to heat things up with much-anticipated shows by Boombox, Punch Brothers, and the Dropkick Murphys.

SONIC BOOMBOX

What happens when you put two musical minds together – and one of artist’s parents used to play in the Grateful Dead? You have an electronic music act that offers unique improvisational soundscapes and a signature DJ sound. This duo’s called BoomBox and the popular techno act features music producer/DJ/drummer Russ Randolph and guitarist Zion Godchaux. If the last name sounds familiar, it’s because Zion’s mom is Donna Godchaux – former vocalist for the Grateful Dead. His dad was the late Keith Godchaux of the Dead.

“Boombox is a two-piece dance band,” explained Randolph. “We’re a DJ and guitarist, and we play all the music in ‘real time.’ A lot of electronic bands use laptops on stage, but we used two drum machines, a turntable and guitar to create musical layers and we create new sonic fabrics. Musically, we’re both Deadheads. That type of musical exploration and the energy we exchange with the audience does remind people of the Dead, but we play disco house music. When we combine both worlds, the lines really blur.”

BoomBox always sells out Boulder and Denver shows, so get your tickets early. The DJ act has been hitting the road nonstop and is getting ready to craft a new CD.

“This is a full-time job for us,” said Randolph. “We did Rothbury and we have two weeks of shows in Colorado. We’re trying to tap into new markets and we’re going to see what happens.”

See Boombox at the Fox Friday. Harry and the Potters put their spell on the Fox’s audience Sunday. Tuesday, Bonerama plays the club.

DROPKICK THESE MURPHYS

Local indie rock station KTCL (93.3) really knows how to throw a great musical party. Saturday, KTCL presents its “Big Gig” concert at Fiddler’s Green. The hard-edged indie rock lineup features The Offspring, Paramore, The Spill Canvas, Dropping Daylight and Dropkick Murphys in concert.

The Dropkick Murphys could sell out a show on their own merits. The Boston band is known for its raucous tunes – songs that blend elements of punk, rock and hardcore sounds into the mix. The group’s primary goal is to encourage its audience members to participate in the shows, and it’s not uncommon to find hundreds of fans dancing and singing along on stage with the Dropkick Murphys.

“We’ve been doing this band for 12 years,” said lead singer Al Barr. “There’s a complete insanity with this band and a love of music. We’re very lucky to have loyal fans that travel around to see us. We do sound like a folk band and a rock band that was in a bus accident and collided together. We have a punk- and rock- and Irish-folk sound. We do encourage crowd participation. We get everyone singing and it gets pretty crazy.”

The Dropkick Murphys have been busy touring behind their last record “The Meanest of Times.” The Boston band has also been supporting its local sports teams. The group released its own version of the Boston Red Sox anthem “Tessie” – and it became the official team song the season the Sox won the World Series (2004). The tune was also used in the Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore baseball film “Fever Pitch.”

“‘Tessie’ was a song the Red Sox used to use,” said Barr. “We resurrected the song in 2004 and we helped break the team’s curse. We’ve also had our music used on ‘The Simpsons.’ Martin Scorsese used our music in his film ‘The Departed,’ and we have songs are in the new ‘Guitar Hero’.”

PUNCH AND GROOVY

When noted modern bluegrass band Nickel Creek put the breaks on its career, Chris Thile decided he wanted to keep performing. So, he formed Punch Brothers. The group’s unique musical flavor has been described as “American country-classical chamber music.” However you spell it out, the band is coming to town to play the Rocky Grass Festival and etown.

The national act also features former members of local band Leftover Salmon. Greg Garrison is now the bassist for the Punch Brothers, and former Leftover banjo player Noam Pikelny also plays with the band.

“We all came out of the festival scene,” said Garrison. “After Nickel Creek stopped touring Chris decided he wanted to do the Punch Brothers full time. We play our own spin on bluegrass and folk, but we tend to push at the fringes. Chris really incorporates the technique of writing in a classical way into musical language that translates to folk, bluegrass, and jazz. It’s very modern music.”

The Punch Brothers play a Saturday set at the Rockygrass Festival in Lyons. The bros head to etown Monday to play the Boulder Theater.