Take a musical journey from the O’Jays to the Jonas Brothers this week in CT arts

The nostalgia factor is high this week, whether you grooved to the O’Jays in the 1970s, boogied to Max Creek in the ‘80s, swayed to Melissa Etheridge in the ‘90s, pogoed to skate punks in the 2000s or swooned over the Jonas Brothers in the 2010s.

Outside of small club stages that specialize in comedy (FunnyBone, Sea Tea, the casinos), you won’t find a lot of funny events in Connecticut this week. Not a lot of theater either. But there are still some major late-summer festivals to contend with and a lot of arenas concerts.

Here are some of the top things to do and see this week in Connecticut arts.

The O’Jays Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket

Improvements in mass transit even apply to ‘70s soul bands. The O’Jays’ “Last Stop on the Love Train” farewell tour has been extended by a number of stops. Foxwoods’ Premier Theater is one of those Love Train stations, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. The O’Jays’ farewell, though delayed, is real. Founding members Eddie Levert and Walter Williams are ready to retire from the group they started in 1958. $35-$45. foxwoods.com.

Incubus Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville

The influential alt-metal band Incubus formed over 30 years ago. As with their previous tours, they are intent on exposing their fan base to newer sounds, hence the two opening acts Badflower (who like Incubus hail from L.A., but a generation later) and Michael Jackson’s multi-faceted daughter Paris Jackson. Aug. 13 at 7:15 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena. $46-$76; no seats on the floor, just standing. mohegansun.com.

Jonas Brothers Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville

The youngest of them is only 30, but the Jonas Brothers have 18 years of hits in multiple styles that charting their paths from pop-loving tykes to open-eared adulthood. One of their recent singles is a remake of their first hit, a cover of Busted’s “Year 3000.” Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. $129.50-$199.50. mohegansun.com.

Tinsley Ellis Infinity Hall, 20 Greenwoods Road West, Norfolk

Blues guitarist Tinsley Ellis offers anecdotes from his own long career alongside his interpretations of songs by Bob Dylan, Leo Kottke and others on his “Acoustic Songs & Stories” tour. Aug. 19 at 8 p.m. at Infinity Hall Norfolk. infinityhall.com.

Max Creek Connecticut Old State House, 800 Main St., Hartford

The second Hartford Live! Concert of the summer on the lawn outside the Old State House is the venerable jam band Max Creek, which formed in 1971 and still boasts founding bassist/vocalist John Rider. The show is free, with food and beverages for sale. Following the Max Creek show, Infinity Hall at 32 Front St. in Hartford is holding an afterparty with another celebrated regional jam band, Mystic Dead. goodworkslive.com.

Melissa Etheridge and Elle King Foxwoods, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket

“I Need to Wake Up” meets “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” when sublime solo singer/songwriters Melissa Etheridge and Elle King pair for an Aug. 18 concert at 8 p.m. at Foxwoods’ Premier Theater. $45-$65. foxwoods.com.

All-American Rejects Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, 500 Broad St., Bridgeport

For a certain type of punk rocker, the high spot of summer used to be the Vans Warped Tour. That furious and far-flung festival, which involved multiple stages and dozens of bands, whooped its final Warp in 2019. A tour this summer headlined by All-American Rejects is unrelated to Vans Warped Tour yet every band on it played the Warped Tour at least once, and some of them five or 10 times. Besides the Rejects there’s New Found Glory, Motion City Soundtrack, The Starting Line and The Get Up Kids. Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport. $35 (lawn) to $153 (VIP). livenation.com.

Milford Oyster Festival Milford Green and other downtown locations

The oysters are taking over Milford from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 19, but seafood is only one aspect of the Milford Oyster Festival. There are hundreds of vendors, a classic car show, a beer and wine garden, a children’s stage and more. The music headliner (at 4 p.m. on the Fowler Field main stage) is Lou Gramm, the former lead vocalist of Foreigner, with opening act The Brothers Doobie (a Doobie Brothers tribute). Shuttle buses leave from Platt Technical High School at 600 Orange Ave. and Jonathan Law High School at 20 Landsdale Ave. milfordoysterfestival.com.

Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, 300 Columbus Blvd., Hartford

A watery spectacle of mythic proportions, the brightly decorated dragon boats on the riverfront are a wonder to behold. The boat race is amplified by an Asian/Pacific Island cultural festival with live music, dance, art activities, martial arts demonstrations, food vendors and more. The day lasts from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza. riverfront.org.

Bridgeport Jazz Festival McLevy Green, 102 Bank St., Bridgeport

Jazz is wafting down the streets of downtown Bridgeport on Aug. 19 from noon to 8 p.m. The lineup is Aliva at noon, Braxton at 12:30 p.m., OTG at 1:15 p.m, Cosmic Error at 2 p.m., Tiffany Phoenix at 3 p.m., Taj Dyami at 3:30 p.m., The Soulful Jazz Trio at 4 p.m., Nick Di Maria at 5 p.m., Joe Kiernan at 6 p.m. and the Rahsaan Langley Project (plus a “surprise performance”) at 7 p.m. Free. bridgeportjazz.org.