• Support the arts in schools. Attend the Summer Meltdown Saturday, Sept. 1 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the Arts Park, 376 S. 15th St., New Castle, Ind. Admission is $15 at the gate and is open to all ages. Confirmed bands include Machina (with John LeCompt and Rocky Grey, former members of Evanescence), Panatomic, Rather Not, RGS, Hooker, Aether Law, Amongst the Dead, 7 Days Away, Oddly Enough and Protest for Pluto. All profits will be donated to the New Castle Music Department.

• As summer winds down and students return to school, national headliners performing in Indy heat up. Mark your calendars for these shows. Icelandic singers Amiina (of Sigur Rós) perform at Radio Radio Thursday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m., $12/$14, 21+. Tuesday, Oct. 2, Regina Spektor hits the Murat Centre at 8 p.m. for an all-ages gig; admission is $22.50. Over the Rhine, Ohio’s folk starlets, return to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater in Bloomington Friday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m., $20. The band is celebrating its August CD release, Trumpet Child. Then on Saturday, Oct. 13, singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile plays the Vogue with her band at 6:30 p.m., $15.