by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A&E Writer

Pumpkin spice is nice, but even better this month is the amount of great concerts being staged in and around Seattle. Whether it's rock, folk or EDM, there's a show for everybody happening now through the remainder of October. Scratch that, Rocktober. Here are six of them to keep in mind.

Brandi Carlile
Paramount Theatre
October 16-17
Local artist Brandi Carlile released her fifth studio album, The Firewatcher's Daughter, in March to positive reviews and debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. 'The Eye' and 'Wherever is Your Heart' were both released as singles and are likely to be on the singer-songwriter's set list when she entertains audiences at the Paramount Theatre on back-to-back nights.

alt-J
Key Arena
October 18
Best Alternative Music Album is one of the most competitive Grammy Awards categories year after year for various reasons, mainly because there's a huge pool of talented bands and performers in this field trying to nab only five nominations. British rockers alt-J made the cut in 2014 with their sophomore record, This Is All Yours, capping a twelve-month period that saw them sell out concerts all over the world and perform at major festivals on both sides of the Atlantic. They'll play to a big crowd in Seattle this weekend, when they slide into Key Arena.

Glen Phillips
Storyville Coffee
Pike Place Market
October 23-24
You might know singer-songwriter Glen Phillips as a solo artist, but chances are you're more familiar with his duties as frontman for the band Toad the Wet Sprocket. The Southern California-based musician, who interviewed with Seattle Gay News several years ago, is set to perform a pair of intimate shows at downtown's Storyville Coffee at the Pike Place Market. It's a perfect opportunity to blend two great things this fall season, coffee and live music, in a totally chill setting.

Albert Hammond Jr.
The Crocodile
October 24
Another singer-songwriter juggling a solo and band career is Albert Hammond Jr., guitarist/keyboardist for rock group The Strokes. Momentary Masters is his third album by himself, released this summer, that includes the leadoff single 'Born Slippy.' Don't expect any Strokes songs to be played at The Crocodile next weekend, as Hammond Jr. likes to separate his own music from the band's at his shows. Fingers crossed he performs a few cuts from his first album, 2006's Yours to Keep.

Florence + The Machine
Key Arena
October 27
Florence Welch and her team of musicians, collectively known as Florence + The Machine, are one of the most interesting and unique-sounding acts to emerge in the world of pop. The ensemble's third studio album, 2015's How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful has commercially equaled the success of its predecessor, 2011's Ceremonials (Top 10 Albums/CDs of 2011, Seattle Gay News) and artistically has received mostly favorable reviews by critics worldwide. At Key Arena, you're guaranteed to hear 'Dog Days Are Over,' 'Shake It Off,' 'Ship to Wreck,' and my personal favorite, 'Spectrum (Say My Name).'

FreakNight
Tacoma Dome
October 30-31
The Northwest's hottest Halloween rave is happening once again in the Seattle area with a double-night setup at a bigger venue, the Tacoma Dome (it was formerly at WaMu Theater), featuring two electronic giants as headliners. Deadmau5 tops the roster of DJs the first night, while internationally famous Tiesto takes over the second night with a special guest appearance by Diplo. Over two-dozen acts are booked for the entire weekend-long event.

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