This week’s entertainment features pirates, pair of club concerts

Not every week can be filled with music festivals, blockbuster movie releases and arena-rock shows.

Some weeks, your entertainment choices are more low-key. This week, it’s a pair of nightclub concerts and a costume-friendly pirate festival.

A new British invasion

The event: English alternative rock band Nothing But Thieves plays Strummer’s nightclub as it bounces around the country on a North American tour in support of its debut EP.

The draw: This is a emerging band. See them now, if you’re hip. The five-piece is signed to RCA Records, which released its self-titled debut in February. The EP landed No. 2 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. The band plays alongside contemporary guitar rock like Foals and The Neighbourhood and Arcade Fire and Muse, for which the band has played opening slots. Nothing But Thieves may blow up the rock radio soon and leave the club scene behind.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday, May 13 at Strummer’s, 833 E. Fern Ave. $10.41. All ages. 559-485-5356, www.strummersclub.com

Yo, ho, ho!

The event: An assortment of rogues and scallywags invade Kearney Park of the 12th annual Fresno Pirate Festival.

The draw: This is a rum-soaked (one assumes) recreation of life in the 1700s pirate haven New Providence, minus all the scurvy and yellow fever (one assumes). This two-day festival features hundreds of costumed re-enactors, plus cannon demonstrations, vendors selling pirate gear and no shortage of ale and/or grog (again, one assumes).

Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, May 14 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday May 15 at Kearney Park, 7160 W. Kearney Blvd. $10-$15. 559-392-0965 or Fresno Pirate Festival on Facebook.

Cali-country

The event: Live the madness with country hip-hop duo Moonshine Bandits as its West Coast tour makes a Fresno stop at Fulton 55.

The draw: Moonshine Bandits have been making country-infused hip-hop (or is it hip-hop-infused country?) for more than a decade. The Los Banos-born rappers (Tex and Bird) have carved a niche with music that equally inspired by Beastie Boys and 2Pac as it is by Johnny Cash and David Allen Coe. The pair’s 2014 album “Calicountry” featured guest spots from fellow country rappers Danny Boone and Colt Ford. Their current record, “Black Out,” was No. 13 on Billboard’s country albums chart (and No. 10 on the rap chart) last year.

Details: 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 18 At Fulton 55, 875 Divisadero St. $15-$20. 559-412-7400, www.fulton55.com

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 8:16 AM with the headline "This week’s entertainment features pirates, pair of club concerts."