Erika Wennerstrom (of Heartless Bastards), Petter Ericson Stakee (of Alberta Cross)

The first time I heard Erika Wennerstrom, she was leading her band the Heartless Bastards through a mind-blowing set in an Austin, Texas, bar during South by Southwest. They were tucked into a corner, so you could barely see the tiny singer/guitarist through the gabbing crowd of music-industry folks. But as soon as Wennerstrom unleashed her gargantuan pipes on a set of blues-rock originals, there was nothing to do but shut up and take notice of the singular talent on display. That was 15 years ago, and I’ve seen Wennerstrom many times since. Her songwriting has evolved, but she’s still a bluesy belter at heart. See for yourself at this weekend’s solo show.