You didn’t think metalheads were gonna let the Democrats have all the fun this week, did you? On Saturday, the Palladium (800-477-6849) in Worcester hosts the "Mayhem Convention" — a title that may turn out to be more descriptive of the DNC. At the top of a strong ticket, Mastodon ride in on a platform of unbridled fury, heeding both the call of Ktulu from Metallica’s golden years and the woolly-mammoth haze of Blues for the Red Sun–era Kyuss. Previewing tunes from their forthcoming Leviathan (Relapse), Mastodon top a bill featuring Suffocation, the Red Chord, and 100 Demons. Also on the floor: Beyond the Embrace and Cannae, who appear to be next in line to join Massachusetts’s national leadership in emo thrash and metalcore, respectively.

If you’re like most Boston residents this week, the DNC has reinforced your desire to get the hell out of town. If you’re heading to the Cape, you’ll want to know that Berklee College of Music has gathered an A-list line-up for its annual "Vineyard Vibes" festival, which this year is tonight (July 22) through Sunday at four different venues on the island. Berklee alum Bruce Cockburn plays tonight at the Hot Tin Roof (508-693-1137) in Edgartown. Grammy-winning vibist Garry Burton and long-time foil Makoto Ozone play the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center (508-693-1033) in Oak Bluffs on Friday. Trombonist and Berklee prof Phil Wilson leads a quintet on Saturday at the Offshore Ale House (508-693-2626) in Oak Bluffs. And Berklee’s acclaimed Reverence Gospel Ensemble performs on Sunday at the Old Whaling Church (508-693-0305) in Edgartown. And if you’re going north: the Lowell Folk Festival, which bills itself as the nation’s largest free folk fest, takes over a half-dozen stages in downtown Lowell from Friday through Sunday. For a complete schedule, call (978) 970-5000, or visit www.lowellfolkfestival.com.

If you’ve seen the video for "My Band," you can understand why D12 might want to do a few gigs without Eminem’s hogging the spotlight; Marshall has been threatening to show up at select dates, but don’t hold your breath. The group are on a tour with Slum Village and Bone Crusher that hits Lupo’s at the Strand (401-331-5876) in Providence on Saturday and Toad’s Place (203-562-5589) in New Haven on Sunday. Elsewhere, the Roots support their new The Tipping Point on a tour opening for rap-rock vets 311 and jazz gurus Medeski Martin & Wood; it hits the Tweeter Center (617-931-2000) in Mansfield on Friday. With Aaron Lewis returned from his solo tour of the nation’s casinos, Mass grunge-metal dudes Staind brave an East Coast mini-tour that hits the Dunkin’ Donuts Civic Center (401-331-6700) in Providence on Friday, Oakdale Theater (203-265-1501) in Wallingford, Connecticut, on Sunday, and Verizon Wireless Arena (603-644-5000) in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tuesday. And next Thursday, July 29, the B-52’s roll into Campanelli Stadium (508-559-7070) — home to the Brockton Rox minor-league baseball franchise — with glam/disco sensations the Scissor Sisters.