Get ready to Stomp, shread with Slaughter or sing with Romeo Santos this week in CT arts

Some advanced practitioners of very specific musical genres bring their lively expertise to Connecticut stages this week.

The 1970s punk pioneers from two continents, The Damned and The Dictators, unite on tour. A triumvirate of guitar-based 1980s (and early 1990s) metal acts are at Mohegan Sun. There’s a reunion of Aventura, the consummate modern Latin bachata group. New Haven Symphony focuses on the Latin side of Broadway showtunes. Russia’s Messer Chups specializes in horror-themed surf rock. Bryson Tiller exemplifies a new breed of singer/songwriter, and Durham County Poets have forged a new form of Canadian folk blues.

Other pioneers and innovators on view include comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, the rhythmic movement ensemble Stomp and a play about Black female baseball legend Toni Stone.

Here are some of the top things to see this week in Connecticut.

Slaughter, Ace Frehley and Aldo Nova Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville

The original lead guitarist of Kiss, Ace Frehley is touring with a couple of acts that hit their stride after he left that band and began his solo career. Aldo Nova had a hit with “Fantasy” in the early ‘80s, and Slaughter formed later in that decade, releasing their hit debut album “Stick It to Ya” in 1990. May 26 at 7 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena. $49.20-$88.50. mohegansun.com.

Romeo Santos and Aventura XL Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Hartford

Another huge Latin music show comes to the XL Center with the reunion tour of vocalist Romeo Santos, “the King of Bachata,” and his old band Aventura. The band, which was formed in the Bronx by four vocalists of Dominican descent, perfected the modern bachata sound and released five albums between 1999 and 2009 before drifting into solo careers. Santos has had seven singles top the Billboard Latin charts and 17 atop the Tropical Airplay charts. There have been previous Aventura reunions, but “Cerrando Ciclos” claims to be the final one for the band. May 27 at 8 p.m. The show is sold out. A number of “verified resale tickets” are available on the XL Center Ticketmaster page, most in the $200 range. xlcenter.com.

‘Toni Stone’ Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford

Playhouse on Park stages Lydia R. Diamond’s biographical play about the woman who challenged the male bastion of baseball leagues. Jamil A.C. Mangan directs, and the nine-person cast is led by Constance Sadie Thompson as Stone. May 29-June 16. Tuesdays at 2 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. $45-$55, $42.50-$52.50 students and seniors; $25 previews on May 29 and 30. playhouseonpark.org.

The Damned and The Dictators District Music Hall, 71 Wall St., Norwalk

The Damned was the first band of the British punk era to release a single (“New Rose” in 1976) and a full studio album (“Damned Damned Damned” in 1977), then made such classics as “Neat Neat Neat,” “Smash It Up” and “Love Song.” The Dictators are their American equivalent. Formed in 1973, their hard rock origins morphed into an early model for punk rock, as exemplified on their debut album “The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!.” Unbelievably, both bands still tour. Although some members have fallen by the wayside, both acts still contain key founders. May 30 at 8 p.m. $50-$60. districtmusichall.com.

Bobcat Goldthwait Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville

The brilliant avant-garde comedian and filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait, who brought us a flaming TV talk show couch, “Shakes the Clown” and one of the most deliberately annoying comic voices since Gilbert Gottfried, honors Mohegan Sun’s Comix Comedy Club with his presence on May 30 and June 1 at 8 p.m. and June 2 at 6 and 8 p.m. $20-$45. mohegansun.com.

Stomp Shubert Theatre, 247 College St., New Haven

The percussive performance troupe which can create a street-smart, fleet-footed symphony out of mops, matchbooks and trash cans, returns to the Shubert on May 31 and June 1. Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. $58.30-$105.90. shubert.com.

Hartford’s Got Talent The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford

The local talent show has reached its finale. Contestants include Vasyl and Khrystyna, Sebastian G. Graceson, Kings Soldiers, Dioney Gonzalez, David Lally, Nadia Sims, Ym Myla Neaj, Samantha Acosta, Joy Monroe and Windsor High School Teens of Praise Gospel Choir. May 31 at 7 p.m. $20. bushnell.org.

Durham County Poets Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook

The Canadian blues/soul/folk band Durham County Poets has been around for over a decade but achieved great success with its 2019 album “Hand Me Down Blues.” May 31 at 8 p.m. $36. thekate.org.

Michael Yo Funny Bone Comedy Club, 194 Buckland Hills Dr., Manchester

Busy nationally known stand-up Michael Yo, seen on “America’s Got Talent,” “Chelsea Lately” and other shows, is on his “Do I Lie?” tour, stopping at the Funny Bone for three sets on May 31 at 7 p.m. and June 1 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. $32. hartford.funnybone.com.

21 Savage Xfinity Theatre, 61 Savitt Way, Hartford

British-born rapper 21 Savage kicks off the (almost) summer season at the Xfinity Theatre with his “American Dream” tour on June 1 at 7 p.m. J.I.D., Nardo Wick and 21 Lil Harold are also on the bill. Savage 21 has been a big deal for nearly a decade now. Among his hits are “Redrum,” “Creepin’,” “Circo Loco” and “My Life.” concerts.livenation.com.

New Haven Symphony: ‘Latina Leading Ladies of Broadway’ Lyman Center for the Performing Arts, 501 Crescent St., New Haven Shelton High School, 120 Meadow St., Shelton

New Haven Symphony does its usual thing of two performances of the same concert in two days in two locations. This time it’s a lively “Latina Leading Ladies of Broadway” pops-type show with James Olmstead conducting Linedy Genao (who grew up in Hamden and whose Broadway credits include the title role in “Bad Cinderella”) as the featured vocalist and two special guest groups: Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus and the Whitney Players. June 1 at 3 p.m. at SCSU Lyman Center and June 2 at 3 p.m. at Shelton High School. Besides “Bad Cinderella,” Genao sings songs from “Evita,” “West Side Story” and even the Gloria Estefan jukebox musical, “On Your Feet!” $15-$49; $10 students and children. newhavensymphony.org.

Paul Anka Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville

Paul Anka recorded his first single, “I Confess,” when he was 14 years old, and he’s now 82. Among his achievements are writing “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” for Buddy Holly, composing Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” theme, adapting a French song into the Frank Sinatra classic “My Way,” making a major solo comeback in 1970 with the controversial “(You’re) Having My Baby” and making two admirably tongue-in-cheek big band albums in the ‘90s where he put a corny big band spin on current rock hits. Anka’s “Seven Decades” tour, named for how long he’s been in show business, hits Mohegan Sun Arena on June 1 at 8 p.m. $47.15-$186.45. mohegansun.com.

Bryson Tiller Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, 500 Broad St., Bridgeport

Kentucky-rooted singer/songwriter Bryson Tiller, whose hits include “Don’t,” “Exchange” and “Whatever She Wants” is at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater on June 1 at 8 p.m. alongside his own alter ego Slum Tiller. He’s his own opening act. DJ Nitrane is also the bill. $92.50-$478. hartfordhealthcareamp.com.

Messer Chups Cafe Nine, 250 State St., New Haven

Ghoulish horror rockabilly acts used to be a staple of the small rock club circuit, and the Russian band Messer Chups still carries the banner high, paying allegiance to horror punk, vintage surf records, Italian slasher films, “Pulp Fiction,” lounge music and the theme song from “The Munsters” among other things. Luxuriate in the cool darkness. Sunnyside Social Club from Queens, New York, opens. June 1 at 9 p.m. $25, $20 in advance. cafenine.com.