Two hot summer concerts highlight our weekend best bets! 

Pop-rock band Train will play the Raleigh Amphitheater on Friday night. They will be joined by opening act Mat Kearney. Tickets start at $26.50 and are still available.

Also on Friday night, country star Jason Aldean will perform in front of a sold-out crowd at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek in Raleigh. He is being joined by Luke Bryan. 

Miracle 2012 Concert

On Saturday, local bands and artists will gather together in Garner to help raise money for a 13-year-old boy battling cancer. The Miracle 2012 concert will help Evan Coleman’s family pay for medical expenses associated with his melanoma battle. Music will be provided by The Josh Pepper Band, Erin Nenni, When Forever Comes and Scott Barton. There will be local art on display and a silent auction. It all happens at the Garner Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with music starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are available online for a minimum suggested donation of $2.

Five Pillars of Hip-Hop Summit in Durham

Local hip-hop team Toon and The Real Laww will host a hip-hop festival at Casbah in Durham on Saturday night. The event is focused on the “five pillars” on which hip-hop culture stands on – the emcee, bread dancer, DJ, beatboxer and graffiti artists. There will be live exhibitions of these works throughout the night. Music will be provided by Durham hip-hop mainstays Joshua Gunn and The Beast lead by MC Pierce Freelon among others. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

See more of our picks for the weekend and beyond on our Best Bets calendar.