4 big shows in 48 hours

Within 48 hours next week, Tucson will host concerts by:

• Pop icon Sir Elton John.

• Rock giant Robert Plant.

• Canadian indie buzz band The New Pornographers.

• R&B diva Rihanna.

Either these artists are geographically challenged or that boycott against Arizona over the new immigration law has yet to gain traction.

Either way, we're having one of the busiest concert weeks of 2010.

Here's how it will break down:

• On Wednesday, Elton John will perform at the Tucson Arena. About the same time he takes the stage, part two of the British invasion begins at Casino del Sol's AVA when Plant - frontman of iconic rock outfit Led Zeppelin - rolls out his latest musical odyssey, the Band of Joy.

The same night, The New Pornographers take the stage at the Rialto.

• On Thursday, Rihanna will bring her Caribbean-spiced, sexually tinged R&B to AVA.

Those are the big shows. There are several other promising concerts this week, starting Saturday with indie duo The Swell Season at the Rialto and comedian Bill Engvall at Desert Diamond Casino. Plus there's the Latino Solidarity benefit Monday at the Rialto, SoCal indie rock band Delta Spirit at Club Congress Wednesday and rapper Game at DV8 nightclub Thursday.

So, who will you see, who will you skip?

This might help you decide. Follow the links above under "Related Stories" for more on all the shows.