It’s getting hotter in the Bay Area… and we don’t mean the temperatures. Local venues are turning up the proverbial heat with some cool musical acts performing in April. Check it out! Scout Bar, located at 18307 Egret Bay Boulevard in Houston, has a schedule chock-full of powerhouse bands in April.

National music acts, such as The Texas Hippie Coalition (Saturday, April 4) and HED PE co-headlining with Alien Ant Farm (Tuesday, April 7), start the month off rocking.

The Latin Grammy Award nominee Jarabe de Palo is unquestionably one of the biggest bands on the Hispano-American music scene in the last two decades. He is taking the stage on Friday, April 10.

Celebrate Scout Bar’s 11-year anniversary with a party on Saturday, April 11. The Hunger is headlining (The Last Place You Look, Cassette Tape and Valeluna also performing) and entry is free with an invitation.

The music calendar is non-stop with the angst-driven hard rock of Nonpoint (Thursday, April 16); the “death pop” metal from Orgy’s “Sick Talk Tour” (Friday, April 17); and the more than awesome melodic rock of P.O.D. (Tuesday, April 21).

Wrapping up the month are the Sons of Texas on Wednesday, April 22. This five-piece blues-metal band out of McAllen were “Baptized in the Rio Grande” and named by Revolver Magazine as a “band to be watching.” Dug Dinnick (Friday, April 24) is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. O-Town (Wednesday, May 6) is in town for a reunion tour and new single "Skydive" from their forthcoming album "Lines & Circles."

Claudio’s Restaurant & Piano Bar (3202 Marina Bay Drive, League City), has live music every night. The venue is excited to welcome Nashville recording artist Doug Allen Nash on the weekends of April 17-18 and April 24-25 with two performances nightly starting at 9:30 p.m.

The good people at T-Bone Tom’s (707 Highway 146 in Kemah) are hosting the Irish rock band Blaggards in Tom’s Backyard on Friday, April 10, and "Texas Music Hall of Fame" Van Wilks on Saturday, April 18.

Don’t miss the “Spring Break at the School Of Hard Knocks” on Saturday, April 25 at Lazy Lizard Cantina, located at 1817 Avenue K in sunny San Leon.  It’s a party for all hard-working professionals. The classic rock cover band Andy & The Dreamsicles will be performing between 6 to 11 p.m.

It’s official! 2015 will be a “Blues Summer” according to Midnite Slice (1605 Second St. in Seabrook). All hail the blues vibe on the weekends all summer. And on 4-20, Midnite Slice turns 3! Congratulations to the Slice!

Happy 13-year anniversary to Las Haciendas! The party is on Friday, April 24 at the original Webster location (1020 NASA Road 1 at I-45). Enjoy happy hour specials all day and live musical entertainment beginning at 7 p.m. Come salsa and merengue dance on the weekends! Dance on Friday nights with La Potencia, and on Saturday nights with Son Vacilon. The fun starts at 10 p.m., and there is never a cover charge.

By Rhonda Meredith