Animal Collective, Boys II Men, Ben Folds among best things to do week of Aug. 28 to Sept. 3

The Courant’s picks for the best things to do the week starting Aug. 28 reflect that sunrise is starting to come a little later, darkness falls a little longer, school is back in session and advanced lessons in music history are about to be taught.

Legendary acts passing through Connecticut from Aug. 28 to Sept. 3 include the sensational soul harmonists Boyz II Men, “Moondance” maverick Van Morrison, death-metal mongers Deicide and Kataklysm, and emo exemplars My Chemical Romance.

To remind us that school’s in session, there’s the Bored Teachers Comedy Tour, the smart commentary of Craig Ferguson and perennial favorite college-town acts Ben Folds and Animal Collective.

The Woggles, led by “The Professor” Mighty Manfred, school us on the fact that punk energy existed long before the 1970s and persists into the here and now.

Then there’s Corey Feldman, worth a special-study project all his own.

Welcome back, students.

Boyz II Men

Hartford Healthcare Ampitheater, 500 Broad St., Bridgeport

In the 1980s, Boyz II Men’s lilting vocal harmonies were what summer was all about, and apparently they still are. The group is on its latest tour, visiting the Hartford Healthcare Ampitheater at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 28. $25-$129.50. hartfordhealthcareamp.com.

Ben Folds

College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., New Haven

God’s gift to collegiate a cappella choruses, Ben Folds has had a long and eclectic pop career, working with everyone from the Nashville Symphony Orchestra to William Shatner. His smart, sometimes silly, always fresh-sounding songs still resonate. Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. at College Street Music Hall. $39.50-$59.50. collegestreetmusichall.com.

The Bored Teachers Comedy Tour

Funny Bone Comedy Club, 194 Buckland Hills Drive, Manchester

A live version of the popular website that’s entertainingly “celebrating educators every day,” the Bored Teachers comedy tour hits Funnybone Comedy Club on Aug. 30. The school year is starting but these folks are already bored. Two shows, at 5 and 7:30 p.m. You’ll be able to get home early, as it’s a school night. $46-$56. hartford.funnybone.com.

Animal Collective

College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., New Haven

The awesome experimental pop band Animal Collective was born in Baltimore but began regularly visiting downtown New Haven early in its career, more than 20 years ago. The band, which is as conversant in ‘70s AM radio hits as it is in European art-rock and avant-garde ontemporary classical composers, still sojourn here. In the old days you’d find Animal Collective in the back room at BAR. On Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. the collective will be at College Street Music Hall. $31-$36. collegestreetmusichall.com.

The Woggles and Dust Hat

Cafe Nine, 250 State St., New Haven

Nobody cares more about ‘60s-style garage rock bands than Cafe Nine does. New Haven’s cosy “musician’s living room” welcomes back The Woggles Aug. 31 at 8 p.m., with locals Dust Hat opening. cafenine.com.

Van Morrison

Hartford Healthcare Ampitheater, 500 Broad St., Bridgeport

His views on earthly ills like COVID-19 are controversial, but Van Morrison’s classic albums “Moondance” and “Astral Weeks” — both on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the best albums of all time — exist on their own spiritual plane. “Astral Weeks” also inspired a terrific recent book, “Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968″ by Ryan H. Walsh, which delves into the Boston music scene that helped shape that iconic album. Morrison, whose hits range from “Gloria” to “Brown Eyed Girl” to “Into the Mystic,” is at Hartford Healthcare Ampitheater on Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. $69-$400. hartfordhealthcareamp.com.

My Chemical Romance

Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville

My Chemical Romance,, one of the most important bands of the first decade of the 21st century continues the comeback it began with its 2019 reunion, hooking up with two acts that have been around for about a decade each, Waterparks and Meg Myers for a tour arriving at Mohegan Sun Arena Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. While the band was broken up for much of the 20-teens, MCR leader Gerard Way made his mark on comic books, co-creating “The Umbrella Academy” (now a hit TV show) and helming a psychedelic revival of “Doom Patrol.” $129.50 to $229.50. mohegansun.com.

Craig Ferguson

Great Cedar Showroom, Foxwoods, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket

Scottish comedian/actor/musician Craig Ferguson is still fondly remembered for his decade-long stint on CBS’ “Late Late Show.” The ace raconteur brings his “Fancy Rascal” speaking tour to Foxwoods Sept 2 at 8 p.m. $30 and $40. foxwoods.com.

Corey Feldman

Stafford Palace Theater, 75 Main St., Stafford Springs

Whether you consider him a legend (for “Stand by Me,” “The Goonies” and “The Lost Boys”) or a laughingstock (for “Bikini Bandits,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School Forever” or his dance routine on “Saturday Night Live”), you have to admit that Corey Feldman can be endlessly fascinating. Also, hey, nice hat. A new album, “Love Left 2: Arm Me With Love” and new single “Without U” has gotten Feldman out on the road again with a band. On Sept. 2 at 8 p.m. he’s at the Stafford Palace Theater. $35-$120. thestaffordpalacetheater.com.

Deicide

Webster Theater, 31 Webster St., Hartford

Deicide has been active since the late ‘80s, practicing a special strain of Floridian norm-skewing death metal. With more than a dozen albums to their name, there isn’t a moral argument they haven’t provoked or a new viewpoint they haven’t bellowed. Deicide’s at the most metal-friendly stage in the state, Hartford’s Webster Theater, on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m., with a much younger Florida-based death/thrash metal band, Inhuman Condition plus the hyper-blasting Canadian band Kataklysm slithering through its 2004 opus “Serenity in Fire” in its entirety. $27. webstertheater.com.

Christopher Arnott can be reached at carnott@courant.com.