Courtesy photo

The Biscuit Burners

Courtesy of Sean Cuddy

Red Clay River

TONIGHT

The Biscuit Burners

Don't call it newgrass. Maybe neograss. Or worldgrass. Sure, you'll hear plenty of superfine traditional instrumentation and songcraft, but on songs such as "Sujan Re," Bill Cardine takes his resophonic slide guitar deep into raga territory, as Mary Lucey (bass) and Odessa Jorgensen (fiddle) chant eerily in kind. Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry is said to have told The Associated Press that the Biscuit Burners were the last band he heard that really blew him away -- dude sounds like a folky!

Details: 8 tonight. 202 Market, 202 Market Square, downtown Roanoke. $10. 343-6644, 202market.net, myspace.com/thebiscuitburners.

Friday Free! Tim Barry With Red Clay River, Josh Small

Barry made his name leading the punk band Avail, but he's better known these days for his solo work, in the vein of Woody Guthrie, Steve Earle and Billy Bragg. Red Clay River, from Roanoke, is one of our favorite MusicCast acts, digging back into the old mountain sounds. Catch the band's performance at blogs.roanoke.com/musiccast/r/. Small's brand of folk has jazz and pop leanings, and he plays banjo, slide guitar and mandolin.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Friday. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, 413 First St., Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, timbarryrva.com, myspace.com/joshsmall, myspace.com/redclayriver.

Virginia Coalition With My Radio

Jam outfit Virginia Coalition has trimmed some fat from its music, which is evident in cuts from its new album, "Home This Year." The single, "Sing Along," and the title song sound like something you'd hear on adult contemporary radio. Opening act My Radio, based in Roanoke, has been impressive in live performances and is working on a record that could be really good, if previous MP3s "Turn Up the Radio" and "Another World" are any indication.

Details: 9 tonight. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, 413 First St., Roanoke. $10. 21 and older. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, virginiacoalition.com, myspace.com/myradioband.

TONIGHT AND FRIDAY

Free! Allen Thompson, The Royal Greens

Thompson of Nashville, Tenn., via Richmond and Roanoke, slings Americana aplenty with a new, self-titled CD. Roanokers The Royal Greens are fairly new, but are already writing and recording some good rock music.

Details: 9:30 tonight, with Ben Jordan & the Heathens opening, and 9:30 p.m. Friday. Coffee Pot, 2902 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke. Free. 774-8256, myspace.com/coffeepotroadhouseinc, myspace.com/allenthompsonmusic, myspace.com/theroyalgreens, myspace.com/benandtheheathens.

FRIDAY

Frank Vignola Quintet With Morwenna Lasko & Jay Pun

Gypsy jazz master Vignola and his group put an original and distinctive stamp on the music created some 80 years ago in Gypsy caravans and the nightclubs of France. Go to this story at roanoke.com (under "Entertainment" and then "Music") for a link to a podcast with Vignola.

FloydFest '07 performers Lasko and Pun personify the word eclectic.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday. Recital Hall at Jefferson Center, 541 Luck Ave., Roanoke. $24; children and students half-price. 345-2550, jeffcenter.org, frankvignola.com, mojamusic.net.

Free! Olivarez Trio

If you can't get up from Blacksburg for the Vignola show, this one will provide you with plenty of Gypsy jazz goodness. This Charlottesville-based trio provides a more literal take on the style, even if the instrumentation is leaner.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday. Gillie's Late Night Stage, 153 College Ave., Blacksburg. Free. 961-2703, myspace.com/gilliesmusic, myspace.com/olivareztrio.

DJ Williams Projekt

Williams and his bandmates -- including Modern Groove Syndicate bassist Todd Herrington and Bungalo 6 trumpeter Mark Ingraham -- will deliver dance-sparking funk rock with high-flying musicianship.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday. Sun Music Hall, 302 S. Locust St., Floyd. $8 in advance; $10 at the show. thesunmusichall.com, myspace.com/djwmusic.

Josh Martinez

Canadian rapper Martinez brings cuts from his upcoming record, "The World Famous Sex Buffet." Lyrically, his goofiness is pretty reminiscent of Roanoke's own Illbotz.

Details: 10 p.m. Friday. Awful Arthur's, Towers Shopping Center, 2229 Colonial Ave., Roanoke. $5. myspace.com/awfularthurs, joshmartinez.ca.

SATURDAY

Loudon Wainwright III With Jenni Alpert

He's father to Rufus and Martha Wainwright. He played Seth Rogen's dad in "Knocked Up" and was also a dad on the short-lived Judd Apatow series "Undeclared." But Wainwright is father to a parcel of tasty tunes, as well. The latest batch is "Strange Weirdos: Music From and Inspired by the Film Knocked Up." Get it while it's hot, Loudon. Alpert is a pop songstress with jazz inflections, who will appeal to Sara Bareilles and Vienna Tang fans.

Details: 8 p.m. Saturday. The Lyric Theatre, 135 College Ave., Blacksburg. $20 and $25. 951-4771, thelyric.com, lwiii.com, jennialpert.com.

Delbert McClinton

Catch an amazing singer who can do blues, country, soul and rock with equal conviction and style. His latest CD, "Cost of Living," won him his third Grammy -- best contemporary blues, 2006. McClinton is a smoking harp player who learned his craft playing Texas clubs behind blues greats such as Lightnin' Hopkins and Howlin' Wolf.

Details: 8 p.m. Saturday. Cattle Annie's, 4009 Murray Place, Lynchburg. $22. 21 and older. (434) 846-3206, cattleannies.com, delbert.com.

SUNDAY

Peter Mayer

Jimmy Buffett's lead guitarist comes to Marion to promote his solo CD, "Still in One Peace." Session and touring vets Scott Bryan, Marc Torlina and Maggie Estes back him up.

Details: 3 p.m. Sunday. The Lincoln Theatre, Marion. $20. 276-783-6093, thelincoln.org, hungrymother.org, petermayer.com.