Courtesy photos

Alliens

Bill Kirchen

Friday

Bill Kirchen & The Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods

One of country and rock music's great guitar players helps a new venue, Kirk Avenue Music, get rolling. If you want to see a guy just tear up a guitar, you should go see this guy. Bonus: After the band and the help get paid, the rest of the money goes to Downtown Music Lab, as per the venue's stated raison d'etre.

Details: 9 p.m. Friday. Kirk Avenue Music, 22 Kirk Ave., downtown Roanoke. $15. kirkavenue@gmail.com, billkirchen.com.

Friday

Alliens

With Bebop Hoedown

Back in town after a few months in Asheville, N.C., Alliens bring funk, rock and jazz-tinged reggae featuring new bassist Cameron McLaughlin. He's a monster. Bebop Hoedown is celebrating the release of its new, live CD, called "Bebop Hoedown Live Vol. 1."

Details: 7 p.m. Friday. Pine Tavern, 611 Floyd Highway, Floyd. $8 advance; $10 at the door. 745-4482, myspace.com/alliensmusic, myspace.com/bebophoedown.

Tonight

Orioles

This Richmond band, formerly known as the Cheap Seats, seems to have been dining on a steady diet of Wilco. For a young band, there's nothing at all wrong with that.

Details: 10 tonight. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, 413 First St., Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, myspace.com/oriolestunes.

Friday

Case Jones and Poe Mack

With Mid Atlantic Kingz, Range Da Messenga

This is like a Roanoke musical all-star show. Hear plenty of rap and soul, and what a bargain at $5.

Details: 9 p.m Friday. 460 West Restaurant and Lounge, 460 Market Square East Shopping Center, 3400 Orange Ave. N.E., Roanoke. $5. 400-7440, myspace.com/casejones2, myspace.com/poemack.

Blue Line Highway

With Crawford Downs

A quality double bill of Americana and folk music.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Friday. The Lantern, 211-B Draper Road, Blacksburg. $5. 951-1019, thelanternblacksburg.com, myspace.com/bluelinehighway.

Prabir and the Substitutes

Power pop with shades of psychedelia.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Friday. Gillie's, 153 College Ave., Blacksburg. Free. 961-2703, gilliescuisine.com

Friday-Saturday

The Seed

It's hard to cipher the Seed's status right now, but it's playing two shows in town, so catch the band while you can.

Details: 10 p.m. Friday. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, myspace.com/theseedsound. 10 p.m. Saturday. Awful Arthur's, Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke. $5. 777-0007, myspace.com/awfularthurs.

Saturday

Boombox

This is a two-man group of electro jammers from Muscle Shoals, Ala. Guitarist/singer Zion Rock Godchaux's parents are Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay and the late Keith Godchaux, former members of the Grateful Dead. Boombox sounds nothing like the Dead, but it does lay down a serious groove with guitar and turntables.

Details: 10 p.m. Saturday. The Lantern, 211-B Draper Road, Blacksburg. $10 advance; $12 at show. getplugged-in.com, thisisboombox.com.

Triscale

Triscale brings us a cool mix of original rock and jammed-out covers. Keyboardist Shirley Steele also holds down the bass parts.

Details: 9 p.m. Saturday. Reds, Wines & Blues, Lakewood Plaza, Moneta. Free. 721-6445, myspace.com/triscaleband.

The Fat Daddy Band

Blue 5 co-owner Kerry Hurley and his band are playing every other Saturday at the 5.

Details: 9 p.m. Saturday. Blue 5 Restaurant, 312 Second St., downtown Roanoke. Free. 915-5338, blue5restaurant.com, thefatdaddyband.net

Tuesday

Maria Muldaur and the Free Radicals

Growing up in Greenwich Village in New York City, Muldaur got to see and hear the Rev. Gary Davis and Mississippi John Hurt. She learned to play fiddle at Doc Watson's place in North Carolina. Later, she lived in Woodstock, N.Y., where the Band and Bob Dylan were hanging out. She's had hits with "Midnight at the Oasis" and "I'm a Woman." Her latest record, "Yes We Can," features guests such as Joan Baez, Bonnie Raitt and Phoebe Snow. Her CD shows she still sounds great.

Details: 9 p.m. Tuesday. 202 Market, downtown Roanoke. $17 at the door. 202market.net, mariamuldaur.com.

Wednesday

Collabfest Artshow

With the Situationist, Nancy & Two Meteors

It's a costume party with good, strange tunes.

Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Water Heater, 813 Fifth St., Roanoke. $3 recommended donation. thewaterheater. blogspot.com, myspace.com/thesituationistmusic, myspace.com/nancyandtwometeors.