Courtesy photos

Friday

Toni Blackman

This renaissance woman stays busy as an American cultural ambassador, traveling to Africa and Asia to spread the word on hip-hop culture and music. Blackman has performed on bills with artists such as Erykah Badu, Mos Def, The Roots, Sarah McLachlan and Sheryl Crow. And for the past few years, the Jefferson Center has been among her stops. On Friday, she'll be performing with her band, but she's hoping to bring on stage some of her buds in Sisters of the Circle, an after-school performing arts program for teenage girls.

Blackman's publicity describes her music as a combination of rap, urban folk and Afro jazz. Listening to her MP3s, I think that sounds just about right. Highlights at her MySpace.com page are "They Don't Even Know Freestyle" and "Hollywood Dreams," both social critiques with good grooves.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday. Jefferson Center, downtown Roanoke. $10; $5, students. 345-2550, jeffcenter.org, myspace.com/toniblackmanmusic.

SUNDAY

Illbotz reunion show

With The Bastards of Fate, Kid A

These 'botz wish they knew how to quit you. But they can't, so they've put together a compilation, "All Bot and a Bag of Chipz: The Best of Illbotz," and are hitting the stage at Martin's to sling it at you. Stevie D., Big Perm and DJ Samson haven't performed as Illbotz in a while -- lately when they take a stage, it's for Halloween and they're acting like Run DMC. But here you can get the 'botz in all their twisted, bawdy dissipation.

Tunes on the new disc include "Chik Fil-A," an oldie in which the band laments the fact that its favorite fast-food chicken joint is closed on Sunday. Stevie D said that when the band members shot the YouTube video at one of the restaurants, they laughed at how many people pulled in, thinking it was open that day. Dummies.

Details: 10 p.m. Sunday. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, myspace.com/illbotz.

TONIGHT

The Gibson Brothers

Check out some great musicianship featuring killer brother harmonies from Leigh and Eric Gibson. The 2008 release, "Iron & Diamonds," was a tribute to life in their upstate New York home, but the record's opening cut is a credible version of Tom Petty's "Cabin Down Below."

Details: 7:30 tonight. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, downtown Roanoke. $10. 589-0546, myspace.com/kirkavenuemusic, gibsonbrothers.com.

TONIGHT-FRIDAY

Emily Brass Band

Brass and Lindsey Wright twin up on sax and flute lines and harmonize nicely together in this reggae-infused group.

Details: 10 tonight at BT's in Radford. $4. 639-1282, btsradford.com. 9:30 p.m. Friday at The Pine Tavern in Floyd. $6 advance; $8 door; all ages. (540) 745-4482, thepinetavern.com, myspace.com/emilybrass.

Harmonic Cellar

It's good to see that Tommy Noland, a really talented guitar player, is back on the local music scene. Here, he combines talent with singer Shana Saul.

Details: 9 tonight, Blue 5 Restaurant, downtown Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, myspace.com/harmoniccellar.

Scott Perry

Perry is always busy, either with a band or solo. There's a reason. The cat can pick and sing. If you like good blues fingerpicking, this is a show to catch.

Details: 7 tonight. Gillie's, Blacksburg. Free; donations accepted. 961-2703, ohpapa.com, myspace.com/gilliesmusic.

Blue Mule

Yes, these guys perform with bluegrass instruments. And yes, they play some bluegrass music. But sometimes that's just a platform for blues, rock and jazz. Request the band's version of Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath"!

Details: 9 tonight. All Sports Cafe, Salem. Free. 389-4647, allsportscafeinc.com, bluemulemusic.com.

Frantic Recovery

With Spuknof, Thresher

These three acts will rock you hard. You might want to bring ear plugs if you're sensitive, because Spuknof plays at 17. Not 10, not 11. 17.

Details: 8 tonight. Buddy's Bar & Grill, Salem. $5. 375-0333, myspace.com/buddyssportsbar, myspace.com/franticrecovery.

FRIDAY

The Solos Unit

This Winston-Salem act delivers a potent mix of neo-soul, rap and rock. Dig into its MySpace page to hear "Relapse," which features a monster of a guest, bassist Oteil Burbridge of The Allman Brothers Band.

Details: 10 p.m. Friday. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, myspace.com/solosunit.

Dubconscious

With Electric Chameleon

If you like reggae, this should be a good night for you. The headliner does it dub-style, natch. Electric Chameleon delves into the rock and pop sides.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Friday. The Lantern, Blacksburg. $10. 951-1019, thelanternblacksburg.com, myspace.com/dubconscious, myspace.com/electricchameleon.

SATURDAY

Abbey Road Live!

If you've ever imagined what would happen if 1964 The Tribute got tired of being mop-tops and actually played songs that happened later in the Beatles' career, consider this an answer of sorts. The band will play tunes off "Abbey Road," as well as "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "The Beatles (White Album)" and "Magical Mystery Tour."

Details: 8 p.m. Saturday. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, downtown Roanoke. $12 in advance; $15 at the door. 589-0546, myspace.com/kirkavenuemusic, abbeyroadlive.com.

The Cream of The Crop Blues Band

This show marks a comeback for drummer George Penn Sr., who took some time away from the skins. His son, George Penn Jr. has been holding down the family drumming tradition, though.

Details: 9 p.m. Saturday. Blue 5 Restaurant, downtown Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com.

The Pullouts

With Douche Newton

The Pullouts have played sets of songs they don't know. They've played a set of nothing but Nirvana. But their own dirty, greasy rock tunes are cool, too.

Details: 9 p.m. Saturday. Coffee Pot, Roanoke. Free. 774-8256, myspace.com/coffeepotroadhouseinc, myspace.com/thepull0uts, myspace.com/douchenewtonband.

Crobar Cane

Get your ears full of Southern rock, both covers and originals, from one of the hardest-working acts in Roanoke.

Details: 10 p.m. Saturday. Awful Arthur's, Salem. $5. 387-1004, myspace.com/awfularthurssalem, crobarcane.com.

Acoustic Endeavors

Come see the Endeavors and wish multi-talented Warren Amberson a happy birthday. Bassist and former member Greg Honeycutt will be sitting in, so you'll probably get to hear Amerson play mandolin.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Buchanan Theatre. $10. 254-1155, buchanantheatre.com, acousticendeavors.com.

WEDNESDAY

Infamous Stringdusters

Maybe you wonder why this bluegrass act has such a name. After listening to its music, I think the answer is: Their fretboards gather no dust. No dust at all.

Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, downtown Roanoke. $12 in advance; $15 at the door. 589-0546, myspace.com/kirkavenuemusic, thestringdusters.com.

The Honest Scoundrels

I heard these guys play a battle of the bands up in Covington last year, and I kind of dug them. They play unpretentious old-school rock with Farfisa organ sounds and don't always sing in key.

Details: 9 p.m. Wednesday. 202 Market, downtown Roanoke. $5. 343-6644, 202market.net, myspace.com/honestscoundrels.