Jorge Caballero

Paul O'Dette

Who needs a "Guitar Hero" video game? Head down to the New River Valley and check out some real-life six-string heroes.

The annual Radford University International Guitar Festival kicks off Friday. It features the lute of Paul O'Dette, amazing classical guitar from Jorge Caballero and the Ryoanji saxophone and guitar duo. The festival also brings together a guitar orchestra, with players ages 7 to 50 doing it up.

On Saturday, acclaimed Piedmont blues-style picker Nat Reese emerges from retirement to play The Cellar in Blacksburg. John Cephas' death on March 4 left Reese as one of the very few old-time practitioners of this sweet and grooving country-blues style.

Radford University International Guitar Festival: 3 p.m. Friday to 11 a.m. Sunday. Performance Hall of the Covington Center, Radford University. Free with registration. (540) 831-5177, tinyurl.com/co9jrf.

Nat Reese with Doc Herling and the Blue Monday Blues Band: 9:30 p.m. Saturday. The Cellar, Blacksburg. Free. 953-0651, the-cellar.com, www.wvculture.org/goldenseal/Vandalia2k/natreese.html.

-- Tad Dickens