Alligator Records

Michael Burks

Positivity Photography

Larry Keel & Natural Bridge

SATURDAY

Sedalia Blues Festival

With Michael Burks, EG Kight, band competition

As usual, the blues will be hot in Sedalia this summer. Alligator Records artist Burks (inset) has been playing guitar since he was a wee lad, and now he's a giant, in stature and on his instrument. His band is smoking, too. Kight is a Georgia native who played country music for years, until she heard a Koko Taylor record in 1995. It's been straight-up blues ever since. Kight will also give a clinic. Get there early and hear regional blues bands compete for a chance to play in Memphis, at the International Blues Challenge.

Details: 1 p.m. Saturday. Sedalia Center, Big Island. $15 advance; $20 at gate. (434) 299-5080, sedaliacenter.org, michaelburks.com, egkight.com.

Blues Festival concert

With Phil Wiggins, Rick Franklin, Nat Reese and The Buck Mountain Band

Harmonica player Phil Wiggins was part of the revered blues duo, Cephas & Wiggins, which played Roanoke in 2008. Guitarist John Cephas died earlier this year. For the first time since, Wiggins comes to the region. This time he's with guitarist singer Rick Franklin, another guitarist of considerable Piedmont-style blues skills. Nat Reese, a Salem native, has long since lived in Princeton, W.Va. Reese's singing and playing are matched by his class.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday. Blue Ridge Music Center, MP 213, Blue Ridge Parkway. $10; free to children 12 and younger. (276) 236-5309, blueridgemusiccenter.org, cephasandwiggins.net/biophil.htm, hokumblues.com.

SUNDAY

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge

With Emily Brass Band

Here is a top-dog bluegrass flatpicker who has a lot more than that going for him. Keel's voice is a weathered but strong instrument that fits deeply into his intriguing original songs. Add his wife, Jenny, on upright bass and vocals and brilliant instrumentalists Mark Schimick (mandolin) and Jason Flournoy (banjo), and you have a roots music band worth hearing. Go to blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch to hear a podcast with Larry and Jenny Keel.

Details: 5 p.m. Sunday. Sunken Garden Amphitheatre, Radford. $10 lawn; $15 garden. (540) 745-6643, dlpconcerts.com, sunkengardensundays.com.

TODAY

The Kind

Grateful Dead-style jammers took a week off from their usual Thursday night gig to recover from their 19th annual band reunion show at the Outer Banks in North Carolina. A couple of former members who were there with the band, Tom Snediker and Mark McLeod, will be at Champ's for more.

Details: 10 p.m. Thursday. The Cafe at Champs, Blacksburg. $3; canned food donations requested for Southwest Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank. (540) 951-2222, champssportsbar.com, thekind.org.

TODAY-SATURDAY

Villanova

The Columbia, S.C., band mixes rock, funk and hip-hop with a dash here and there of Southern rock. Roanoke favorites Electric Chameleon open the show Thursday, the first of a three-night Big Lick run.

Details: 10 p.m. Thursday. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, villanovaband.net, myspace.com/electricchameleon. 10 p.m. Friday. Awful Arthur's, Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke. $5. 777-0007, myspace.com/awfularthurs. 10 p.m. Saturday. Awful Arthur's, downtown Roanoke. Contact venue for cover charge. 344-2997, myspace.com/awfularthursdowntown.

FRIDAY

Alliens

This band is a perfect example of how you groove it tight but loose. Everyone is playing together, but no one is forcing it. The songs are good, too, and these guys can carry on a jam.

Details: 10 p.m. Friday. Market Street Pub, Roanoke. Free. 982-6618, myspace.com/marketstpub, myspace.com/alliensmusic.

The Royal Greens

With Possum Jenkins

This looks like a great double bill. The Royal Greens deliver country-flavored rock. Possum Jenkins, from Boone, N.C., delivers rock-flavored country. It's like a musical peanut butter cup.

Details: 10 p.m. Friday. Awful Arthur's, downtown Roanoke. $3. 344-2997, myspace.com/awfularthursdowntown, myspace.com/thepossumjenkinsband, myspace.com/theroyalgreens.

neanderpaul

Paul Mays, aka neanderpaul, uses guitar, bass, drums and keys to make live loops that he sings with. In other words, he's a very talented guy.

Details: 5 p.m. Friday. Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke. Free. 342-5760, taubmanmuseum.org, youtube.com/user/Neanderpaul.

Eric Culberson

Sometimes, when you hear a blues guitarist who you think sounds like Stevie Ray Vaughan, the truth is that he sounds like Albert King. Culberson, from Savannah, Ga., is a good example. He can bend some strings and sing a lick, too.

Details: 9 p.m. Friday. Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, myspace.com/ericculberson.

Bernard Hairston Group

For years, serious musicians have honed their skills and made good money playing standards. Bassist Hairston and his band, including singer Shawn Spencer, can show you how it's done.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday. Red Clay Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 344-4494, redclayrestaurant.net.

Electric Woodshed

The Woodshed are upstanding purveyors of Southern rock and blues, both original and covered.

Details: 8 p.m. Friday. Sun Music Hall, Floyd. $8 advance; $10 at door. 745-6643, dlpconcerts.com, myspace.com/electricwoodshed.

SATURDAY

The Pietasters

With Jackal Tickets

Washington, D.C.-area ska favorites once again grace the 'Noke with an appearance. Roanoke's Jackal Tickets bring a brand of hard-hitting punk/ska. Get ready to get sweaty.

Details: 10 p.m. Saturday. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. $12 advance; $15 at show. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, thepietasters.com, myspace.com/jackaltickets.

The Avett Brothers

People in these parts knew about the Avetts long before they got a major label deal, with Rick Rubin producing. It'll be interesting to see how folks like the new stuff, including the new single, "I and Love and You." Read more on the band in Friday's Extra, including a podcast with bassist Bob Crawford -- we'll stream the new song.

Details: 8 p.m. Saturday. Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre, Roanoke. $25 (plus fees). 888-397-3100, roanokeciviccenter.com, theavettbrothers.com.

Mountain Jazz

Martin Scudder and Bernie Coveney combine for this outfit. Scudder is a well-seasoned violinist with no fear of electrifying the instrument. Guitarist Coveney has played with Mother Maybelle Carter, Bill Monroe and Emmylou Harris, and taught actor Robert Duvall to play for the movie "Tender Mercies."

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The Pulaski Theatre, Pulaski. $10 advance; $12 door; $5 children 12 and younger. (540) 994-9555, pulaskitheatre.org.

3 Minute Lovin'

Old-school country music from a band you can catch at FloydFest later this month. Preview them at Awful's.

Details: 10 p.m. Saturday. Awful Arthur's, Blacksburg. $3. 443-9109, myspace.com/awfularthur39sblacksburg, 3minutelovin.com.

The Materia Project

With Mighty Soul Empire

Hear a night of jazz, ska and rock jams.

Details: 9 p.m. Saturday. Market Street Pub, Roanoke. $5. 982-6618, myspace.com/marketstpub, myspace.com/themateriaproject, myspace.com/mightysoulempire.

240 Minutes

Check out a DJ-hosted celebration of 1990s-era alternative rock.

Details: 10 p.m. Saturday. The Blues BBQ Co., Roanoke. Free. 344-5683.

SUNDAY

Open Microphone Night

Featuring Duality, Range Da Messenga

Wayne "Range Da Messenga" Hancock II and his act have done a 360. They started this very hip open mike night at the old Mix One6, then moved it to 202 Market before people started getting too dramatic over there. Now they've moved it to Red Clay Restaurant, where the Mix used to be. Hancock says: "Tell your mature friends, and let's keep it right this time."

Details: 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Red Clay Restaurant, Roanoke. $8. 344-4494, redclayrestaurant.net, myspace.com/rangedamessenga