Courtesy DLP Concerts

Teribus

Photo courtesy juniorsiskandramblerschoice.com

Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Blue Mountain Bluegrass Festival 2009

With Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice, Harwell Grice Band, Pickin' Buds, Rich in Tradition, Friday Nite Band, Southern Depot, Doug and Telisha Williams

There is star power for this festival's fourth edition. Franklin County-based Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice is up for four International Bluegrass Music Association Awards this year -- song of the year, album of the year, emerging artist and male vocalist. That vocalist would be Sisk, whose honest-to-god tenor makes this band something special. The band's Friday night headlining slot will come on the heels of the IBMA festival, in Nashville, Tenn., so it's an exciting time to see this act.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday (gates open 3 p.m.). 11 a.m. Saturday (gates open at 9 a.m.) Blue Mountain Festival Grounds, 2067 Coopers Mountain Road, Martinsville. $20 advance; $25 gate; $10 Friday only; 12 and younger admitted free with adult; On-site camping $5 per person. (276) 340-4215, bluemtnmusic.com, juniorsiskandramblerschoice.com, harwellgriceband.com, pickinbuds.com.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Radford Highlanders Festival

With Teribus, Warpipe, Appalachian Highlands Pipe and Drum, Virginia Highlands Pipe and Drums, Jig-or-Not, Beggars Circus and more

This festival starts on Friday, but for your kilt o' music action, come to Radford University's Moffett Field on Saturday, where the bagpipes and drums will be in full effect. Headliner Teribus hits a ton of Scottish festivals, including the storied Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Go to Heth Field for bluegrass and other regional music.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday. 8 a.m. Saturday. Downtown Radford and Radford University. Music begins at 11:40 a.m. Saturday. Free. runet.edu/festival, teribusmusic.com.

TODAY

Robert Trent

A brilliant classical guitarist, teacher and international traveler struts his stuff at his home base. See him jam out on a 10-string, double-necked guitar.

Details: 8 p.m. Covington Recital Hall, Covington Center for the Arts, Radford. Free. (540) 831-5177, radford.edu, tinyurl.com/y9uh9bj.

Blake Lewis and Jason Castro

Pretty in Pink Ladies Night Out, a breast cancer awareness event, has a treat for the ladies (and gents) who are out -- a couple of "American Idol" favorites.

Details: 9 p.m. 202 Market, Roanoke. $5. 343-6644, 202market.net, komenroanoke.org, blakelewisofficial.com, jasoncastromusic.com.

The Lenny Marcus Trio

Tasty jazz, with the possiblity that Blue 5 co-owner Kerry Hurley will take the stage to sing some Sinatra.

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

3 Minute Lovin'

Bakersfield-style country music hits the joint formerly known as Oge-Chi's.

Details: 9 p.m. Abella Cafe, Blacksburg. $3, over 21; $5, under 21. 961-1488, 3minutelovin.com.

FRIDAY

Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Hillman, who got that honor as a member of The Byrds, and multitalented musical compadre Pedersen peddle acoustic roots goodness. Go to Wednesday's Extra to read more about Hillman, and hear a podcast at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch.

Details: 8 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $30. myspace.com/kirkavenuemusic, chrishillman.com, herbpedersen.com.

Electric Chameleon

This chameleon slings pop/rock with tight musicianship and powerful vocals.

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

The Fat Daddy Band

Now is a good time to catch Fat Daddy, which is in top form. Singer Kerry Hurley is a hoot of a showman with a booming voice, and guitarist Hoppie Vaughan is a walking guitar lesson.

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

Soul

With Property

Hey, didn't Soul just get through breaking up? Neil Sedaka said it best -- "breaking up is hard to do." Soul will rock you a little harder than Sedaka, though.

Details: 8 p.m. Coffee Pot, Roanoke. $5. 774-8256, myspace.com/coffeepotroadhouseinc, myspace.com/sellinganewsoul.

The Kind

Enduring jam band helps open a new spot in Christiansburg.

Details: 8 p.m. The Shires Country Inn & Cafe, Christiansburg. $6. (540) 663-0021, shirescountryinn.com, thekind.org.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Bond and Bentley

These acoustic rockers bring it at different tempos, with lots of intensity or a laid-back vibe, judging from MP3 at the act's MySpace.com page.

Details: 10 p.m. Friday. Awful Arthur's, Salem. $5. 387-1004, myspace.com/awfularthurssalem. 10 p.m. Saturday. Awful Arthur's, Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke. $5. 777-0007, myspace.com/awfularthurs, myspace.com/bondandbentley.

SATURDAY

The Pietasters

With The Stabones, Jackal Tickets

Three bands bring ska-punk madness to Blacksburg. The Pietasters and Stabones have been skanking faves for years now. Roanoke's own Jackal Tickets is building a following of its own.

Details: 8 p.m. Attitudes Bar & Cafe, Blacksburg. $13 advance (before ticketing fees); $15 at show; 18 and older. 552-7001, inticketing.com, thepietasters.com, myspace.com/jackaltickets, myspace.com/thestabones.

Duke Robillard

Road trip alert: Robillard, a founder of the legendary Roomful of Blues and a former member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, is one of blues and jump music's most skillful and tasteful players.

Details: 8:30 p.m. The Ellington, Lynchburg, $20 advance; $25 door. (434) 845-2162, theellington.org, dukerobillard.com.

The Materia Project

With Funk Punch

Get your groove happening with this double-bill of jam-happy local acts. Get a preview of Funk Punch's sound by searching the band name at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch.

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

3rd Left

This Plymouth, Mass., act slaps out its jams in post-Dave Matthews Band fashion.

Details: 10 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, myspace.com/3rdleft.

SUNDAY

Christian McBride & Inside Straight

With "Kind of Brown," McBride and his sidemen have delivered a contemporary and cutting set of hard bop, with monstrous yet tasteful soloing and undeniable grooves. McBride is a master upright bass man, a smart jazz composer and seemingly a very cool guy. Hear a podcast at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch, and read more about him in Friday's Extra section.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Jefferson Center, Roanoke. $28; $24; $14; $43 (loge). 345-2550, jeffcenter.org, christianmcbride.com.

Jazz Night at 202

We've got some talented jazzers in this town. Guitarist Greg Ayers leads a group of them every Sunday evening at 202. Maybe you'll hear James Pace playing organ, with the bass notes. Or maybe Bernard Hopkins will be holding down the bass, locking in with funky-footed drummer Carlos Aranguren. Either way, it's bound to be good.

Details: 7 p.m. 202 Market, Roanoke. Free. 343-6644, 202market.net.

B.B. King

He really is the king of the blues. His shows are almost equally split these days between music and King's monologues, but those two are worth the price of admission. He's a good storyteller, and when he puts his fingers to the strings of his beloved guitar, "Lucille," he can still sting.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Burruss Auditorium, Virginia Tech. $30 general admission; $20 faculty and staff; $15 students; $11 children. (540) 231-5615, vt.edu, bbking.com.

Groove Diggers

Jamiel Allen, keyboardist and singer for Alliens, has his own project going, and judging from tracks at his MySpace.com page, the groove he's digging is deep reggae. Hope for sunny weather on the Fork's deck.

Details: 4 p.m. Fork in the City, Roanoke. Free. 345-3675, forkinthecity.com, myspace.com/jamielrallen.

TUESDAY

Skillet

With Hawk Nelson, Decyfer Down

Headliner Skillet's new CD, "Awake," was at No. 2 on the Billboard albums chart for two consecutive weeks last month. This band has the songwriting sensibilities to appeal to the mainstream. Read more in Monday's Extra section.

Details: 7 p.m. Salem Civic Center, Salem. $50 VIP reserved; floor rows 5-10 $30 in advance, $33 day of show; general $22 advance, $25 at show and $18 groups of 15 or more. 375-3004, salemciviccenter.com, skillet.com, hawknelson.com, myspace.com/decyferdown.

Perpetual Groove

With Future

With extremely long jams that include tight arrangements, the live groove does feel perpetual.

Details: 9 p.m. Attitudes Bar & Cafe, Blacksburg. $17 at door; 18 and older with a valid ID. (540) 552-7001, attitudesbar.com, pgroove.com.

Big Lick Brass Band

This group of second-line fanatics begins an October run of "Fat Tuesday" gigs at Village Grill.

Details: 8:30 p.m. Village Grill, Roanoke. Free. 767-0057, biglickbrass.com.