The Non-Profits
Another hot reunion is in the offing. Jazz/Afropop drummer Adam Clark returns from Boston for the holiday and joins up with old bandmates Cyrus Pace (guitar), James Pace (keyboard) and Jake Dempsey (bass). These four can deliver thick grooves, but it's when they get adventurous that it gets most fun. Last time the band was onstage, Clark got onto a couple of circular repeating phrases that lapped over and around the 4/4 time signature, while one or another Pace brother went off on his instrument and Dempsey kept the groove happening.
As with a show by The Groove, The Non-Profits draw good musicians eager to soak up what's coming off the stage.
Details: 9 p.m. Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com.
Funk Punch
With Allen Thompson and Friends
Who says you have to sit around with the family after the turkey bones are picked? Psychedelic groove men Funk Punch give you the beat, and Martin's gives you the dance floor to work off those huge holiday meals. The aforementioned Thompson starts his homecoming holiday weekend here, with simpatico musical friends.
Details: 8 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, myspace.com/funkpunchband, myspace.com/allenthompsonmusic.
Doug Clark's Hot Nuts
You know the winter holiday season is on when the Hot Nuts roll in. Sans the late Doug Clark for a few years now, the Nuts still sling the double entendre-laden R&B.
Details: 8 p.m. Coffee Pot, Roanoke. Cover charge TBA. 774-8256, myspace.com/coffeepotroadhouseinc.
FRIDAY
Illbotz: Hosting "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo"
So yes, technically, this is a movie listing. But ask Illbot Stevie D, and he'll tell you that this movie is "the reason Illbotz breathe." That might be a little hyperbolic, but hey, D, Big Perm and DJ Samson know how to have a good time, and they're bound to rap and scratch. Bonus: Breakdancers in the house.
Details: Midnight Friday. Grandin Theatre, Roanoke. $6.50; all ages. 345-6177, grandintheatre.com, myspace.com/illbotz.
Wait till Sleep
With Down Side Dead, Melodies of the Fallen
Lots of bands playing on this night have pitched their gigs as "Black Friday" events. This show will probably be the darkest among them. Metal!
Details: 8:30 p.m. Coffee Pot, Roanoke. $5; 21 and older. 774-8256, myspace.com/coffeepotroadhouseinc, myspace.com/waittillsleep.
Landon Spradlin
From Gretna by way of New Orleans, Spradlin is a bluesman -- and a preacher.
Details: 9 p.m. Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, myspace.com/blues_crusader.
The Embers
The Original Royal Kings, The Original Rhythm Doctors, The Breeze Brothers
Shag it up with the beach music-blasting headliner, and reminisce while three old-school Roanoke groups do it again.
Details: 6:30-11:30 Friday. Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Roanoke. $25. 989-5464, keausa.com.
Gary Ruley & Mule Train
Flyin' flatpicker Ruley and his group give you some flatfooting tunes.
Details: 9 p.m. Southern Inn, Lexington. $10. 463-3612, southerninn.com, garyruley.com.
Barefoot West
These Franklin County guys can always lay down a tasty groove.
Details: 9:30 p.m. Awful Arthur's, Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke. $5. 777-0007, myspace.com/awfularthurs, myspace.com/barefootwest.
The Monsters
Eccentric original rock. Go to blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch and enter "Monsters" in the search engine to hear for yourself.
Details: 9 p.m. Village Grill, Roanoke. $3. 767-0057, myspace.com/themonsters2009.
Acoustic Kind
Fill your ears with jamming dinner music.
Details: 6 p.m. Oddfella's Cantina, Floyd. Free; donations accepted. 745-3463, oddfellascantina.com, thekind.org.
SATURDAY
The Groove: Josh Shilling, Cameron McLaughlin, Keith Thomas, Kelly Gravely
With Allen Thompson
It's been too long since this group of hot funksters got together. By all accounts, The Groove was one of Roanoke's hottest acts in years past, but times changed and people moved on. If you've never heard Shilling (keyboards/vocals), McLaughlin (bass), Thomas (keyboards) and Gravely (drums) together, then get there. Individually, these players are amazing. Put them together, and it might just be the best show yet in the Fork's short history. McLaughlin said the band plans to jam and have fun -- good news.
Opener Thompson, a former Roanoker, lives in Nashville these days, where he is writing and recording some fine alt/country music.
Details: 8 p.m. Fork in the City, Roanoke. Free. 345-3675, forkinthecity.com.
Thresher
With The Reasons Were Legion, Honor Amongst Thieves
Once again, local rock acts gather to raise money for Bradley "Smalls" Schmidt's family. Schmidt, 20, died earlier this month, apparently struck by a train.
Details: 9 p.m. Coffee Pot, Roanoke. $5. 774-8256, myspace.com/coffeepotroadhouseinc, myspace.com/thresherband.
The Fat Daddy Band
No one around the valleys plays the blues as solidly or with as much a sense of fun as this act.
Details: 9 p.m. Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, thefatdaddyband.net.
Bebop Hoedown
These eclectic grassers are practically an institution in Roanoke.
Details: 10 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, bebophoedown.com.
Patrick and Goorskey
Outstanding bluegrass picking from these New River Valley fellows.
Details: 7 p.m. Gillie's Vegetarian Cuisine. Free; donations accepted. 961-2703, myspace.com/gilliesmusic, myspace.com/patrickandgoorskey.
The Pop Rivets
The Rivets deliver better-than-bar-band music, with strong pop/rock vocals from Jason Hill.
Details: 8 p.m. Pomegranate, Troutville. Free. 966-6052, pomegranateva.com.
AjF
When not occupied paying tribute to Van Halen or The Police, these cats lay down other acts' covers and plenty of originals.
Details: 10 p.m. The Blues BBQ Co., Roanoke. Free. 344-5683, bluesbbqco.com, myspace.com/aaronjasonfriends.
Misspent Youth
Possibly the only band in the Roanoke Valley with a former city manager -- Salem's Randy Smith -- on drums.
Details: 8 p.m. Roanoke Moose Family Center No. 284, 3233 Catawba Valley Drive, Salem. Free; open to public. 384-6034, roamooselodge.org, myspace.com/misspentyouthonline.
SUNDAY
Smallsfest
With Jim Hickman Band, Mung Choke, Death Squad, Honor Amongst Thieves, Nancy and 2 Meteors, Point Of Honor, Obscured and more
A dozen hours of action, again to pay tribute to "Smalls" Schmidt. The kid sparked a lot of love in his days, apparently.
Details: Noon. La Finca, Roanoke. $5 all ages. 343-0801, lafincarestaurant.biz.
WEDNESDAY
Paul Thorn
With Corey Hunley
First night of a two-night stand from the ever-popular Mississippi singer/songwriter who brings plenty of humor onstage. Opening act Hunley is a good choice for this gig. Search for Thorn at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch to hear a podcast from March.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $20. kirkavenue@gmail.com, kirkavenuemusic.com, myspace.com/coreyhunley.
Collab Fest 34
With Crank Sturgeon, The Bastards of Fate
Roanoke-area artists bring in Crank Sturgeon, a noisy performance artist who might just freak you out. The wildly entertaining Bastards of Fate will soften you up for Sturgeon's blows.
Details: 7 p.m. The Water Heater, Roanoke. Cover charge TBA. theh2oheater.com, cranksturgeon.com, thebastardsoffate.com.
