Courtesy photo

Jamie McLean

Photo by Jack Parker

The Black Lilies

WEDNESDAY

The Black Lilies

With Folk Soul Revival

Cruz Contreras until recently had been best known as bandleader for his then-wife, Robinella, and her band of the same name. Sadly, the Contrerases split up a while back, and Cruz Contreras took some time away to figure out what he wanted to do. Well, he's back, with a new band, The Black Lilies. This is a whole different animal than the Robinella show.

Where that band took its country and swing roots further in pop, soul and jazz directions, The Black Lilies brings a harder-rocking, honky-tonk edge to its bluegrass and roots sensibilities. "Little Darlin'" and the slide guitar-driven "There's Only One" rock blues and country harder than anything Contreras has previously recorded, while "Whiskey Angel" and "Where the Black Lilies Grow" show softer yet darker sides. Cruz Contreras uses his stone country singing voice up front these days, and shows that listeners have been missing something. Backing singer/guitarist Leah Gardner complements him well.

If this Knoxville, Tenn.-band doesn't have a bright future, it's a damned shame.

By the way, Robinella, aka Robin Ella Bailey, will be in this same listening room on Jan. 29. She, too, is a jewel of a performer.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $10. kirkavenuemusic .com, kirkavenue @gmail.com, myspace.com/theblacklillies.

FRIDAY

Jamie McLean Band

McLean, former guitarist for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, sounds just great leading his own trio. His playing is strong, of course, and his vocals are good, too. McLean and band bring plenty of rocked-up soul, pop and blues to a gig, and will surely be playing songs from the band's upcoming record, "Completely," scheduled for release in March. If you can't find a hot groove at a McLean show, there's not much we can do for you.

Details: 9 p.m. Attitudes Bar & Cafe, Blacksburg. $8. 552-7001, inticketing.com, attitudesbar.com, jamiemclean.com.

TODAY

Jackal Tickets

With The Pullouts

Gotta love this Roanoke-centric double-bill. Ska-punkers Jackal Tickets bring a ton of energy and groove. The Pullouts write some of the best original music in this town. Hear cuts from "Negotiating the Pop" at the band's Myspace.com page. "The Future is in Sleaze" is a particularly fun tune.

Details: 9 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, myspace.com/jackaltickets, myspace.com/thepull0uts.

Catie Curtis

Curtis has been putting out quality folk/pop music for years, and her tunes have wound up on TV shows such as "Grey's Anatomy" and "Dawson's Creek." Her latest release, "Hello Stranger," is a country-leaning disc that includes help from such Nashville session giants as Stuart Duncan and Kenny Malone.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $10. kirkavenuemusic.com, kirkavenue@gmail.com, catiecurtis.com.

Tim Martin and Project 4

Original contemporary country music and variety.

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

TODAY-FRIDAY

Electric Chameleon

It'll be hard to miss the power-pop goodness of EC this week. The band kicks off T.G.I. Friday's new live music series tonight, then heads to Awful's Towers for a Friday show.

Details: 10 p.m. TGI Friday's, Valley View, Roanoke. Free. 362-1475. 10 p.m. Awful Arthur's, Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke. $5. 777-0007, myspace.com/awfularthurs, myspace.com/electricchameleon.

FRIDAY

Matt Walsh

Statesville, N.C.'s Walsh is an outstanding blues man, with a rough-and-ready voice and plenty of hi-test guitar chops.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Gillie's Vegetarian Cuisine, Blacksburg. Free (donations to acts accepted). 961-2703, myspace.com/gilliesmusic, mattwalshblues.com.

Hot Politics

With James Pace B3 Band

Here's another quality North Carolina act. Hot Politics is from Greensboro,and jams it very funky. If you pay attention to Roanoke's music scene, you know Pace. He's a beast on keys and always brings a qualitiy band.

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

The Pop Rivets

This Roanoke band delivers consistently good originals and covers.

Details: 9 p.m. Corned Beef & Co., Roanoke. $5. 342-3354, cornedbeefandco.com, myspace.com/thepoprivets.

Groove Diggers

Jamiel Allen and company bring the reggae, dub and funky goodness for you.

Details: 9 p.m. Fork in the City, Roanoke. Free. 345-3675, forkinthecity.com, myspace.com/jamielrallen.

Solrevolt

A Solrevolt gig could double as night court. The band features police officers and Botetourt County Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom, who plays harmonica.

Details: 7:45 p.m. Pomegranate, Troutville. Free. 966-6052, pomegranateva.com, myspace.com/solrevoltband.

Lenny Marcus Quintet, featuring Kerry Hurley

Performing the Music of Frank Sinatra & His Pals

Marcus and company can swing, and Hurley brings exuberance to the act's bevy of classics.

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

FRIDAY AND SUNDAY

A Marvin Matthews Christmas

Soulful Christian artist Matthews plays a couple of gigs to benefit Operation Christmas Cheer.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday. 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The Historic Fincastle Wedding Chapel, 45 E. Main St., Fincastle. $15; children 10 and younger $7.50; general admission; VIP and meet-and-greet $20. 798-1653, marvinmatthews.com.

SATURDAY

My Radio

With The Noises10, The Everyday Visuals, Sinking Creek

This night will have the feeling of a music industry showcase. My Radio writes near-addictive pop/rock tunes, and The Noises 10 navigates a set of complex music. The Everyday Visuals, little heard here in Roanoke, might be the most intriguing band on the bill. As for Sinking Creek, here's full disclosure: Yours truly will be playing drums in this band, but will not accept pay.

Details: 8 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $10. kirkavenuemusic.com, kirkavenue@gmail.com, myradioband.com, noises10.com, theeverydayvisuals.com, myspace.com/sinkingcreek.

Jesse Ray Carter

Hey, this is good news in local music. Young Carter, a guitarist, harmonica player, songwriter and bluesman, hasn't performed much in the valley music since moving to Portland, Maine, a year or so ago. He was at Hollins University's Beyond Folkfest last week, and on Saturday he hits the BBQ, one of his good old haunts. Maybe we'll get some trio action out of this.

Details: 10 p.m. The Blues BBQ Co., Roanoke. Free. 344-5683, bluesbbqco.com, myspace.com/jesseraycarter.

BoomBox

This two-man act -- DJ/drummer Russ Randolph and DJ/vocalist/guitarist Zion Rock Godchaux -- makes compelling, danceable music. Godchaux's mother, former Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux, was on this same stage just last month, fronting her own band.

Details: 9 p.m. Attitudes Bar & Cafe, Blacksburg. $12 advance; $15 door; 18 and older. 552-7001, inticketing.com, attitudesbar.com, thisisboombox.com.

Relacksachian

This act features Amanda Glover, a relative newbie to the Roanoke music scene, who is already making an impact with her fiddle and mandolin playing and singing.

Details: 8:15 p.m. Fork in the City, Roanoke. Free. 345-3675, forkinthecity.com.

Superhold

Some of the Roanoke Valley's finest musicians, including guitarist Kelly Scott and bassist Jim Lewis, make this '80s rock and pop act worth checking out.

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

Evick

This D.C.-based hard rock act has served a few tours as Brett Michaels' opening band.

Details: 10 p.m. Corned Beef & Co., Roanoke. $5. 342-3354, cornedbeefandco.com, evick.com.

Truckers Delight

It's another reunion for an old-school valley fave.

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

SUNDAY

Blue Moonshine

This band straddles the traditional and newgrass line as well as any in the valley.

Details: 4 p.m. Fork in the Alley, Roanoke. Free. 982-3675, forkinthealley.com, bluemoonshineband.com.

Puela Lunaris

Check out an energetic Flamenco dancer and her band. Lunaris is also doing workshops that begin at 12:30 p.m.

Details: 5 p.m. Sun Music Hall, Floyd. $10 advance; $15 door; half-price to children 14 and younger. (540) 745-7883, sunmusichall.com, puelalunaris.com.

The Homewreckers

John Beason and pals bring a wide musical palette -- acoustic rock, reggae, hip-hop and blues.

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