Acoustic Endeavors photo courtesy of acousticendeavors.com

Acoustic Endeavors

Ralph Stanley photo courtesy of Morris Public Relations

Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys

HopeHop photo courtesy of Eddie McClain

HopeHop

SUNDAY

Montgomery County Food Pantry CD Release Party

With Locust Mountain Boys, Acoustic Endeavors, Blue Mule, Original CaTTells

Roanoke Valley bluegrass bassist Sam Miller has put together a nice collection of bluegrass music, and if you buy a copy for $13, $10 will go to the Montgomery County Food Pantry, in Shawsville. Miller produced the disc, "Gail Winds," to honor his late wife, Linda Miller, and it's loaded with the family's high-quality musical friends slapping out some fine bluegrass. The afternoon CD release party will feature several of those acts, pickin' and grinnin' for the cause.

Details: 2 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $10 donation, or donate at least three cans of food to the food pantry, or purchase a $13 CD at door. slmafoodpantry.org.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys

The good doctor, who has just released an autobiography, is busy on all fronts. He and his band hit two shows this weekend. On Friday, they will do a Song of the Mountains taping -- the upcoming season's first -- along with Ralph Stanley II, the Darrell Webb Band, the Blu-Js and Phil Campbell. The next night, the act heads to Galax. It's always a good idea to catch a set or two from this mountain music wizard.

Details: 7 p.m. Friday. Lincoln Theatre, Marion. $25. songofthemountains.org. (276) 783-6093. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Fairview Ruritan, 2265 Fairview Road, Galax. $20. (276) 236-5725, fairviewruritan.com, drralphstanley.com.

SATURDAY

HopeHop

It's been too long since this Blacksburg act has been to Big Lick. The band returns with more of its unique sound -- conscious rhymes, delivered with feel courtesy of "EZ" Eddie McClain, float over a live rhythm section that nails you to the floor while guitar and keyboards stab at grooves and chords that draw from rock, funk, hip-hop and jazz. If you're one of those people who complains that rap music has become a bland self-parody, you owe it to yourself to hear this act, right in your back yard.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Fork in the City, Roanoke. Free. 345-3675, forkinthecity.com, myspace.com/hopehopmusic.

TONIGHT

The Ahs

These classical/folkers recently played on public radio's Mountain Stage. Now catch them in Blacksburg.

Details: 7 p.m. Gillie's Vegetarian Cuisine, Blacksburg. Free (donations to musicians accepted). 961-2703, myspace.com/gilliesmusic, myspace.com/theahs.

Mikey Jr.

Hear some smokin' blues harp from a young, Philadelphia-based player influenced by the likes of Little Walter and James Cotton.

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

FRIDAY

Jesse Ray Carter Trio

Young bluesman Carter is back on the scene, after taking a short hiatus from music. This time out, drummer Jeremiah Rhodes (Grass Monkey) and doghouse bassist Phillip Cooper join him.

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

Toy Soldiers

Philadelphia-based rootsmeisters sound like an electrified, drum-driven, fun time.

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

The Bluegrass Brothers

Two generations of pickin' Dowdys -- brothers Robert and Victor Dowdy, and Victor's sons Donald and Steve -- can lay down some hot grass.

Details: 9 p.m. The Coffee Pot, Roanoke. $10. 774-8256, myspace.com/coffeepotroadhouseinc, thebluegrassbrothers.com.

Bebop Hoedown

A good time is easy to come by with these eclectic bluegrassers.

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

SATURDAY

The Old One-Two

With Allen Thompson, Matt and Ryan Browning, Sam Fochtman

A few years ago, a Murfreesboro, Tenn., trio called Creech Holler graced Roanoke a couple of times with an overdriven, gutbucket, open-tuned, Dock Boggs-influenced sound that grooved like crazy. The Old One-Two, from Greensboro, N.C., sounds a good bit like Creech Holler -- but with an even dirtier sound and spookier vocals. Second-on-the-bill Allen Thompson, a former Roanoker, is doing his thing in Nashville these days and getting good critical notices for his latest record, "26 Years."

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

Oxytone

Funky-groove rock with strong vocals and smart instrumental passages.

Details: 9 p.m. The Coffee Pot, Roanoke. $5. 774-8256, myspace.com/coffeepotroadhouseinc, reverbnation.com/oxytone.

Paul Cataldo

Cataldo, from Black Mountain, N.C., by way of New England, writes and sings some earnest country and Americana music.

Details: 7 p.m. Gillie's Vegetarian Cuisine, Blacksburg. Free (donations to musicians accepted). 961-2703, myspace.com/gilliesmusic, myspace.com/paulcataldo.

DJ JonH

One of Washington, D.C.'s Fort Knox Five spins the discs all funky.

Details: 9 p.m. Metro! Roanoke. Free. 345-6645, metroroanoke.com, myspace.com/djjonh.

3 Minute Lovin'

Blacksburg stalwarts sling jams ranging from honky-tonk to surf.

Details: 9:30 p.m. The Cellar, Blacksburg. Free. 953-0651, the-cellar.com, 3minutelovin.com.

Gina Sicilia

Road trip alert: This young blueswoman earns comparisons to Susan Tedeschi and Janiva Magness.

Details: 7:30 p.m. The Ellington, Lynchburg. $20 advance; $25 door. (434) 845-2162, theellington.org, ginasicilia.com.

Blue Moonshine

Get a dose of forward-thinking bluegrass, with songs that match the players' instrumental prowess.

Details: 8 p.m. Annie Moore's Irish Pub, Roanoke. Free. 904-5466, anniemooresirishpub.com, bluemoonshineband.com.

Electric Chameleon

Nearly four years into its existence, E.C. remains one of Roanoke's favorite live acts.

Details: 10 p.m. Awful Arthur's, Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke. $5. 777-0007, myspace.com/awfularthurs, myspace.com/electricchameleon.

Dana & Susan Robinson

Asheville, N.C.,-based multi-instrumentalists fuse Appalachian, Celtic and African influences.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Bedford Public Library, Bedford. $10 suggested donation. 586-8911, friendsofbedfordlibrary.org, robinsongs.com.

SUNDAY

The Blue Ridge Blues Society's Winter Blues Bash

Featuring The Mo' Hippa Band

This benefit for the Blue Ridge Blues Society's blues in the schools program is a two-pronged blues attack. The Mo' Hippa Band, winner of the blues society's band competition last summer, opens the show. Later, hear an all-star jam.

Details: 4 p.m. Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke. $5 ($3 for blues society members). 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, blueridgeblues.org, mohippaband.com.

TUESDAY

The Bridge

With Groova Scape

Live music is back at Attitudes, after the Christmas break. The Bridge, from Baltimore, combines Americana and rock sounds into a jammy brew.

Details: 9 p.m. Attitudes Bar and Cafe, Blacksburg. $10 advance; $12 door. 552-7001, attitudesbar.com, inticketing.com, thebridgemusic.com, myspace.com/thegroova.

Acoustic Lounge

With Sharon Feury & Keri Basham, John Pence, Santiago Prada and Chris Shepard

Hear four acts do the singer/songwriter thing, then listen as members from the audience come up to play a tune.

Details: 8 p.m. Studio Roanoke, downtown Roanoke. Free. info@studioroanoke.org.

WEDNESDAY

The Groove

If you want to hear some deep funk from guys who know how to play it red hot, Wednesdays are now your night. Kelly Gravely (drums), Cameron McLaughlin (bass) Jamiel Allen (vocals/keys) and Keith Thomas (keys) are among the valleys' very best players.

Details: 9 p.m. 202 Market, Roanoke. Free. 343-6644, 202market.net, myspace.com/kgravely09.