Black Twig Pickers photo courtesy of Tim Stuhldreher

Cory Campbell photo courtesy of Ross Flora

FRIDAY

Modern Groove Syndicate

A few years ago, this Richmond jazz/funk outfit performed regularly in Roanoke. Thank goodness, Modern Groove Syndicate is coming back to town. The songs are accessible and engaging without losing edge. The instrumental work from keyboardist JC Kuhl, sax man Daniel Clarke and guitarist Trey Pollard is smoking. And the rhythm section -- bassist Todd Herrington and drummer Joel DeNunzio -- gets off without letting go of the groove. Go to this story at roanoke.com/entertainment or to blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch to hear a podcast with Herrington, including streaming music from the band's two albums.

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

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

Newport Fest 11

With The Porch Loungers, Black Twig Pickers, Cosmo S. Omsoc, Clover Hollow, Mountain Legend Express, Train Wreck, WSNB, Lola Mullen

This New River Valley tradition always brings the good tunes. The Porch Loungers rock it wild and loose. Black Twig Pickers will surely be playing tunes from the forthcoming CD, "Ironto Special." Experimental folkies Cosmo S. Omsoc are a palindrome, of course. Laura Beth Payne's strong and sweet voice fuels Clover Hollow's work. And be sure to catch WSNB, an electric blues band that puts its stamp on the Mississippi Delta roots of the music it swings.

Details: 4 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. The Infamous Backyard Amphitheater, 715 Bluegrass Trail, Newport. $5 for music only, or $10 for music and beverages. newportfest@gmail.com, myspace.com/porchloungers, myspace.com/blacktwigs, myspace.com/cosmosomsoc, myspace.com/cloverhollowband, wsnbmusic.com/fr_home.cfm, myspace.com/lolamullen.

TONIGHT

Deep Soul Revival

I have a really good feeling about this act. Cory Campbell, a guitarist and singer, is writing some nice, groove-oriented soul and blues tunes. Campbell has one of Roanoke's top flight rhythm sections -- bassist Brad Taylor and drummer Carlos Aranguren -- holding down the beat with plenty of percolation. What little I've heard from those three is at Campbell's facebook.com page, and it shows tight ensemble work and super-tasteful yet biting guitar work from Campbell. This might be the beginning of something really good.

Details: 9 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, youtube.com/user/CoryCampbellMusic.

TONIGHT

The Stereofidelics

Here's a unique duo from Asheville, N.C., with plenty of atmospheric alternative rock music. Tonight, Gillie's has a rare door charge, to help the band with travel expenses. It's worth it.

Details: 10 p.m. Gillie's Vegetarian Cuisine, Blacksburg. $3; $5 for those younger than 21. 961-2703, myspace.com/gilliesmusic, reverbnation.com/thestereofidelics.

Melissa Reaves

Soul woman Reaves plans to perform some new tunes at this show, according to her website.

Details: 7 p.m. Geonetti's Specialty Subs, 112 Campbell Ave. S.E., Roanoke. Free. 904-5352, geonettis.com, melissareaves.com.

FRIDAY

The Visitations

With The Sad Cobras, The Bastards of Fate

Athens, Ga., act The Visitations has a unique, sometimes dark and typically entertaining way of turning pop music inside out, as do Roanoke acts The Bastards of Fate and The Sad Cobras. The Cobras ask the musical question, "How do you dance in a body cast?"

Details: 9 p.m. The Bazaar, 675 Brandon Ave. S.W., Roanoke. $5. 309-0928, sites.google.com/site/thebazaarroanoke, myspace.com/thevisitations, myspace.com/thesadcobras, myspace.com/thebastardsoffate.

HopeHop

With Boogieburg

HopeHop is sounding better than ever, judging from a recording of its Aug. 19 Camp Barefoot set, posted at archive.org. The Blacksburg band joins forces again with the hip DJs of Boogieburg.

Details: 9 p.m. Attitudes Bar and Cafe, Blacksburg. $7; 18 and older. 552-7001, attitudesbar.com, hopehopmusic.com, boogieburg.com.

Gillie's Late Night Kickoff

With Lizzy Ross

Acoustic folk-rocker Ross writes interesting chord changes and spices them with her sometimes intense vocal style.

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

County Bound

Former members of such outstanding Franklin County-based acts as Pickin' Buds and Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice fire it up at Gameday.

Details: 9 p.m. Gameday Sports Bar & Grill, Rocky Mount. Contact venue for cover charge information. 483-0475, tinyurl.com/244474d (County Bound on facebook.com).

Superbob

With Jackal Tickets, Thresher

The D.C.-area band once known as bob added "Super" to its name after rapper B.o.B.'s ascent into the pop chart. The renamed act still does its brand of nu-metal. If you're into ska-punk and blasting metal and haven't heard Roanoke bands Jackal Tickets and Thresher, get there.

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

Swift Technique

Philadelphia band fuses jazz and funk with hip-hop. And it works, with blaring horns and a tight rhythm section locking it down.

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

The Fat Daddy Band

Some of Roanoke Valley's favorite bluesmen take the stage again.

Details: 8 p.m. Pomegranate, Troutville. Free. 966-6052, pomegranateva.com, thefatdaddyband.net.

Jane Gabrielle

Former Radar Rose frontwoman Gabrielle takes her act to the coffee house.

Details: 7 p.m. (open mic first, then featured performer) Third Street Coffeehouse, Roanoke. Free (venue will pass "the hat" for musicians). 309-4707, marian.mcconnell@gmail.com.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Aside Oceans

Pulaski-based rockers have a new record, "Minds Like Parachutes," that includes some interesting alt-rock and post-grunge numbers.

Details: 9 p.m. Friday. The Dutch Inn, Collinsville. $5. (276) 647-3741. 9 p.m. Saturday. Champs, Blacksburg. $5. 552-2233, champssportsbar.com, myspace.com/asideoceans.

SATURDAY

Betty Rats

With Monadnoc, The Situationist, Nancy & 2 Meteors

The headliner shows once again that not everything coming out of Nashville, Tenn., sounds like assembly line pop-country music. At times, Betty Rats sounds like John Denver on mescaline. "Tapdance Syndrome" is a highlight number from the band's Myspace.com page.

Details: 9 p.m. The Bazaar, Roanoke. $5. 309-0928, sites.google.com/site/thebazaarroanoke, myspace.com/bettyrats, myspace.com/monadnoc, myspace.com/thesituationistmusic, myspace.com/nancyandtwometeors.

Motor City Josh & The Big 3

"Motor City" Josh Ford, a Detroit man as the name implies, delivers his blues with plenty of funk.

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

Passafire

With Three Legged Fox, Lazy Man Dub Band

Catch a tripleheader of bands influenced by the music of Jamaica.

Details: 9 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, passafire.net/fr_home.cfm, threeleggedfoxlive.com, myspace.com/lazymandubband.

New Ballard's Branch Bogtrotters

It's an old-time country dance at the store. Come early and do a free flatfooting workshop.

Details: 7:30 p.m. (flatfooting workshop begins at 5 p.m.) Floyd Country Store, Floyd. $8. 745-4563, floydcountrystore.com, newballardsbranchbogtrotters.com.

SUNDAY

Bike Bash

With TK-421, A.M. Avenue, Polychrome and UnTax't Whiskey

Rock out while you eat oysters, look at motorcycles and check out a bikini contest, all to benefit The Blue Ridge Autism Achievement Center.

Details: 2 p.m. Awful Arthur's, Salem. Any donation is welcome for admission. 387-1004, awfularthursseafood.com, myspace.com/tk421band, myspace.com/amavenue, polychromelive.com/fr_intro.cfm, myspace.com/untaxtwhiskey, blueridgeautismcenter.com.

MONDAY

Celtic Open Session

Slurp down a pint while a bagpiper, a fiddler and other players lay down some Irish and Scottish tunes.

Details: 8 p.m. Flannary's Irish Pub, Roanoke. Free. 400-0222.

TUESDAY

Dangermuffin

This roots-rock outfit from Folly Beach, S.C., has been a hit at FloydFest and its sister festival, Floyd Fandango. A listen to music posted at the band's website shows the reasons why.

Details: 8 p.m. Attitudes Bar and Cafe, Blacksburg. $7; 18 and older. 552-7001, attitudesbar.com, dangermuffinmusic.com.

Blacksburg Live Music Open Mic Night

A group of Blacksburg residents hosts this event, which features players of all ages.

Details: 8:30 p.m. (performers sign up at 7:30 p.m.) PK's Bar & Grill, Blacksburg. Free. 552-1577, pksbarandgrill.com, facebook.com/BlacksburgLiveMusic.

WEDNESDAY

Arrah & The Ferns

With Maya Renfro

Hear high quality indie-pop from the Philadelphia-based headliner, with plenty of nice electric piano work from Arrah Fisher. Opener Maya Renfro most recently sang with Blacksburg's Ike as in Dwight.

Details: 8 p.m. the Bazaar, Roanoke. $5. 309-0928, sites.google.com/site/thebazaarroanoke, arrahandtheferns.com, myspace.com/mcrenfro.

Blue Ridge Blues Society Blues Jam

This open jam is still looking for its audience. If you can play some blues or just like to see whether a jam will be a beauty or a disaster, this is a good night for it.

Details: 9 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar 7 Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, blueridgeblues.org.