Courtesy photos

The Bridge

Emily Brass

Amber Collins and No Speed Limit

The Superpowers

Correction: Los Gatos' Blue 5 performance is on Saturday night. That information was incorrect in print and earlier online editions of The Roanoke Times and roanoke.com.

Friday

The Bridge

With Half Moon

Pre-game your Labor Day weekend with this smart double-bill. The Bridge, from Baltimore, has a loose, laid-back funk that's reminiscent of Little Feat, and is not afraid to stretch out a jam. Half Moon, featuring singer/songwriter Adam Beeson, has changed a bit from its horn-heavy days, but it still focuses on "da irie riddims" and strange funk.

Details: 10 p.m. Friday. 202 Market, downtown Roanoke. $12. 202market.net, thebridgemusic.com, myspace.com/thehalfmoonband.

Sunday

Emily Brass Band

With Sol Creech Band

You don't have to go to work Monday (we hope), so head to Floyd for some positive tunes and vibes. Brass, formerly of Foundation Stone, plays what she calls "hippie-hop" music. Creech brings a mash-up of soul, funk, blues and reggae. The bands share drummer "King" George Penn of Blacksburg.

Details: 7 p.m. Sunday. The Pine Tavern Pavilion, 611 Floyd Highway North, Floyd. $10 in advance; $12 at the door. All ages. 745-4482, thepinetavern.com, emilybrass.com, solcreechband.com.

Sunday and Monday

GrahamFest 2008

With Confederate Railroad, Grasstowne, Crooked Road artists Wayne Henderson and Jeff Little, Amber Collins & No Speed Limit, and more

Here's another short road-trip option for the long weekend. Bluegrassers Grasstowne should be a highlight. Guitarist/luthier Henderson and his piano-playing partner, Little, are old-school pickers of the first order. Up-and-coming Southwest Virginia band No Speed Limit played well-received sets at FloydFest.

Details: Music begins at 3 p.m. Sunday and Monday. 2115 Major Grahams Road, Max Meadows. One-day ticket: $30 at the gate. Two days: $50 at the gate. (276) 284-0006, 08.grahamfestusa.com/.

Tuesday

The Superpowers

With The Seed

For those of you hearty enough to venture out after the long weekend, your prize awaits at Blue 5. The Superpowers features drummer Adam Clark, a Glenvar High School grad who's just a beast behind a drum kit. Hear Afropop music that isn't quite Afropop -- loping grooves reveal odd time signatures yet remain danceable. The Seed, from Washington, D.C., by way of Roanoke, can flat-out groove as it lays down some traditional sounding reggae with positive lyrics.

Details: 8 p.m. Tuesday. Blue 5 Restaurant, downtown Roanoke. $10. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, myspace.com/thesuperpowers, myspace.com/theseedsound.

Tonight

TobyMac

With This Beautiful Republic

Annandale native and former D.C. Talk ("Jesus Freak") frontman Mac is 2008's Dove Artist of the Year and a crossover superstar in the Christian pop-rock scene.

Details: 7 tonight. Across from Mariners Landing entrance, Smith Mountain Lake Parkway, Huddleston. $25 in advance; $30 at the gate. (888) 397-3100, smlconcerts.com, tickets.com, tobymac.com.

Friday

Diamond Rio

With Mountain Heart

The Mariners Landing Summer Concert Series wraps up with this show. Opening act Mountain Heart features Martinsville's Josh Shilling (read more about Shilling here).

Details: 7 p.m. Friday. Across from Mariners Landing entrance, Smith Mountain Lake Parkway, Huddleston. $25 in advance; $30 at the gate. (888) 397-3100, smilconcerts.com, tickets.com, diamondrio.com, mountainheart.com.

Mike Davis

Hear a solo acoustic set from the frontman/songwriter of excellent Harrisonburg pop-rock band Moneypenny.

Details: 10 p.m. Friday. Metro, downtown Roanoke. Free. 345-6645, metroroanoke.com.

Barefoot West

With Corey Hunley

These guys are getting plenty of loving on the music blog right now, and come with a guitar player in Hunley who can tear it up. Bandleader Kyle Forry posts on the blog that his drummer, Jason Branan, kicks all kind of read end. By the way, I've got to love an act that does a acid-funk version of "Frankie and Albert" that starts with the bass player playing the sharp-approach music from "Jaws."

Details: 9 p.m. Friday. Blue 5, downtown Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, myspace.com/barefootwest

Saturday

Palmz

Roanoke rapper Palmz hits the skating rink for a late-night party full of his original music.

Details: 11 p.m. Saturday. Star City SK8 & Family FunZone, 140 Hershberger Road, Roanoke. $12. All ages. 362-5195, myspace.com/palmz06

Sunday

The Gumbo Band

Get a stew of New Orleans-style music with dinner.

Details: 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Rockfish Food & Wine, 1402 Grandin Road S.W., Roanoke. $5. 904-5454, rockfishfood.com, jimmielandry.com.

Los Gatos

One of our earliest MusicCast guests slings the very fine Latin grooves. Check out performances here -- blogs.roanoke.com/musiccast/l/.

Details: 9 p.m. Saturday. Blue 5, downtown Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, losgatos.cc.

Wednesday

The Young Sinclairs

With the Sad Cobras

The Sinclairs will take you back to the 1960s. The Cobras will toss you right back into the 2000s. It's all good.

Details: 7 p.m. Wednesday. Local Roots Cafe, 1731 Grandin Road S.W., Roanoke. $2. 206-2610, myspace.com/localrootscafe, myspace.com/theyoungsinclairs, myspace.com/thesadcobras.