Courtesy photo

Nikki Glaspie

Courtesy Scythian/Paul Haring

Scythian

NOTE: The Scythian show at Kirk Avenue Music has been canceled. Get details and the band's makeup date at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch.

SATURDAY

Nikki Glaspie

Glaspie, whose father lives in Salem, plays with the hip (Sam Kininger) and the happening (Beyonce Knowles). Glaspie is in town this weekend and is helping out Music Lab at Jefferson Center. On Friday, she'll do a concert/workshop with the music lab's students, their friends and family. On Saturday afternoon, she'll join an all-star team of Roanoke-area players at Jefferson Center's rehearsal hall. The woman is a beast behind the kit, grooving hard or soloing with polyrhythmic abandon. With such players as bassist Bernard Hairston backing her, Glaspie's gig is likely to be the hottest of the weekend.

Details: 2 p.m., Jefferson Center's rehearsal hall, Roanoke. $10 suggested donation (supporting House of Agape Fellowship). 345-2550, jeffcenter.org, myspace.com/nikkiglaspie.

TODAY-SUNDAY

Roanoke Moose Bluegrass Convention 2009

With The Locust Mountain Boys, The Guard, Blue Mule, Bluegrass Brothers, Southern Depot and more

Good-looking lineup for yet another music festival in the region. The only one of these acts I've heard live is Blue Mule, which has good originals but makes me love it with bluegrass-centric covers of Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath" and Cream's "White Room."

Details: 6 tonight; 2 p.m., Friday; noon, Saturday; 11 a.m., Sunday. Roanoke Moose Lodge No. 284, north of Salem on Virginia 311. $40 all four days; $15, Thursday-Saturday; $5, Sunday; children 12 and younger, free. Camping $10 per day; $50, all four days. 483-3373, roanoke284@yahoo.com, roamooselodge.org, locustmountainboys.com, bluemulemusic.com.

TODAY

Jordan Harman Band

The favorite local group in the 2008 Roanoke Times music poll is full of good musicians and a growing songwriter in Harman.

Details: 8 p.m. Blues BBQ Co., Roanoke. Free. 344-5683, bluesbbqco.com, myspace.com/jordanharmanband.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Bluestock Music Festival

With Bear Hill Bluegrass, Porkroll Project, Sheets to the Wind, Porch Loungers and more

It's been 40 years since Woodstock. It's been 40 years since Maison Beliveau's owners, Joyce and Yvan Beliveau, were married. They celebrate both with two days of music.

Details: 5 p.m., Friday; noon, Saturday. Maison Beliveau Bed and Breakfast, Blacksburg. $20 for Friday-Saturday; $10 on Friday; $15 on Saturday; children 12 and younger, half-price. 961-0505, maisonbeliveau.com, porkroll-blues.com, myspace.com/porchloungers.

FRIDAY

Palominos

For a few years, Richmond-based Palominos have been churning out indie rock that stays rootsy but doesn't get boring. Ask the band about its latest release, "Egos."

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

Bebop Hoedown

These bluegrass-based guys can bring the swing and the down-and-dirty country stuff.

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

Bernard Hairston Group

If you dig tastefully performed standards from top-shelf musicians, go get some dinner out and listen to these cats. As a bassist, Hairston is the truth.

Details: 8:30 p.m. Red Clay Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 344-4494, redclayrestaurant.net.

Red Weather

Reignited Roanoke jam band is sounding good around town after just a couple of shows. Go to blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch and search for John McBroom to hear a podcast with the band's guitarist.

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

SATURDAY

Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain

With Dry Hill Draggers

Last week, some old boys got folks upset picking electric basses at the Old Fiddler's Convention, in Galax. Hear one of them, mandolinist Kevin McKinnon, and his twin brother, guitarist Keith, with Hassler's band. Both of them can pick a lick, and Hassler is a fine singer. Opening act Dry Hill Draggers finished 10th in the convention's intense old-time band competition.

Details: 7 p.m. Blue Ridge Music Center, mile post 213, Blue Ridge Parkway, near Galax. $10. (276) 236-5309, blueridgemusic center.org, carriehassler andhardrain.com.

TK-421

These boys make a hot metal noise, and have some original tunes that rival the hard rock covers they play. Unfortunately, they wrote those songs about 20 years too late.

Details: 10 p.m. Awful Arthur's, Salem. $5. 387-1004, myspace.com/awfularthurssalem, myspace.com/tk421band.

The Fat Daddy Band

A mess of blues powered by Kerry Hurley's big vocal style, Hoppie Vaughan's tasty-hot guitar riffs and drummer Tommy Hearn's smoking swing.

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

Half Moon

Beason brothers John (drums) and Adam (guitar, vocals) just can't get their fill of live playing. You'll find them out there most every weekend, making rooms feel good.

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

Front Porch Swing

Slow-cooked barbecue, laid-back swing music and microbrews from Shooting Creek. Sounds like a good Saturday evening.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Pine Tavern Pavilion, Floyd. $6 advance; $8 day of show. 745-4482, ohpapa.com.

Dirty Hands

Washington, D.C.-based party-sparking disc jockey brings the underground hip-hop.

Details: 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Metro, Roanoke. Free. 345-6645, metroroanoke.com, djdirtyhands.com.

Evick

Hear Brett Michaels' backing band, (fortunately) without Michaels.

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

SUNDAY

The Seldom Scene

The most recent incarnation of this Northern Virginia bluegrass favorite includes original member Ben Eldridge on banjo and bassist Ronnie Simpkins (Bluegrass Cardinals, Tony Rice Unit), who came up in Christiansburg.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Theater at Lime Kiln, Lexington. Adults: $20, advance; $25, gate. Seniors: $18, advance; $20, gate. Students: $8, advance; $10, gate. Children 6 and younger, free. 473-7088, theateratlimekiln.com, seldomscene.com.

TUESDAY

Acoustic Lounge

With Chris Henson, Kristie Emmons, Stephen Glassbrenner, Dan Hildebrand and host Chris Shepard

Henson first came to my attention in 2007, when he entered an original number in our Christmas song contest. The tune, "Bah Humbug Blues," was pretty doggone funny and well-crafted. I imagine you'll hear tunes of that ilk from Henson on this night.

Details: 8 p.m. Studio Roanoke. $5. 343-3054, studioroanoke.org.