Yep Roc Records Photo by Ron Keith

Southern Culture on the Skids

Courtesy of River Laker

The Model Citizens

TODAY

Emerging Artists Series

With The Model Citizens, Sarah Garrison

Call it art-rap -- headliner The Model Citizens are students at the Art Institute of Washington, and its hook is "streetwear culture." Expect fancy sneakers. Opening act Sarah Garrison, formerly of the Wading Girl, will perform some new original tunes and at least one Wading Girl favorite. While you're listening, see art on the walls from T. Dell Robinette and Heather Leisch. Go to roanoke.com/extra/wb/226248 to read more about Garrison and hear a podcast.

Details: 6 p.m. Roanoke Main Library. Free. emergingartists.tumblr.com, myspace.com/modelcitizensgroup.

FRIDAY

Southern Culture on the Skids

Celebrate the Taubman Museum of Art's one-year anniversary with a band that absolutely knows how to throw down a good one. Whenever SCOTS hits Roanoke, it's always a bit of a homecoming -- bassist/singer Mary Huff and drummer Dave Hartman are Patrick Henry High School graduates who done real good.

Details: 8 p.m. Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke. $35; $25 for museum members. 204-4122, taubmanmuseum.org, scots.com.

TODAY

Christabel and the Jons

This Knoxville, Tenn., act delivers hot swing and folk filtered through a Smoky Mountain consciousness and spiced with singer Christa DeCicco's authentic phrasing.

Details: 9 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $10. kirkavenue@gmail.com, kirkavenuemusic.com, myspace.com/christabelmusic.

The Honey Dewdrops

Sweet-sounding acoustic Americana featuring Laura Wortman's resonant vocals.

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

Saluda

Hear a dose of strong indie/Americana, straight out of Blacksburg.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Champs Sports Bar & Cafe, Blacksburg. $3. 552-2233, champssportsbar.com, myspace.com/saludamusic.

FRIDAY

On the Block: Photography and Music

With Zulu Watu, hip-hop performances by Music Lab at Jefferson Center students

Music and pictures celebrate Roanoke's hip-hop culture in a show inspired by the work of Jared Soares, a photographer at The Roanoke Times. Hear music from artists Soares photographed for his O. Winston Link Museum show, "On The Block," and hear some of the young acts getting it together at the Music Lab at Jefferson Center.

Details: 9 p.m. Jefferson Center, Roanoke. Free. linkmuseum.org, jeffcenter.org.

Rock-N-Roll Thanks-for-Giving

With Affliction Kid, Honor Amongst Thieves, Douche Newton, Soul, John Pence

Good bands rock for a good cause -- getting food to the less fortunate at Thanksgiving.

Details: 6 p.m. Friday. The Coffee Pot, Roanoke. 21 and older two canned goods; younger than 21 $3 and two canned goods; all ages until 9 p.m. myspace.com/refugeme.

The Pimps of Joytime

Here is some really fun-sounding throwback, rocking funk and soul. You shouldn't try to stop yourself from bouncing and shaking.

Details: 8 p.m. Attitudes Bar and Cafe, Blacksburg. $10 advance; $10 door; 18 and older. 552-7001, inticketing.com, attitudesbar.com, myspace.com/pimpsofjoytime.

The Royal Greens

Fresh from a New York City gig at Arlene's Grocery, the Greens head back to Big Lick. Show up at 8 p.m. with canned or non-perishable food and hear a free, early show from the Greens and other fine bands.

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

Half Moon

With Lazy Man Dub Band

Last Saturday at The Blues BBQ Co., Half Moon had folks grooving in the small venue. Here's a gig with more room to get loose.

Details: 9:45 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, myspace.com/thehalfmoonband, myspace.com/lazymandubband.

Nancy & 2 Meteors

With CBZL, Children of the Star

It's always a good time when Nancy & 2 Meteors do their thing.

Details: 8:30 p.m. Bazaar Consignments, 675 Brandon Ave., Roanoke. $3. myspace.com/nancyandtwometeors, myspace.com/cbzl, myspace.com/childrenofthestar.

The Aurora Observatory

If this band sounds live the way it does on its MySpace.com page MP3, it could be one of the most interesting heavy rock bands in the region.

Details: 8:30 p.m. Gameday Bar & Grill, Rocky Mount. $5; 21 and older. 483-0475, myspace.com/theauroraobservatory.

Stereo Reform

With Big Thunder Rumble Fish

The headliner's MP3, "Till I'm Done," sounds like a cross between Franz Ferdinand and The Strokes.

Details: 10 p.m. Awful Arthur's, Blacksburg. $5. (540) 443-9109, myspace.com/awfularthur39sblacksburg, myspace.com/stereoreform.

Mas Y Mas

With Facepaint & New Rock Church Of Fire

Toss Devo and Stan Ridgway into a garage-rock blender, and something like Mas Y Mas would surely emerge.

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

John Barry Conception CD Release Party

With John Barry Conception, Twelve O'Clock Knob, Justina Shandler, Maddie Garber, Scotty Groth

John Barry Conception, a side project for members of Commonplace, puts out a CD, brings on plenty of musical help.

Details: 6:30 p.m. Penn Forest Worship Center, 3735 Chaparral Drive, Roanoke. $5.

James Pace B-3 Band

Pace can flat smack down a keyboard, and he's got some fine Hammond B-3 organ chops, even if he's not actually playing a B-3.

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

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Nevermind

Nirvana, featuring the late Kurt Cobain, has been in the news lately, what with reissues and a Rock Band controversy. Why not catch a tribute band?

Details: 10 p.m. Friday. Awful Arthur's, Salem. $10. 387-1004, myspace.com/awfularthurssalem. 10 p.m. Saturday. Awful Arthur's, Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke. $10. 777-0007, myspace.com/awfularthurs, myspace.com/nevermindchicago.

SATURDAY

True Sound

One of Southwest Virginia's funkiest acts gets into some reunion action. It's hard to miss with Jah-I-Witness, Karanja Burke, Cameron McLaughlin, "King" George Penn and the rest of the band. Catch this show now -- it might be a long time before this lineup gets together again, Burke said.

Details: 10 p.m. Awful Arthur's, Blacksburg. $5. 443-9109, myspace.com/awfularthur39sblacksburg, myspace.com/truesoundlivehiphop.

Robbin Thompson

Hear the Richmond cat who wrote and sang "Sweet Virginia Breeze." Go to roanoke.com/202898 for a podcast with Thompson.

Details: 8 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $15. kirkavenue@gmail.com, kirkavenuemusic.com, robbinthompson.com.

Heevahava

With The Situationist, 3 a.m. Friday

Yes, the Heevahava is back! It's been too long. The act now features bassist Jason Wellz (The Bastards of Fate) in a format that bandleader Mark Perry describes as "Appalachian ZZ Top, cause we're traditional with a low-down stomp, but these mountains twisted it up."

Details: 9 p.m. Coffee Pot, Roanoke. $3. 774-8256, myspace.com/coffeepotroadhouseinc, myspace.com/heevahava.

Relacksachian

This groovy Adam Beason side project may be the only act in the Roanoke Valley to claim both Francis Scott Key and Earl Scruggs as musical influences.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Fork in the Alley, Roanoke. Free. 982-3675, forkinthealley.com, myspace.com/adbeason.

Labron Lazenby & L.A. 3

Hear basic, hard-hitting blues from this Knoxville, Tenn., act.

Details: 9 p.m. Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, myspace.com/la3trio.

Adam Markham and Jonathan Barker

These two fine players will do the guitar/piano and vocal thing.

Details: 10 p.m. SoRo Chill & Grille, Roanoke. Free. 982-7676, sorogrille.com.

Triscale

Get some grooving, soulful rock from this trio.

Details: 9 p.m. Gameday Bar & Grill, Rocky Mount. $5; 21 and older. 483-0475, myspace.com/triscaleband.

MONDAY

Mannheim Steamroller

It's the 25th anniversary of this popular act's record, "Mannheim Steamroller Christmas," and the synthesizer-driven act is coming to Roanoke as part of the celebration. The evening show is sold out, but tickets are still available for a recently added 4 p.m. show. Roanoke Civic Center is also hosting a 5:30 p.m. dinner buffet made by the venue's chef, Chris Eanes.

Details: 4 p.m. Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre, Roanoke. $59; $45. 5:30 p.m. dinner buffet is $30. 877-722-8496, roanokeciviccenter.com, shop.mannheimsteamroller.com.

TUESDAY

Grass Monkey

If you like acoustic music and Tuesday night shenanigans, get to the BBQ.

Details: 9 p.m. The Blues BBQ Co., Roanoke. Free. 344-5683, bluesbbqco.com, myspace.com/vagrassmonkey.

WEDNESDAY

Half Moon

Adam Beason and his compadres are all over the Roanoke Valley map this week. Catch a free pre-turkey day show.

Details: 9 p.m. Allsports Cafe, Salem. Free; 21 and older. 389-4647, myspace.com/allsportscafesalem, myspace.com/thehalfmoonband.

Jason Byrd's 3rd Annual Giving Thanks Thanksgiving Eve

The Byrdman hits his hometown for a holiday eve fest. Byrd says this joint is an old gas station with 19 beers on tap.

Details: 9 p.m. The Lucky Pub, 250 E. Main St., Marion. Free. 783-7707, myspace.com/jasonbyrdandfriends.