Darrell Scott

IO Jukebox

Darrell Scott

• Hank Williams' Ghost
• There's A Stone Around My Belly

The New Roanoke Jug Band

• Stir It Gal
• Goin' to Richmond

Asylum Street Spankers

• Asylum Street Blues
• Darling Nikki

Fifth House

• I Can Feel It Coming On
• Phase Shift

David Wilcox and Darrell Scott

Two of the most talented and prolific songwriters around, Wilcox and Scott have contributed more groundbreaking music to the world than most of their overexposed contemporaries could ever hope to. In stark contrast to the "celebrity first, artist second" mentality of so many in the industry, these two prefer to let their music stand on its own.

Primarily an acoustic guitarist, Wilcox's finger-style methods and original sense of melody gave him one of the most recognizable unplugged sounds in the late '80s and early '90s, and his latest records and tours prove that little has changed.

Chances are Grammy nominee and multi-instrumentalist Scott is in your CD collection already. He's written hits for artists including the Dixie Chicks, Travis Tritt, Sara Evans, Garth Brooks and Brad Paisley, and he's recorded with Steve Earle, Trisha Yearwood, Randy Travis and Patty Loveless.

Details: 8 p.m. Wednesday, the Lyric Theatre, Blacksburg. $15 and $20. (540) 951-4771, www.davidwilcox.com and www.darrellscott.com.

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge

With the New Roanoke Jug Band

Bluegrass music may be considered a traditional art form, but don't you dare call it outdated.

Whether it's being absorbed with blues and folk in the jam genre, fusing with rock and world music into newgrass, or simply thriving as modern American mountain music, the legacy of bluegrass is still being written.

One of the names featured prominently in the pages of that story is Larry Keel, flatpicking guitar master and a Virginia native who, along with his band Natural Bridge, is a major source of creative energy and inspiration in the genre. They've contributed original material that's been covered by the likes of Acoustic Syndicate and Del McCoury, and have performed alongside artists such as Joe Craven, Mike Marshall, Curtis Burch, the legendary Tony Rice and even fellow Top Ticket artist Darrell Scott (see above).

Details: 9 p.m. Saturday, Coffee Pot, Roanoke. $12. 774-8256, www.larrykeel.com and

www.nrjb.com.

Kaddisfly (with Gifts from Enola)

Genre: Alternative/rock/progressive

Sounds like: If Coheed and Cambria played covers of My Chemical Romance tunes

Why it's on the list: This Portland, Ore.-based band impresses the living daylights right out of me. The sound is as fresh and innovative as any of today's prog-rock mainstays.

When: 9:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Awful Arthur's, Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke

Cost: $5

Ages: 21 and older

Call: 777-0007

'Net: www.kaddisfly.com

Asylum Street Spankers

Genre: Swing/blues/acoustic/jazz

Sounds like: Your grandmother's records -- with your brother's best dirty jokes

Why it's on the list: Musical talent is always appreciated, but the Spankers take it a step further with an enthusiastic energy and outright irreverence that would suggest they're as entertaining to themselves as they are to an audience.

When: 9 p.m. Friday

Where: Sun Music Hall, Floyd

Cost: $15 in advance, $18 on Friday

Ages: All

Call: (540) 745-7880

'Net: www.asylumstreetspankers.com

Fifth House

Genre: Funk/soul/groove

Sounds like: The songs you'd find on Tony Manero's iPod

Why it's on the list: While they aren't local per se, the gang from Asheville, N.C., swing (literally) through Roanoke pretty regularly, and they've established a reputation as guaranteed party-starters.

When: 10 p.m. Saturday

Where: Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke

Cost: Free

Ages: 21 and older

Call: 985-6278

'Net: www.fifthhouse.org

PistolTown

Genre: Rock/power-pop/pop-punk

Sounds like: Fallout Boy on a long bus ride with Blink 182

Why it's on the list: Catchy pop tunes done right, slammed out with just enough punk sneer to make the Ramones proud. The Nashville, Tenn., group lights the crowd up, and I always like shows where bands can get the crowd to sing along...

When: 9:30 p.m. Friday (downtown Roanoke) and Saturday (Salem)

Where: Awful Arthur's in downtown Roanoke; Awful Arthur's in Salem

Cost: Free for downtown show; $3 per person/$5 per couple in Salem

Ages: 21 and older

Call: 344-2997, 387-1004

'Net: www.pistoltown.net