Top Tickets: Eclectic, original selections

TONIGHT

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

This Baltimore-based quartet goes hard funk-rock, with grooves for days, cheese-jazz inclinations and psychedelic flashes, all of which makes up for vocals that aren’t the strongest. If you want to sweat and jam out before the weekend, this is the show to see.

Details: 10 p.m. Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. $5. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, pigeonsplayingpingpong.com

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

GypsyFest

With Black Girls, Midnight Spaghetti and the Chocolate G-Strings, The Fritz, MH & His Orchestra, Jon Stickley Trio and Jonathan Barker and more

This young and growing music event in Dublin is exclusively non-exclusive. Check the website for details on how to find the place and how to get in.

Details: Gates open at noon Friday, music at 5 p.m.; music at noon Saturday. Highland Farm, Dublin.
$40 at the gate after RSVP via
gypsyfestva.com; blackgirlsband.com

FRIDAY

Lefty Williams Band

With The Floorboards

Atlanta-based Lefty Williams is a smoking blues-rock guitarist with strong original tunes. The Floorboards, the valley’s own, are better than your average opener.

Details: 9 p.m. Billy’s Barn, 1790 Thompson Memorial Drive, Salem. $5. 728-0270, facebook.com/billys.barn.1, lefty-music.com, thefloorboards.net

WEDNESDAY

The Sword

With American Sharks, Castle

Read more about internationally known hard rock act The Sword and its frontman, Roanoke native J.D. Cronise, in Saturday’s Extra section.

Details: 10 p.m. Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. $15 advance; $17 day of show. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, swordofdoom.com, sharkspartyhard.com

TONIGHT

John Emil

This cat can sure enough play slide guitar, putting different spins on the likes of the Allman Brothers, Son House and more.

Details: 8:30 p.m. Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, johnemil.com

Aaron Oberg and Marie Anderson

Two singer-songwriters who work well together.

Details: 8 p.m. The Quarter, Roanoke. Free. 342-2990 thequarterrestaurant.com, reverbnation.com/aaronoberg, revernation.com/mariefrithanderson

FRIDAY

Urth

With The Color J

Proggy space-jazz-rock headlining. Funky grooves opening.

Details: 10 p.m. Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, urth.ws, reverbnation.com/thecolorj

Lazy Man Dub Band

It’s a funky reggae party, with shouting horns.

Details: 10 p.m. Awful Arthur’s, Roanoke. $3. 344-2997, awfularthursseafood.com, lazymandubband.com

SATURDAY

Funkwagon

Gospel piano and arrangements soak into some deep funk grooves.

Details: 10 p.m. Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, funkwagon.com

South City Car & Bike Show

With Warp Asylum, Switchgrass, Chris Shepard

Rocking bands and fancy cars help raise money for the South City Knights Athletic Club.

Details: 10 a.m. Jackson Park, Roanoke. Free ($10 for car entries). facebook.com/southcity.knights.9, facebook.com/WarpAsylum, myspace.com/chrisshepard

TK-421

Top players and singers rock originals and covers.

Details: 9 p.m. Billy’s Barn, Salem. $10. 728-0270, facebook.com/billys.barn.1, tk-421.net

Filthy Still

Gonzo-grass pickers from Providence, R.I.

Details: 9 p.m. Mountainside Cafe, 7924 Bent Mountain Road, Roanoke. Free. 776-0742, facebook.com/BentMtnBar, reverbnation.com/filthystill

Deb Callahan

Soul- and R&B-infused blues out of Philadelphia.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, debcallahanband.com

Big Lick Brass Band

Cats get funky with the horns. Bonus points for tuba.

Details: 8 p.m. The Quarter, Roanoke. Free. 342-2990 thequarterrestaurant.com, biglickbrass.com

Travis Holland and the Package Deal

A young star of past Coffee Pot open mike nights has put his own blues band together.

Details: 9 p.m. The Coffee Pot Roadhouse, Roanoke. $5. 774-8256, facebook.com/Roanokesroadhouse

Fuzzy Logic

Rock and country favorites.

Details: 10 p.m. Awful Arthur’s, Salem. Free. 387-1004, awfularthursseafood.com, gotfuzz.net

Keith Bryant and Ironhorse

Country-rocking Bryant keeps doing his thing.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Breaktime, 8118 Plantation Road, Roanoke. $10. 265-2925, facebook.com/BreakTimeVA, keithbryant.com

SUNDAY

Sean K. Preston & The Loaded Pistols

With Jesse Ray Carter

Hear rockabilly and honky-tonk from a Baltimore act.

Details: 2 p.m. Parkway Brewing Co., 739 Kessler Mill Road, Salem. Free. 314-8234, parkwaybrewing.com, reverbnation.com/seankpreston

TUESDAY

Magnets & Ghosts

With Madrone

The alt-rocking headliner includes Collective Soul rhythm guitarist Dean Roland.

Details: 9:30 p.m. Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. $8 advance; $10 day of show. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, magnetsandghosts.com, reverbnation.com/madrone

Adam Markham

Acoustic multigenre performer Markham is worth catching.

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

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