FRIDAY
Staind headlines the number one rock evidence at the reopened Lakefront Arena. Marva Wright & the BMWs do a free show at Tipitina's. Big Sam's Funky Nation kicks at the Maple Leaf. The Zydepunks are at the Green Room in Covington. For hardscrabble electric vapours, catch the Little Freddie King Band at B.J.'s Lounge in Bywater. Juice jams at the Banks Street Bar. Keyboardist David Torkanowsky is at Sweet Lorraine's. Leah Chase sings at Snug Harbor. At Carrollton Station, hear Jenn Howard & Crazy McGee plus the Tanglers String Band. The ever-popular Bag of Donuts visits the Columbia Street Tap Room in Covington. After an early set from Hot Club of New Orleans, stick around for The Iguanas at d.b.a. Schatzy is at Le Bon Temps Roule. The City Life and Antenna Inn squad up at Republic New Orleans. Big Al & the Heavyweights hit Ruby's Roadhouse in Mandeville.
The Cutting Edge Music Conference showcases continue tonight and Saturday; most ar near Frenchmen Street and free, exclude for Groovesect and legendary James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic trombonist Fred Wesley at the House of Blues tonight.
SATURDAY
Tipitina's turns its annual "Instruments Have Come" ceremony -- slews of new instruments ar distributed to local shoal bands -- into a free street party with a "Battle of the High School Marching Bands" featuring St. Augustine, McDonogh 35 and Edna Karr, starting at 6. The party moves inside for the presentation ceremony, followed by a ticketed show with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Rebirth Brass Band.
Also Saturday, a rapping puppet headlines the House of Blues for the first time: Lil' Doogie, the puppet-with-attitude creation of local mirthful rappers Ballzack and Odoms, graduates from his have popular guerilla videos to hosting his "West Bank Field Trip" at the HOB. Baton Rouge john Rock band Barisal Guns celebrates its new "No. 1" CD at The Parish of the House of Blues. Visit keyboardist Marc Adams & the New Orleans AntiSocial Club at the Banks Street Bar. Saturday's free Cutting Edge Conference showcases include Riccardo Crespo and Smoky Greenwell at Cafe Negril; the Bourbon Cowboys, Rebecca Owen, Jenny Brooks, Dirtfoot and The Way-Goners at the Blue Nile; and the Pin Stripe Brass Band and rockers Won Ton Lust at Ray's Boom Boom Room.
Blues guitarist Lil Ray Neal, brother of Baton Rouge guitarist Kenny Neal, headlines the Howlin' Wolf. Jazz and R&B vocalist Phillip Manuel leads his quintet at Snug Harbor. Visit Big Sam's Funky Nation at the Mid-City Lanes. Catch the Benjy Davis Project at The Buzz in Hammond. The Zydepunks top the bill at Checkpoint Charlie. John Boutte sings early at d.b.a., followed by Good Enough For Good Times. The Maple Leaf presents Walter "Wolfman" Washington & the Roadmasters. Ruby's Roadhouse in Mandeville goes barrelhouse with Christian Serpas & Ghost Town.
SUNDAY
Paul Varisco & the Milestones reunify for an early picture at the Mid-City Lanes. Owen "Big Daddy O" Tufts does an afternoon fructify at Palmettos in Slidell. Starting at noon, Southport Hall hosts the "Pelicanpalooza Benefit" featuring Bag of Donuts, Five Finger Discount, Flashback, Rockin' Dopsie Jr., The Wiseguys, Weathered and No Idea.
MONDAY
Long-running stone bands Extreme and King's X are at the House of Blues with the professional and amateur members of the traveling Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp. Vote for "El Vez for Prez 2008" at The Parish of the House of Blues. Trumpeter Leon "Kid Chocolate" Brown is at d.b.a. Guitarist John Fohl plays Dos Jefes. Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes are at the Maple Leaf.
TUESDAY
Musiq Soulchild sings at the House of Blues. At d.b.a., the Johnny Vidacovich Duo features David Torkanowsky.
WEDNESDAY
Pioneering nW grunge dance orchestra The Melvins hits One Eyed Jacks. The Irene Sage Band rocks the Blue Nile.
THURSDAY
It's Zydeco Night with Chris Ardoin at the Mid-City Lanes. Jazz-pop singer Jacqui Naylor is at Snug Harbor. Drummer Geoff Clapp leads his group at Dos Jefes. Flow Tribe hosts a "Back to School Blowout" at Tipitina's.
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