TONIGHT
The Collective, feat. Monte Gill
Monte Gill, who has been touring internationally with pop/R&B goddess Alicia Keys, has a break from his backing vocalistduties, now that Keys is on maternity leave from her multi-platinum career. Here, Roanoke native Gill joins up with some ofthe Roanoke Valley's best players to do some of his own music andsome covers. Keith Thomas (keyboard) Cameron McLaughlin (bass) andCarlos Aranguren (drums) will back him up.
Details: 10 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke.Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com
FRIDAY
Stagg Bowl Tailgate Party
With Gloriana
This pop-country act has opened for the likes of Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean and the Zac Brown Band but is now a headliner. Gloriana's touring action brings it to Salem for the annual Stagg Bowl game at Salem Football Stadium, where tailgaters will surely hear the band's hit, 'Wild At Heart,' the best-selling country single of 2009.
Details: 5:30 p.m. Salem Football Stadium parking lot. Free. ncaa.com/championships/football/d3, gloriana.com
SATURDAY
DJ Williams Projekt
Williams has been a fixture in Virginia, and recently at Martin'sDowntown, for several years, based on the strength of this band. These days, though, he's gone nationwide as guitarist for Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. Fortunately, touring breaks leave time for Projekt gigs, and those are typically hot. If you haven't heard Williams and his very funky band yet, check them out. If you have, you probably want to go anyway.
Details: 10 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. $10.985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, djwilliamsmusic.com
SATURDAY
Lady Antebellum
With Josh Kelley, Edens Edge
Lady A, which tends toward soft rock, is one of country music's hottest acts right now. Flip back to Tuesday's Extra section to read more. Go to blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch to hear a podcast with Josh Kelley. Hear a 2008 podcast with Lady Antebellum's Dave Haywood at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch/?p=724.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday. Roanoke Civic Center. $57.50, $37.50. Roanoke Civic Center box office, 877-482-8496, hometownbanktix.com, ladyantebellum.com, joshkelley.com
TONIGHT
NYC Live in Roanoke!
With Heevahava, Madrone, Matthew John Mortimer, SavannahShoulders and more
Local bands gather to play songs from such Big Apple acts as The Ramones, Talking Heads, Lou Reid and Television. There's art and an e-book presentation, too. Read more at Mike Allen's Arts &Extras blog - blogs.roanoke.com/arts/?p=6623.
Details: 6 p.m. Howery Mezzanine, Roanoke Main Library. Donate anunwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and a non-perishable food item for the Roanoke Rescue Mission. 853-1057, libraryevents@roanokeva.gov
Jerry Wimmer Trio
Wimmer, lead singer of The Worx, has a voice flexible enough fora variety of covers, but he has his own songs, too. Example: blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch/?p=9453.
Details: 8:30 p.m. Starters Sports Bar & Grill, Salem. 389-0683, getoffthebench.org
Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle Concert and Shadow Puppet Show
The hosts of Floyd Country Store's monthly Floyd Radio Show take their act to Blacksburg.
Details: 8 p.m. The Swoop House Gallery, 512 Progress Street, Blacksburg.$5 suggested donation. youtube.com/watch?v=c3O56ZtdoVc
TONIGHT-FRIDAY
The Materia Project
Here are two chances to hear one of Roanoke's most talentedgroups. See video of the band at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch/?p=9440.
Details: 8 p.m. Tonight. Bravos, Roanoke. $3; all ages. 982-3828. 10 p.m. Friday. The Village Grill, Roanoke. Free. 767-0057, reverbnation.com/themateriaproject
FRIDAY
Former Champions
With Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove, DJ Rahbee
Richmond-based electro-rockers Former Champions, which played FloydFest in July, and Perpetual Groove's Brock Butler will team up for some jams after Butler's solo opening set.
Details: 9 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke. $8. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, formerchampions.net
The Black Lillies
Flip back to Wednesday's Extra section to read more about this band, and go to blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch for a podcast with The Black Lillies' Cruz Contreras.
Details: 8 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $15; $8 to students, 21-younger. 589-0546, kirkavenuemusic.com, theblacklillies.com
Jim Brickman
With Anne Cochran, Benjamin Utecht and Tracy Silverman
Read more about Brickman in Monday's Extra section or hear a podcast at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre, Roanoke.$77, $52, $42, $32. 877-482-8496, hometownbanktix.com, jimbrickman.com, annecochrancom, benutecht.com
The Dirt Road Travelers
With Grass Monkey, Watershed Conspiracy
The Dirt Road Travelers self-titled debut disc, releasedrecently, features some hard-hitting Americana rock numbers.
Details: 9:30 p.m. The Coffee Pot, Roanoke. $5. 774-8256, reverbnation.com/thedirtroadtravelers, reverbnation.com/grassmonkeyband, reverbnation.com/watershedconspiracy
Dave Porter Trio
Porter, a bassist who has played with The Worx and BurningBridges, leads his own group for a Christmas show.
Details: 8 p.m. Annie Moore's Irish Pub, Roanoke. Free. 904-5466, facebook.com/anniemoorespub, facebook.com/daveporterband
Bebop Hoedown
It's percussionist Jeff Maiden's final show with the band.
Details: 10 p.m. Fork in the Alley, Roanoke. Free. 982-3675, forkinthealley.com, bebophoedown.com
Who Are the Southern Baptists?
With Alex Culbreth, John Barry Conception
Manassas act answers the question its band name poses in this musical way: Driving, punk-soaked acoustic pickers with sandpaper vocals.
Details: 9 p.m. The Bazaar, 675 Brandon Ave. S.W., Roanoke. $5;all ages. 309-0928, whoarethesouthernbaptists.bandcamp.com, myspace.com/alexculbreth, johnbarryconception.com
Comet 30 & The Rose
Jane 'The Rose' Gabriel and her band play rock and folk-rock.
Details: 9:30 p.m. Ippy's, Rocky Mount. $5. 489-5600, ippys.info
SATURDAY
John Cowan Trio
Read more about Cowan, the 'Lousville Songbird,' in Friday'sExtra section and hear a podcast at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch.
Details: 9 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $15; $8 to students, 21-younger. 589-0546, kirkavenuemusic.com, johncowan.com
Toys for Tots Benefit
With The Pullouts, Jackal Tickets, Affliction Kid
It's that time of year - give up something for kids who need it.In a bonus, you get a good, rowdy rock, punk and ska show.
Details: 8:30 p.m. The Coffee Pot, Roanoke. Bring an unwrappedtoy worth at least $5. 774-8256, myspace.com/coffeepotroadhouse
J.P. Harris and the Tough Choices
This is real, raw, roadhouse-style country music. It swings hard,and steel guitar is prominent. Check out a podcast from earlier this year at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch/?p=8853.
Details: 8 p.m. Dogtown Roadhouse, Floyd. $7; all ages. 745-6836, sunmusichall.com, reverbnation.com/thetoughchoices
Ugly Sweater Party
With Riverbank Ramblers
Here's a Roanoke Valley Americana act that hasn't hit our radarin a minute. See video of this rough-but-right band with old-time, rockabilly and other rootsy influences via youtu.be/XexKEbNGxgs.
Details: 9 p.m. Allsports Cafe, Salem. Free. 389-464, allsportscafe.net, myspace.com/riverbankramblers, youtube.com/user/riverbankramblers
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
With Shorefire
Another ugly sweater party. Sport your stupid holiday attirewhile you groove to Shorefire's rocked-up surf/reggae mix.
Details: 9 p.m. Awful Arthur's, downtown Roanoke. $3. 344-2997, awfularthursseafood.com, reverbnation.com/shorefire
Lazy Man Dub Band
A deep rhythm section and shouting horns make this gig happen.
Details: 10 p.m. Fork in the Alley, Roanoke. 982-3675, forkinthealley.com, lazymandubband.com
Lloyd Dobbler Effect
A band often found at Corned Beef & Co. is doing its thing atthe Schoon.
Details: 9 p.m. Schooners, Roanoke. $5. 563-4956, lloyddoblereffect.com
The Dollar and Walker Christmas Show
Preview this coffeehouse constant's version of 'Coventry Carol'at youtu.be/aUmOZwFbwhI.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Third Street Coffeehouse, Roanoke. Free (venueencourages donations to performers). 309-4707, youtube.com/user/3rdStreetCoffeehouse, youtube.com/randolphwalker
SUNDAY
Alzheimer's Christmas Benefit Party
With The Rarely Available Band, Grass Monkey
This band often makes itself available for charities. This time out, The Rarely Available teams up with Parrotheads of the Blue Ridge. No smoking in Schooners for this one, and prizes are in the offing.
Details : 2 p.m. Schooners, Roanoke. Donate at the door. 563-4956, reverbnation.com/therarelyavailableband
TUESDAY
The Lenny Marcus Trio Christmas Concert
Pianist/flutist Lenny Marcus leads his group in some holidayjazz.
Details: 6:30 p.m. Howery Mezzanine, Roanoke Main Library. Free. 853-1057, libraryevents@roanokeva.gov, lennymarcusmusic.com
