Friday and Saturday ... great choices!

What a diverse couple of nights in Portland. Don't panic ... just pick something and head out to some live music! It's good for the body, good for the soul ....

Friday
The Portland Jazz Festival continues with a great slate of shows tonight and a full afternoon of jazz conversations at the Art Bar. Tomorrow too ... and Sunday ....

Suzanne Vega will be at the Aladdin tonight. This highly regarded songwriter will be performing a career spanning set of tunes in support of her new CD, Close-Up: Vol 1, Love Songs ... 8 pm, $35

Whether you consider them jazz or jam, Medeski Martin and Wood will make music that hits both your body and your brain tonight at Roseland .... 8 pm, $25

It's happy hour at the Laurelthirst with the Bingo Band (6 pm, no cover), followed by the Freak Mountain Ramblers. Going to be a packed house at the 'Thirst ... 9:30 pm, $6

 DK Stewart and the Soul Survivor Horns will be at Duff's Garage ... grab your dancin' shoes  ... 9:30 pm, $

Dance at the White Eagle too with the Caleb Klauder Country Band and Lisa & Her Kin ... 9:30 pm, $6

Saturday
New Orleans rockin' funky hip-hop outfit Galactic will have a houseful of butts shaking at Roseland ... sweaty fun from the Big Easy ... 9pm, $22

What was born from the annual Willie Nelson Tribute, is an allstar Legends of Country Tribute at the Wonder Ballroom. Drinking Doubles, Shooting Singles will include Lewi Longmire, Michael Jodell, Casey Neill, Adam Shearer, Little Sue, Bingo, Justin Powers and a host of others ... 9 pm, $10

Mary Flower will be appearing at Fleur de Lis Bakery (3930 NE Hancock)  ... $12 (reservations required - call 503-459-4887) ... they serve dinner at 6:30 pm and the music begins at 8.

Another fine night at the Laurelthirst begins with Little Sue for happy hour, followed by a triple bill of Kelly Blair Bauman, the Parson Red Heads, and Mike Coykendall & Golden Shag ... 9:30 pm, $5

James Low will be doing an acoustic set at the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

At Mississippi Studios it's John Vecchiarelli, The Robinsons, and Damian Jurado ... 9 pm, $12

At the Alberta Street it's deep roots and Americana with The Beautiful Train Wrecks and The Troublemakers ... 9 pm, $5

Over at The Woods it's neo-traditional jazz with The Midnight Serenaders and Swing Papillon ... 9 pm, $10