Whole lotta music goin' on!

Ho hum ... just another July weekend in Portland. Choices, people, choices!

Let's start easy tonight with the happy hour choice of the James Low Irregulars at the Alberta Street Pub, or the Piano Throwers at the Laurelthirst ... both at 6 pm, no cover

Or check out The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash at Edgefield's Little Red Shed ... 7 pm, no cover

And dancers, you definitely should check out the Secret Society tonight with Reggie Houston and Pete Krebs - two live bands, two dance lessons, and 5 hours of swing music ... 6 pm, $10

And at the Aladdin it's the Riders In The Sky 40th Anniversary Tour ... 8 pm, $35

Friday
Tonight kicks off three days of the free Cathedral Park Jazz Festival. Friday it's blues, followed by some excellent jazz on Saturday and Sunday in a beautiful setting under the St. Johns Bridge.

The Sportin' Lifers are at the Secret Society (6 pm, $6), followed by Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble presented by Cascade Zydeco ... 8:30 pm, $15

Redray Frazier and Wallace are at the Alberta Street Pub ... 9 pm

Lydia Pense and Cold Blood are at the Jack London Review ... 9 pm, $22

And the stellar Nigerian guitarist Omara "Bombino" Moctar will be at the Star Theater ... 9 pm, $25

Saturday
All day at the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, it's the 17th Annual Roadhouse Brewfest with free music from 2 - 8 pm.

Speaking of all day, it's also PDX Pop Now! Saturday and Sunday.

And, it's the Division/Clinton Street Fair with music through the afternoon. And if you're going to be on SE Division St., check out the Landmark Saloon's 8th Birthday celebration.

Dueling big ticket outdoor shows have Father John Misty and Blitzen Trapper at Edgefield and The Roots at the Zoo ... looks like The Roots is sold out, but you can try to catch DJ Questlove in a special late show at the Jack London Review.

Ron Rogers & the Wailing Wind are doing the happy hour show at the Alberta Street Pub ... 6 pm, no cover

James Mason and the Djangophiles have the early show at the Secret Society (6 pm, $6), followed by Melao de Cuba Salsa Orchestra ... 8:30 pm, $10

There's a celebration of the life of the late Portland jazz bassist Andre St. James at Corkscrew Winery ... 7:30 pm

And it's Brazilian Night at the Goodfoot ... 9 pm

Sunday
Try not to get giving fatigue, but there's three worthy fundraisers on Sunday:
At the Mekong Bistro there will be a fundraiser for one of the most loved and respected musician and organizer in the community, Dave Kahl. Dave is recovering from heart surgery and his friends have put together a fine day of music to help ... noon to 7 pm.

At the Mission Theater there's a benefit for longtime Portland drummer Kenny Sawyer with a bunch of his friends, including Quarterflash, Jon Koonce, and the Cal Scott Band ... 4 pm, $20 donation

And at Mississippi Pizza there's a benefit for Causa, Oregon's immigrant rights organization, with Karen Lovely and Tavis Hodge, Jr. ... 5 pm, $10

As for the non-benefit options ...
At the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, it's the Sundown Grand Ol' Country Festival with music from 1 to 9 pm. Free.

If you like Hawaiian music, catch award-winning and Grammy-nominated vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and composer, Henry Kapono Ka'aihue at the Aladdin ... 8 pm, $25

And though sold out, Jackson Browne will be at the Edgefield concerts. Show up and you can probably pick up a ticket outside the gate.

Now, that's a lot of choices ...