Wednesday treats

There's a happy hour treat tonight at the Laurelthirst tonight with Blue Giant, a project of Decemberist Chris Funk and Kevin and Anita Robinson (Viva Voce) ... 6 pm, no cover

Another treat for tonight is a free show by John Hiatt at Music Millennium to promote his new recording, The Open Road.  The caveat is that you need to purchase the CD and get a voucher for admission to the performance. Have been listening to it now for a couple of weeks and have to say it's another really fine set of Hiatt-penned tunes. Hopefully he'll be back at the Aladdin with the band later this year ... 7 pm.

Storm Large is going to pack Dante's for the first of three April performances that revisit her old stomping ground ... tonight it's quiet acoustic-ish with Holcombe Waller. Next week it will rock loud with The Balls ...  9 pm, $20

The space-funky Mars Retrieval Unit is at the White Eagle ... 8:30 pm, no cover

And for bluegrass fans, Yonder Mountain String Band is in town for a show at the Crystal Ballroom ... 9 pm, $30

On the radar for the rest of the week:
The Church at Mississippi Studios on Thursday
Claudia Schmidt and Mary Flower at The Woods on Friday
David Vest at Jimmy Mak's on Saturday
and Mark Knofler will be in town at Keller Auditorium on Saturday (tickets are $66 ...ouch)