Weekend music

Though I'm in San Francisco this weekend for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, I do have some small pangs of regret for not being around for some fine local Portland music this weekend .... small pangs ... will get over them. But if you're in town, there are a few shows I'll point out.

Friday
Will always recommend the monthly first Friday happy hour at the Laurelthirst with the James Low Western Front ... great way to start the weekend. James' great songs and a band that's shaping into one of his best combos .... 6 PM, no cover

Stephanie Schneiderman will be doing a full band show at The Woods ... Steph has a bunch of (excellent) new songs from her upcoming album ... Seattle's Two Loons For Tea will open .... 9 PM, $10

Duff's will be rocking with Rich Layton & The Troublemakers and The Twangshifters.  Rich and the band have a great new recording coming out soon ... 9 PM, $??

If it's jazz you're seeking, head to Jimmy Mak's for the Alan Jones Sextet.  Nice to see drummer Jones playing in town with his own project (Alan travels the world as a tremendously in-demand drummer) .... check out the story on Oregon Music News.

How about Irish music?  Check out one of the most popular bands in the world on the Irish music scene, Lunasa at the Alberta Rose Theatre. One of our local celtic music favorites, Hanz Araki, opens ... 8:30 PM, $25

Saturday
Down at the Trails End in Oregon City, it's Lloyd Jones and band with special guest Paris Slim. Lloyd promises to set the place on fire with some incendiary licks from two of Portland's best guitar slingers .... fire hoses standing by ... 9 PM, $??

Tough choice between that and The Strangetones at Duff's  ... 9:30 PM, $??

Just a few shows that jumped out at me this weekend .... enjoy whatever you do and I'll try to give a little taste or recap of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass  ....