This week starts off with a singer-songwriter night at Hal & Mal's restaurant on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Among the performers starting at 8 p.m. will be Jeff Maddox, Anthony Little, Clinton Kirby, Cameron Compton and Cody Cox. It's free to get in.
Get your weekend started with local jazz guitar favorite Barry Leach at Underground 119, Thursday, 8 to 11 p.m. The new Underground 119 club brings in the King Edward Blues Band Friday night, 9 p.m. to midnight.
For the final weekend of the fair, Creedence Clearwater Revisited will perform all the classic Creedence Clearwater Revival songs Friday, 7:30 p.m. $5. For something a little different, the burlesque revue Fleur de Tease stirs things up Friday night at Ole Tavern with Circus of the Seed and Furrows, 10 p.m.
Southern Rock outfit Electric Mudd returns to Martin's Friday night. Storage 24 will make their long-awaited return to Fire Friday night, with local percussionist and radio host Daniel Guaqueta on drums.
Friday night is also a great night for R&B with two of my favorites performing. Akami Graham & the Key of G will perform at Freelon's from 8 p.m to 10:30 p.m., and High Frequency will bring the love at Fitzgerald's in the Hilton on County Line.
In Hal & Mal's old brew-pub area and the outdoor courtyard, the New York-based all-girl trio Vivian Girls perform Saturday night, 10 p.m. $5. If you dig lo-fi garage rock and indie–girl rock, you will dig Vivian Girls. They are nationally recognized on the underground circuit from the Pitchfork review of their 2008 self-titled debut disc (JFP story). Listen to them at http://myspace.com/viviangirlsnyc.
In Ridgeland's Jackson Street district, local retailers and the city are hosting a fall street fair Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Performing will be an array of southern musicians with Blue Mountain, T-Model Ford, Gary Pfaff & the Heartwells, The Scramblers, Pat Thomas, Dixie Nationals and Slack Adjustor. They'll also have arts and crafts, and an Octoberfest-style beer tasting. Call 601-506-6624 or go to http://www.jacksonstreetdistrict.com for details.
If the rainy weather finally stops, be sure to enjoy some outdoor venues. The Steam Room Grille is hosting "Cigars Under the Stars" each Thursday this month. This week Hunter Gibson and his band Hunter and the Gators perform on the patio from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Next Thursday, Oct. 22, "Blues by Starlight," a benefit for the Boys and Girls Club at Highland Village will include local performers like Scott Albert Johnson, Chris Gill, Sherman Lee Dillon and Jesse Robinson's 500 lb. Blues Band. The music, auction and food will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. and is $100 at the door. http://www.bluesbystarlight.org or 601-969-7088, ext. 26 for details.
Mark your calendar for more outdoor music next Friday, Oct. 23, for Jacktoberfest on Congress Street in downtown Jackson between Amite and Capital streets, beginning at 11 a.m. Check out the JFP music calendar or http://www.jacktoberfest.com for this year's line-up. Also, stay downtown after Jacktoberfest for Caroline Herring at Hal & Mal's, Passenger Jones at Martin's or DJ Icey at Touch Nightclub. Next Friday Lee Barber & the Broken Cup of The Barbers fame come back to Jackson for a CD release party at the Lemuria in Banner Hall at 8 p.m.
If you're looking for a great date night, the next Bravo performance of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra features the music of Beethoven next Saturday, Oct. 24. Call or go online now to get the best seats at 601-960-1565, or http://www.msorchestra.com, $20 and up.