Jackson Free Press

Starting the weekend off early, Fire hosts a full night of rock Wednesday with Papa Roach, Puddle of Mudd, 12 Stones and Adlieta's Way starting at 8 p.m.

Jazz favorites, the Denny Burkes Quartet, will be at Hal & Mal's Thursday night, and if you're in the mood for even more jazz, head to Underground 119 where Barry Leach of The Vamps will perform, 8-11 p.m.; free. Also, local favorites Taylor Hildebrand with Jamie Weems & the Strange Pilgrims will be at the Eudora Welty Commons on Congress Street, 8 p.m. $6. An early free show Thursday night is harp icon Fingers Taylor's weekly show at the Soulshine Pizza on Highland Colony. 7-9:30 p.m. Upon request, they will serve Southern Pecan in a dirty mason jar with your muffaletta pizza.

Friday night the party is at the North Midtown Arts Center at 121 Millsaps Ave. for the Special Passenger Records "Might Could Real Quick" CD release party. It's a remixed compilation of songs by Jackson artists such as Johnny Bertram, Emily Baker, The Bachelorettes, Lizzie Wright and Taylor Hildebrand. Hot and Lonely will spin the dance music, and Joosy will be on hand for the body painting, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., 21 and older. The $5 cover also gets you the CD.

Alternative/college rockers The Quills and kitschy indie-pop showman Dent May will return to Martin's this Saturday night. The Quills have gone through a few line-up changes; current band members include Andrew Fox and Morgan Jones (King Elementary), William Fox (Champagne Heights) and Justin Cook. If you're a fan of any of these guys' music you'll dig the Quills. Dent's four-man group is laden with highly stylized pop hooks and complete with ukulele. He has an amazing stage presence destined for pop stardom.

Pink Floyd tribute band Eclipse returns to Fire this Saturday, 10 p.m. They put on a pretty tight show; so if you're a fan of the more club-friendly Floyd tunes, check them out at http://www.myspace.com/pinkfloydeclipse. Speaking of Floyd, Roger Waters is about to go on tour doing "The Wall" live. Register now for a shot at the pre-sales which start this weekend on http://www.rogerwaters.com for shows in Atlanta Nov. 18, Houston Nov. 20 and Dallas Nov. 21. Tickets will be readily available for those willing to give up their first-born child or can order with an American Express.

There are still a few seats left for B.B. King's show this Saturday night at the Silver Star Casino in Choctaw. Call 866-44PEARL for tickets. Tickets are also still available for the return of the popular old-time string band Old Crow Medicine Show at Hal & Mal's this Monday night, May 3. Also Monday is the annual Take a Tasty Bite Out of Crime event benefiting public safety initiatives in the Highland Village Courtyards with Fingers Taylor & the Soulshine Allstars, Faze 4 and Chris Gill with Will & Linda, 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $60 at the door, on http://www.tastybiteoutofcrime.com, or call 601-212-0016.

At the New Orleans Jazz Fest this weekend are Blues Traveler, Gov't Mule and Elvis Costello Thursday; Band of Horses, Galactic, Jeff Beck and Pearl Jam Saturday; The Dead Weather, Richie Havens, B.B. King, the Neville's and Van Morrison Sunday. Find all the information on http://www.nojazzfest.com. While you are in New Orleans this weekend, check out the House of Blues for old-school soul meets reggae legends Toots & the Maytals this Saturday night.

This weekend at the Beale St. Music Festival in Memphis with (among many others) Widespread Panic, Blues Traveler, Jeff Beck, B-52's, Neon Trees Friday; Alice in Chains, Flaming Lips, Puddle of Mud, Drive by Truckers, North Mississippi Allstars, Gov't Mule Saturday; Band of Horses, Alison Krauss; Earth, Wind & Fire; 3 Doors Down Sunday. Go to http://www.thebealestreetmusicfestival.com for complete lineup and info.

Mark your calendars for the return of Good Enough for Good Times at Martin's next Friday, May 7, with members of Galactic and Charlie Hunter Trio and the New Orleans-based alt/rock Roosevelt Noise reunion show next Saturday night. Martin's is also the place to be Saturday, May 22, when New Orleans street-jazz super group Dirty Dozen Brass Band takes the stage.