THURSDAY, AUGUST 23
Blair Crimmins & The Hookers Natasha's 112 Esplanade Alley, $8, 9 p.m. From the venue website: "Crimmins brings The Hookers out to blast the room with Dixieland horns, rowdy ragtime piano and gypsy jazz guitar. Songs jump with a 1920's gaudiness, reminiscent of tawdry, dangerous jazz. While devious lyrics can mirror the sinister Charlestons they accompany, Crimmins also has a grab bag of torch songs at his disposal, spotlighting the loneliness of a life spent in the shadows."
The White Cosbys (ft. members of Same As It Ever Was) Cosmic Charlie’s, 388 Woodland Ave. 10 p.m., 18+, $8
Honky Tonk Night: The Kentucky Hoss Cats Willie's Locally Known, 805 North Broadway, 8 p.m., free.
Thursday Night Live presents Superfecta Cheapside Pavilion, 4:30 - 7:30, free.
The Whitehall Bear Al's Bar 601 North Limestone Street, 9 p.m.
Boogie G & the Titanics Parlay Social, 257 W. Short St, 8:30 p.m. Rock & Soul Revue.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24
23 String Band w/ Bloodroots Barter Cosmic Charlie’s, 388 Woodland Ave. 10 p.m., 18+, $10
The City Parlay Social, 257 W. Short St, 9:30 p.m.
Devine Carama presents Brown Sugar Hip Hop Showcase Al's Bar 601 North Limestone Street, 9 p.m.
Too Many Drummers Natasha's, 112 Esplanade, $5, 9 p.m.From the venue website: "Too Many Drummers is what happens when an accomplished finger style guitarist, a classically trained bass player, and two orchestral percussionists discover electric guitars. TMD's eclectic brand of rock has propelled them from the halls of a college dorm onto festival stages across the southeast. Their music can be described as a blend of the Police, Dave Matthews, and Incubus (with a bit of Bach thrown in for good measure)."
Don Gallardo & How Far West Willie's Locally Known, 805 North Broadway, 9 p.m., $5.
Hugh Laurie and the Copper Bottom Band Singletary Center, 405 Rose St., 7:30 p.m. New Orleans blues and "heritage tracks" performed by pianist Hugh Laurie, also known as the actor who portrays Dr. Gregory House on the television sitcom House.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25
Alma Gitana Natasha's 112 Esplanade Alley, 9 p.m.., $8. From the venue website: "Alma Gitana [Gypsy Soul] fuses musical styles and elements from countries and cultures throughout the Mediterranean--including Southern Spain, Morocco, Greece, Egypt and Lebanon. This versatile group brings to the stage a wealth of talent stemming from their collective diverse backgrounds including rock, West African, traditional Irish and Scottish, jazz, classical guitar, flamenco, Latin percussion and Arabic."
Know Your Own Festival University of Kentucky Student Center Lawn, 3 - 10 p.m., free and all ages. Feat. MATT DUNCAN, CROSS, WARREN BYROM, THREE LEGGED RACE, ANCIENT WARFARE, PEZHEAD, LIVE ISLAND, DUNEBUGGY ATTACK BATTALION, and more. Free all day festival of local bands presented by University of Kentucky student-run radio station WRFL.
Blind Corn Liquor Pickers Al's Bar, 601 North Limestone St., 9 p.m.
The Jompson Brothers Cosmic Charlie’s, 388 Woodland Ave. 10 p.m., 18+, $10.
Very Garcia Band Willie's Locally Known, 805 North Broadway, 10:30 p.m., $8.
The Mojos Parlay Social, 257 W. Short St, 9:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26
"It Don't Mean a Thing, if it Ain't Got That Swing" Natasha's, 112 Esplanade Alley, 1 p.m., $5. Benefit for the Hepcats Swing Club. From the venue website: "Get hep to the jive and boogie woogie on down to Natasha's and experience the original swing dances and music of the 1930's and 40's big band swing-era! You're welcome to bring your dancing shoes and join the Hepcats on the dance floor - or just enjoy watching the dancers with their flashy footwork, dips and tricks and high flying aerials.
DJ's from the Hepcats will keep the joint jumpin' & jivin' with great music from swing-era artists such as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, Artie Shaw, Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner and Wynonie Harris."
"Lady Day" Natasha's, 112 Esplanade Alley, 8 p.m., $15. From the venue website: "Balagula Presents pre-season production: Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Directed by Sidney Shaw, Starring Jessie Laine Powell as Billie Holiday. Get your reservations today for this LIMTED EDITION Balagula Presentation!
The time is 1959. The place is a seedy bar in Philadelphia. The audience is about to witness one of Billie Holiday's last performances, given four months before her death. More than a dozen musical numbers are interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music."