www.roanoke.com

publicity.nonesuch.com

Tickets on sale Nov. 9. $25; students 1/2 price; Reserved Seating. 540-951-4771, thelyric.com.

I haven't seen these guys, but I heard that they destroyed Kirk Avenue Music Hall almost exactly a year ago. Here's the advance story we did on that show, featuring guitarist Chris "Critter" Eldridge, a founding member of the Infamous Stringdusters.

Everyone in this act is a monster player. The Village Voice called them "five wily, omnivorous bluegrass titans."

Bummer. K'Naan is out. Fitz and the Tantrums are in.

Thanks for the heads-up to my colleague, Amy Matzke-Fawcett, in the New River Bureau.

http://blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/newrivernotebook/2009/11/02/opening-act-for-maroon-5-concert-changed/

Jason Aldean

Looks like Salem Civic Center is trying to go head-to-head with Roanoke Civic Center these days. Just after RCC announced its on-sale date for Tim McGraw/Lady Antebellum tickets, its neighbor to the west announced that another pair of country music hitmakers, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, are headed to the Salem shed.

The Aldean show is Feb. 4. Tickets go on sale Monday at the Salem Civic Center box office, 375-3004, and ticketmaster.com. Prices are listed at $34.75 and $29.75.

As we reported last week, Tim McGraw headlines a show at Roanoke Civic Center on Feb. 19.

The civic center announced today that tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Nov. 6 at the venue's ticket office, at RoanokeCivicCenter.com and by phone at (877) 722-8496. According to a civic center news release, get information about the online ticket request period and general public on-sale dates at timmcgraw.com.

Tickets will also be on sale at LiveNation.com, according to a news release from that promoter.

No word yet on ticket prices. Will update.

The Farewell Drifters

Britt, mandolinist and storyteller of the band, took some time out as the Farewell Drifters got ready for a road trip that will bring them to Roanoke's Kirk Avenue Music Hall on Thursday. We shoot the breeze and stream two new FD songs -- "River Song" and "Please Dream of Me Tonight."

More podcasts

• blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/cutnscratch/category/podcasts

MerleFest has announced its 2010 lineup. Highlights include Elvis Costello, The Lee Boys, Corey Harris, The Avett Brothers, Dailey & Vincent, Jerry Douglas and John Hammond -- and of course, The Waybacks with John Cowan at the Hillside Album Hour. If you saw Cowan with the 'backs at Kirk Avenue Music Hall earlier this month, you know what I mean.

The fest runs April 29 - May 2. www.docsguitar.com.

Full list follows.

Read more »

Country music hitmaker (and Faith Hill husband) Tim McGraw is coming to Roanoke Civic Center on Feb. 19, according to both McGraw's Web site and pollstar.com.

Lady Antebellum and The Lost Trailers are scheduled to open the show, according to pollstar.

The event is not yet listed on the Roanoke Civic Center Web site, and tickets are not yet available for purchase at McGraw's site. So leave the civic center alone for now, kids. Just mark your calendars, if you're into this stuff.

McGraw last played Roanoke in 2004. Read our review of that show.

Lady Antebellum played Salem Civic Center last year, Nov. 14. Hear a podcast with the band's Dave Haywood.

Q Prime South

Church has been making hits and winning fans over the past year with his CD, "Carolina." Look for a podcast and a story with Church next month.

Details: 8 p.m. Jefferson Center, Roanoke. $22.50 plus $2 fee. 345-2550, jeffcenter.org, ericchurch.com.

michalgarcia.com

The amazing Snarky Puppy hits Martin's Downtown Bar & Grill, Roanoke, on Friday. Read story, get show details.

Bassist/songwriter/arranger Michael League talks about what's been happening with the band -- it just got signed to Ropeadope Digital, which is great news for the act -- and we stream songs from Snarky Puppy's CD, "Bring Us The Bright."

More podcasts

• blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/cutnscratch/category/podcasts

Trailer Choir brings its song "Rockin' The Beer Gut" and other to Salem Civic Center Friday. Get details at Top Tickets. Here, we talk to singer Crystal as she cabs it around Las Vegas.

More podcasts

• blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/cutnscratch/category/podcasts