d’Visitors / Rocksteady@8 Tampa’s d’Visitors, fronted by Nikki Ferraro, touch on a variety of styles, from ska and reggae to funk and jazz. If I had to pick out one element that sets the band apart, it’s the prominent use of Brian Deeds’ vibraphone. Rocksteady@8 hews more closely to the reggae/ska thing. Fri., July 10, 9 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $6. —ES
[image-1]Smokehouse, Tampa, $7 in advance/$10 dos. —ES
Perpetual Groove I’ve seen this four-piece jamtronica ensemble (pictured) play a dozen or so times and in a range of settings, from danky bars to a stage nestled in a lovely stretch of valley in the North Carolina mountains. No matter what the backdrop, P-Groove delivers the dance-tastic goods, mixing electro with funk and country rock tastiness, and throwing in synthtastic covers of songs like the Butthole Surfers’ “Pepper,” “Naïve Melody” by the Talking Heads, and Peter Gabriel’s “Diggin’ in the Dirt.” ri., July 10, Crowbar, Ybor City, $15. —LP
Saturday, July 11
WMNF 4th Annual AmericanaFest feat. Blue Mountain/Ted Lukas & the Misled/Will Quinlan & the Diviners/Have Gun Will Travel/Thomas Wynn & the Believers/Nervous Turkey/Black Finger/Mike Dunn & the Kings of New England/Matt Butcher/Nine Volts/Roppongi's Ace Another multi-band genre-specific day-long bill hosted by ‘MNF and featuring all the usual roots music suspects. Headlining is alt-country purveyors Blue Mountain, a trio that hails from Oxford, Miss., and is fronted by formerly married duo Laurie Stirratt (bass and harmonies, twin sister of Wilco bass player John Stirratt) and Cary Hudson (guitar and vocals, recently named as one of the “Top 10 Alternative County Guitarists of All Time” by Gibson Magazine). A high-quality roster of area acts provide support. Sat., July 11, 3 p.m., Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa, $12 in advance/$15 dos. —LP
[image-2]classics like “La Grange” and “Tush.” Sat., July 11, 7:30 p.m., Ford Amphitheater, Tampa, $35-$175. —LP
Sons Of Hippies Album Release Party w/Geri X/GreyMarket/Villanova Junction “We’re hippies in essence and state of mind instead of being just poseurs,” singer/guitarist/key mistress Katherine Kelly told CL Saraosta in a recent interview about Sons of Hippies, her Sarasota-based duo with drummer/vocalist/synth master Jonas Canales. The music is driving, electro-psychedelic alt rock, guitars warped or watery or run through multiple effects to create layered textures, and accompanied by the sweet but aggressive lead vocals of Kelly with harmonies by Canales. The band celebrates the self-release of its first album, Warriors of the Light (pictured), at this Tampa show with some pretty heavy-hitting local alt artists rounding out the bill. Sat., July 11, New World Brewery, Ybor City, $7. —LP
Sunday, July 12
The Helios Jazz Orchestra feat. Rita Wilson The man behind the Emit series, David Manson, has thrown his energies into running and conducting a big band that specializes in backing singers. Helios performs swing, jazz and Latin standards, and for this gig will support featured vocalist Rita Wilson. Sun., July 12, Palladium Theater, St. Peterburg, $10. —ES
Ken Block CD Release Party If you’re a fan of Sister Hazel, you’ll probably be a fan of Ken Block’s solo fare. The AC rock band’s leader and primary songwriter is currently on tour in support of his debut solo album, 2008’s Drift, and makes a stop in Tampa’s Sister Hazel-friendly market. If you aren’t moved by that band’s acoustic guitar-driven melodies, nor are even a casual admirer, you may want to sit this one out. Sun., July 12, 5 p.m., Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa, $15 in advance/$18 dos. —LP
