Concert for a Cure 2009
Hard-touring, local “Y’allternative” band WormsLoew (fresh off an opening slot for legendary Southeastern roots-pop combo Jupiter Coyote in Hilton Head) headlines —and organizes— this lengthy, multi-band modern rock, pop and southern soul benefit concert to raise money and awareness for the research and treatment of breast cancer. Held in tandem with St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital and the Thunderbolt Fire Dept., the musical party also includes sets by rising Athens, Ga. band Lullwater, Florence, S.C.’s buzzworthy group Sequoyah Prep School, as well as regional singer-songwriters Jason Courtenay and Jared Wade, Adam Wilson and Caleb Grimes. This sports bar and restaurant just a few blocks East of the intersection of Victory Dr. and Skidaway Ave. is starting to hold more high-profile shows of this sort in the warm weather months, and deserves props for supporting the local music community in this way. Listen & Learn: myspace.com/wormsloew, myspace.com/sequoyahprepschool, myspace.com/lullwatermusic. $10 cover with all proceeds going to charity. Sat., 4 pm - 10 pm - ALL-AGES.
Dubconscious
This award-winning Athens, Ga.-based reggae-ish nonet (who’ve been named Best Local R&B, Funk & Reggae Band in the Classic City by Flagpole Magazine) return for a one-night stand at this popular River St. venue. Known for deep, deep grooves firmly rooted in the hypnotic combination of reverb-drenched dub beats and soulful, uplifting odes to spiritual awareness and brotherly love, their road schedule has taken them to almost every state in the nation. Dyed-in-the-wool Rasta fans will no doubt be packing the joint (so to speak), as well as folks who dig the current wave of groove-oriented music by the likes of Thievery Corporation and STS9, both of whom have this group has been likened to. Listen & Learn: myspace.com/dubconscious. $8 adv./$10 at door. Sat., 10 pm.
The Savannah Winds ***
This venerable community wind ensemble features professional musicians, music educators and devoted amateurs, and is one of the largest such groups in the country. There are two chances to catch them this weekend. First, they’ll play a free “Pops on The River” show downtown featuring works by Johnny Mercer, Leroy Anderson and George Gershwin (and cap that off with a fireworks display set to patriotic tunes), and conveniently, two days later their ticketed, indoor “Ed and Friends” concert (with a similar setlist) takes place on the Southside. Either one of these thrilling, accomplished recitals is bound to delight and entrance young and old alike. Fri., dusk, River St.’s Rousakis Plaza + Sun., 3 pm, AASU Fine Arts Center ($14 with discounts for military, students, seniors and children — adv. tix at finearts.armstrong.edu/ticketsales.html).
Robin & Linda Williams
Although this husband-and-wife duo have been performing since 1971, it was their appearance on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion radio show (the first of countless such guest slots to come) in 1976 that first put them on the international map. They’ve since toured with Mary Chapin Carpenter and added their trademark vocal harmonies to her Grammy-winning album Stones in the Road. Chart-topping Americana artists in their own right, they appeared alongside Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and others in the late Robert Altman’s filmic adaptation of Keillor’s beloved variety show broadcast, and have wowed audiences at such esteemed venues and outlets as The Grand Ole Opry, Austin City Limits, Music City Tonight and Mountain Stage. This gig finds them getting up close and personal with right at 100 lucky audience members in a smoke and alcohol-free, family-oriented acoustic listening room just a few minutes outside of Savannah. Tickets to these shows often sell out quickly, so call 748-1930 to charge yours ASAP. Listen & Learn: robinandlinda.com. $25 in adv. or at the door. Thurs., 8 pm, Randy Wood’s Concert Hall (1304 E. Hwy 80, Bloomingdale) - ALL-AGES.