Delta Moon ***
Darlings of the progressive blues scene, this exhilarating act from Atlanta boasts pop song craft and an unusual lineup featuring both a slide and a lap steel guitar.
Initially formed as a twin axe, blues-into-rock group in the classic tradition of The Stones and early Fleetwood Mac, they’ve come a long way over several years and five acclaimed indie CDs.
Initially fronted by a female singer, vocal duties are now handled by founding guitarist/keyboardist Tom Gray (former Brains leader and hit songwriter whose tunes have famously been covered by Cyndi Lauper among others).
Listen & Learn: deltamoon.com. Fri., 9 pm, Live Wire Music Hall.
Dickey Betts & Great Southern ***
Best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, this Florida-born guitarist and singer/songwriter originally served as a foil to the late Duane Allman, but upon that iconic musician’s untimely death, assumed the lead role. After being forced from that lineup in 2000 (after 31 years) amid allegations of substance abuse, he formed this group retaining much of the ABB feel. They’ve since released four albums, including a live DVD recorded at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum in 2005. The group —now featuring Dickey’s son Duane on guitar— throws in plenty of Betts’ ABB material, and has a reputation for blistering live sets. Listen & Learn: dickeybetts.com. Spare Parts open. $24 adv. tix for 18+ at shorelineballroom.com. Thurs., 9:15 pm, Shoreline Ballroom (Hilton Head).
The Ebony Hillbillies ***
One of the last remaining black string band’s in America (along with The Carolina Chocolate Drops, who recently graced our Savannah Music Fest), this tremendously praised NYC group plays an infectious, feelgood blend of 1920s - 1930s style pop, C & W, jazz, bluegrass and swing on fiddle, banjo, washboard and standup bass. This free appearance is part of the Telfair Museum’s “Juneteenth Celebration” commemorating the end of slavery in the USA, and local interest for this show is through the roof. Not able to make this gig? They’ll play a youth-oriented set the next morning a short walk away at the historic Owens-Thomas House. It’s part of a full day of music, crafts and tours starting at 10 am. More info: telfair.org. Listen & Learn: eh.singersauce.com. Fri., 6 pm, Jepson Center for The Arts - ALL-AGES.
Dangermuffin
This up-and-coming Charleston Americana trio has only been around for a couple years, but their new six-song EP is being spun on WNCW-FM, a terrific N.C. public radio station known for pushing roots-rock and bluegrass acts on to bigger things. With a dark and sometimes bittersweet approach that instantly recalls Neil Young’s edgier mid-’70s work as well as The Avett Brothers and the reverent revisionism of Ryan Adams, this is a band to watch. Alt.country combo Resonance opens. Listen & Learn: myspace.com/dangermuffin. Sat., 9 pm, Live Wire Music Hall.
Lipbone Redding
This trio of “voicestrumentalist” Redding (meaning he can accurately mimic trombone, harmonica, sax and trumpet with just his mouth), drummer Rich Zukor and standup bassist Jeff Eyrich, is one of the coolest bar and lounge acts to emerge from the NYC scene in ages. Party on the Fire Escape, their brand-new CD, is a festive, summery, spicy mélange of upbeat boogie, smooth jazz, ‘70s R & B, calypso and funky, N’awlins-inspired swing with a dash of what they call “Ghetto Soul”. Think Dion, Teddy Pendergrass and Paul Simon, and call it The Big Apple meets The Big Easy. For a few days, it can be downloaded free online at: lipbone.com. Fri. - Sat., 9 pm, Jazz’d Tapas Bar.
Switchfoot
This platinum-selling modern rock band started in the contemporary Christian scene, but transcended that by avoiding onstage proselytizing. They’ve become a bankable crossover act specializing in soul-searching lyrics and outsized, three-guitar riffage. Their latest hit comes from the soundtrack to the smash Christian fantasy film The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Listen & Learn: switchfoot.com. Openers include South Africa’s rising moody modern rock trio Civil Twilight and Columbia, S.C. indie-rockers Baumer. $18 adv. tix for ALL-AGES at shorelineballroom.com. Sun., 8 pm, Shoreline Ballroom (Hilton Head) - ALL-AGES.