Weekend Picks: Del McCoury, Nighthawks, No BS! Brass Band, Afro-Zen Allstars, Atkinsons, Instant Karma

This is a long weekend for some of you, so no excuse for not getting out and seeing some live music. Besides Martin Luther King Day, state workers also get a day off on Friday for Lee-Jackson Day, which is, of course, a celebration of Bruce Lee and Samuel L. Jackson.

Speaking of Friday, that's your first of three, count 'em, three chances to see Afro-Zen Allstars. They'll be celebrating the release of their first CD, "Greatest Hits", all weekend. Their long weekend starts at Garden Grove Brewing Company Friday evening from 8 - 11. Don't cost nothin' to get in.

You can catch them next at Plan 9 in Carytown on Saturday afternoon from 1 - 2:30 where they will perform in-store. Here's a little taste of their "World Jazz and Global Grooves":



Finally, they'll be opening for No BS! Brass Band's Ten Year Anniversary Party at The Broadberry Saturday night. This will also be a great chance to check out the new bathrooms at The Broadberry. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited about not having to fight through the crowd at the front of the stage when I gotta go. No BS is promising surprises and guests for the show. Doors open at 8, Afro-Zen Allstars go on at 9. $10 to get in. Let's go with an oldie but a goodie, here's No BS on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert in 2013:



Fan of the lads from Liverpool and like to late lunch? Head to Cary St. Cafe Saturday afternoon for Instant Karma, a Beatles and Lennon tribute band. They'll play from 2 - 6 and it's free to get in. Perhaps they'll play this one for the president elect.



Long running blues band The Nighthawks (feat. Rev. Billy C. Wirtz) are at The Tin Pan Saturday night. Doors open at 6, show starts at 8, no opener listed. Tix are $18 advance, $22 at the door. Here's the band last month in NYC:

Legendary bluegrass musician Del McCoury is at The Beacon Theatre in Hopewell Saturday. Doors open at 6:30, the show starts sometime after that with a guest TBA. Tix range from $30 - $100. Here's Del and the band ringing in the New Year at Bluegrass Underground in Cumberland Caverns.

The Atkinsons play the Americana music at Poe's Pub Saturday night. Mike Koehler will kick off the music at 9:30, with The Atkinsons on after. There may be a slight cover charge. Here they are talking about "Lyin' and Honesty":



That'll do it. I may see at Plan 9 Saturday for Afro-Zen Allstars, Instant Karma for lunch at Cary St. Cafe and then the Broadberry for No BS. Could be a fun music day. Here's another one for Trump and the hope for a pees-ful transition.



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan