The Bridger Folk Music Society is stretching a bit for its season-ending concert, attracting renowned blues artist Janiva Magness to Logan tonight for what is sure to be a memorable show. Magness beat out the likes of Shemekia Copeland, Susan Tedeschi and Marcia Ball to win the 2006 Blues Music Award for Best Contemporary Female Artist, and her ease in blending jazz, blues and soul has made her a critical darling from coast to coast. The show is tonight at 7:30 in the Eccles Conference Center Auditorium on the Utah State University campus. Tickets are $14 at the door.
What the world needs now: Cracker is one of those bands perpetually on tour, and we're glad for it. David Lowery has always been one of our favorite songwriters, whether playing with his old band Camper Van Beethoven or with the more straightforward rockers of Cracker. Expect a slew of familiar songs - "Low," "Eurotrash Girl" - when Cracker headlines tonight at 9 at Park City's Suede, 1612 Ute Blvd. Tickets are $20 at SmithsTix outlets and the door.
The nice price: Rarely will I encourage anyone to go to a mall on purpose, but the Journeys Backyard BBQ Tour stopping at Sandy's South Towne Center, 10450 S. State St., Saturday is a pretty good reason to suspend that rule. You get free music, featuring Utah-based acts Postcards Home, Ivy League, The Brobecks and Meg & Dia, plus pro skaters, BMXers and motocross cats doing live demos on a 60,000-foot "alternative sports playground" built nearby. The show starts at noon, and it's free.
True Utah flavor: The Excellence in the Community Concert Series continues Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with "Red Rock Rondo," a cycle of songs about Zion Canyon composed by Phil Bimstein and performed by him and the multitalented Red Rock Rondo players: Hal Cannon, Kate MacLeod, Harold Carr, Flavia Cerviño-Wood and Charlotte Bell. The show is at the Emma Eccles Jones Conservatory on the Westminster College campus, 1250 E. 1700 South, Salt Lake City; tickets are $12 at Hires Big H restaurants, Holladay Pharmacy and the door.
Dance with the stars: If you've caught wind of the emergence of modern burlesque in the past couple of years, perhaps you think you'd like to get involved yourself. Saturday is your lucky day, as the local Slippery Kittens Burlesque troupe hosts an Amateur Burlesque Contest at Bar Deluxe, 666 S. State St., Salt Lake City, as part of the group's spring fundraiser. The contest will be judged by '40s burlesque queen Dee Milo and retro performer Anida Spanken, and there will be live music by Anything That Moves, a performance by the Slippery Kittens themselves and, just to show these naughty gals have a soft side, a bake sale! Doors open at 9 p.m.; cover is $5.
Roll out: If you've had enough of the hoopla surrounding the Utah Jazz, let me suggest another sport worthy of your attention. Saturday night marks the season-opening home bout of the Salt City Derby Girls crew, with the Death Dealers facing the Leave It to Cleavers in a match billed as "Breakin' You: Electric Boogaloo." Not only do you get all the fast, violent action of the bout itself; there are also break dancers moving to the sounds of DJ Sam I Am, and adult beverages available from The Bayou. The bout is Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Olympic Oval, 5662 S. 4800 West, Kearns. Tickets are $10 in advance at www.slcderby.com or $15 at the door.
Shake your hips: Nothing suckers me into listening to a new band faster than reading said band delivers "jangly pop." I'm happy to report Portland's Shaky Hands believes in truth in advertising. The band's self-titled debut should appeal to indie-rock kids not afraid to get a groove on, thanks to instantly catchy cuts like "Whales Sing" and "Why & How Come." Monday at 7:30 p.m., The Shaky Hands headline Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, Salt Lake City, with Kid Theodore, Marcus Bently and Glade Sowards opening. Tickets are $6 at 24tix.com and the door.
Oink oink: Animal Collective might be the oddest group in recent memory to form a serious grassroots following. The New York-via-Maryland group is experimental to the nth degree, combining folk elements with atonal noise-rock in virtually hook-free songs. Occasionally the group's two primary vocalists, Avey Tare and Panda Bear, lock into harmonies that reveal a penchant for Beach Boys-style pop majesty - check "Tikwid" on the group's "People" EP - but sometimes the faux-childishness is grating. Tuesday at 7 p.m., Animal Collective headlines In the Venue, 219 S. 600 West, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $13 in advance, $15 day of show, at SmithsTix outlets and the door.
Dark days: In what is sure to be one of the loudest shows of late to land at Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, Salt Lake City, Austin's Black Angels are descending on Salt Lake with their patented brand of droning guitar noise and psychedelic rock. Joining the bill is retro-rockin' buzz-band Vietnam, similar to the Black Angels in its obvious Velvet Underground worship. Tolchock Trio opens the show Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $8, available at 24tix.com and the door.
Spooky stuff: If you have an itch for loud, abrasive, discordant gutter-rock with enough hooks to get your booty moving, The Old Haunts might be your band. The Washington trio (featuring Tobi Vail on drums, "famous" for her stints in Bikini Kill and as Kurt Cobain's girlfriend) is touring in support of "Fuel on Fire," an incendiary set that arrived last year. Thursday at 9 p.m., the Old Haunts headline The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City, with openers TBA. Tickets are $8 at 24tix.com and the door.
