Battle of the Bands, and more

Hello Music Fans --

Last night we had a great night of jamming at Dough Re Mi, and a big crowd to cheer the musicians on -- lots of fun! This Weds night features your usual choices, the Mad River Blues Happy Hour from 4-7pm with Shrimp City Slim, the Awendaw Green barn jam, and Smoky's Bowens Island Jam. Thursday night is Tim Shaw's jam in Summerville at Time Well Spent, and for something extra special, there's a Blues and BBQ cruise as well (tix $39.50, 722-1112), 6:30-9:30, with Shrimp City Slim and friends.

Shrimp's a busy guy -- he'll be at Kiawah's Freshfields Village on Friday evening, too. And the Dough has Wares Jamming and the Healing Friday night, 10 pm.

Then there's an awesome two-day festival at Awendaw Green on Saturday and Sunday: the Youth Gives Back Fest, with 30 bands (!) -- a mix of youth bands and some of Charleston's premiere bands as well. Some of my favorites include the Wyatt Garey Band, Bodies Full of Magic, the Explorers Club, the Whisperjets, Trouble in Transit, and Leslie. See the whole list of bands at www.awendawgreen.com -- tix are only $20 for the weekend, and it's a benefit for Camp Happy Days, so it's a great cause, too!

Saturday night you may have to leave the festival a little bit early, to get over to Rendezvous for the second round of the Lowcountry Blues Challenge Battle of the Bands, 7832 Rivers Avenue, in the old K&W Cafeteria building. We'll have Jojo Wall, Steve & the Stilettos, and Dan Wright -- good stuff! Admission is only $5, and it's from 7-11pm.

And as if that weren't enough, Skye Paige tells us that she'll be playing with an awesome line-up at the Music Farm Saturday night: the Defilers, the Sandinistas, and more, only $5.

Sunday continues with the Youth Gives Back Fest at Awendaw Green, then it's time to collapse in bed and sleep till your Monday morning alarm goes off. . .

Lmw, Aug 5, 2009