Ooh la la is as good of an opening as any as we venture into the mid-November music time. Let’s take a look at what’s in store for the week before Thanksgiving and Black Friday happenings.

Wake up to Thursday night with a “James Armstrong Presents” show at The Alamo featuring the friendly and famous Johnny Rawls from 6 to 9 p.m. The award-winning Mississippi native is steeped in the traditions of blues and soul with a lifetime of experience to back it up. On Friday, a couple blocks away at the Brewhaus, The Cold Stares, an electric guitar and drum duo based out of Nashville, bring their rocking, bluesy sound back to town. Chris and Brian are set to release Head Bent on Small Stone Records in February 2017 and will surely play cuts from the new disc.

The Motorvators, our tribute to real, live rock-n-roll featuring Paul Verticchio, Stuart Smith, Tony Berkman and yours truly on the bass guitar (with a nod to original member and regular rocker the late Doug Oakley) play George Rank’s on Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. On Saturday night, Rank’s “round bar” hosts Josh Reilly, in town from sunny Florida to play a set. Western Empire, Joshua Catalano’s latest vehicle for presenting his vast catalogue of original musical plays next, followed by Josh Catalano and the Dirty Thoughts to finish off the night with a bang.

On Saturday night, everyone’s favorite modern day, outlaw country performer Dallas Moore brings the full band onslaught to the friendly confines of the Capital City Bar and Grill. Moore hails from the greater Cincinnati area but makes his home on the road, logging some 300 dates a year in the Midwest and across the country. His latest record, Dallas Moore from the Bullitt County Jail, on Sol Records hit the streets in early October. Also on the Jeb Brown Productions bill is very good singer-songwriter Josh Morningstar, a Nashville-based writer with a cut by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard to his credit. Our local contribution to this high-flying show comes from the The Fireside Relics, doing original music and cool covers with Timmy Lynch behaving well as master of ceremonies.

Sunday, the singing Reilly boys (Brian, Josh and John) host a celebration of the 40th wedding anniversary of their folks, Tom and Karen, around 5 p.m. at Floyd’s Thirst Parlor. Always big supporters of local, live music, the happy couple encouraged many a musician, including their sons, by just being there to listen and enjoy. As the Reilly’s continue into the next generation, my guess says there will be more music makers in the family. Musicians are invited to perform for fun in appreciation of the event, and family, friends and children are all welcome to join in the party.

I just heard from our musical friend Marina V asking for help in bringing back the LevittAMP concerts to Jacksonville in 2017. The successful series hosts performers on the square every week through the summer, paid for by a Levitt Foundation grant. Go to the Jacksonville Main Street Facebook page or straight to the LevittAMP grants page by Nov. 22 to cast your vote for returning this cool happening to J’ville.

Thanks to a tip from Terry Killian, host along with his wife Becky of the Paris-Belle House concert series, we need to send large congratulations to the Springfield Sound Celebration Sweet Adeline Chorus. The singers, under the direction of Terry Ludwig, placed third in the Harmony Classic, Division A, last October in Las Vegas during the Sweet Adelines International Convention. The local group’s website posted a YouTube version of the placing performance.

Prepare thyself for the upcoming night before Thanksgiving happening soon.

Contact Tom Irwin at [email protected].