Ellington

The biggest news in local nightlife this week has to be the return of the super size club in the old Headliner's location on Ridgewood Road, just south of County Line Road. You may have heard radio advertisements for "Rain." Since that time it has been dubbed "The Spot." Inside "The Spot" in the old Headliner's location you'll find a hip-hop dance club (aka. The Hot Spot), The Sports Spot, the large live music concert hall, Miller's Pizzeria and Smokehouse BBQ. Now that they're open, ROCK 93.9 will be sponsoring some big shows there so it looks like we have another large concert room back to accommodate some bigger national acts. Can I have an Amen?

My absolute favorite day trip to Vicksburg is incomplete without a stop by the jam-packed Attic Gallery on Washington Street. As if the eclectic stacks of exquisite art wasn't enough you can now hear live music in their newly named Highway 61 Coffeehouse room. Call 601-638-9221 if you need directions.

One of the most exciting indie rock shows to hit Jackson in some time is the Atlanta based Snowden at W.C. Don's Thursday, August 31. Take all that synth/guitar driven, hip post-Duran Duran New Wave like Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, The Clientele and Bloc Party and start the party. This is the one not to miss. Be sure to download a few mp3s at www.snowden.info .

Other shows to mark on your calendar are the legendary T-Model Ford with Lightnin Malcolm at Martin's, Friday, September 1. Tickets are on sale now for Isaac Hayes at Vicksburg's Ameristar Casino September 15-16, Devon Allman's Honeytribe at Hal & Mal's September 20, Bonnie Raitt and Keb' Mo' at Thalia Mara Hall September 26.

It is a rare opportunity when a for real international World/Reggae band performs live in Jackson. At all cost, praise Jah and get thyself to W.C. Don's on Tuesday, September 5 and see the Nigerian band Victor Essiet & the Mandators. They will be supporting their newly released ninth album, "One Love One World" produced by the Jamaican multi-Grammy-winning duo Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. From high-energy reggae to African Roots World Beat, to Marley covers, don't miss it. Check them out at www.victoressiet.com .

Herman Snell