Ellington

It's been some time since a Sub Pop artist has been to Jackson. This Wednesday night (July 2), Los Angeles experimental duo No Age will be stopping in at 121 Studios in the Millsaps Arts District. Joining them for the all-ages show is Abe Vigoda and Infinite Body, 9 p.m.; $7. These Sonic Youth-bred young DIY pop-punks don't get this direction from Cali very often, so tell your friends and support 121 Studios as the next new thing. Besides, No Age's latest CD "Nouns" got an unheard-of 9.2 rating on Pitchfork!

Knowing that, like me, you live for the weekends, you are probably in countdown mode for the three-day July 4 weekend. After you're done grilling, head over to the annual Northpark Mall Balloon Glow starting at 6:30 p.m. with country artist Steve Azar to perform at 9:30 p.m. The must-see local shows next weekend are the CD release parties for local indie-rock favorites The Weeks, Saturday, July 5. The Esperanza Plantation all-ages label showcase and BBQ Bonanza begins at 4 p.m. at Swell-o-Venue in Fondren with The Weeks, Tommy and the Whale and Allie Peden, $7.

If you're up for a road trip on your three-day weekend, head to the Biloxi Fairgrounds for WCPR Alt.Rock music-fest on Saturday, July 5. The lineup includes POD, Puddle of Mudd, Shinedown, 10 Years, Toadies, Tantric, Stereohype and Saving Abel. Then, hit up Ringo Starr that night at Beau Rivage. Tickets are $75-$100. Blue Mountain will be at the annual Potts Camp Hill Country Picnic in Potts Camp, Miss., on July 5. Entry to both days of performances is $30. But stay tuned. Their CD release party for all new Blue Mountain alt. country goodness will be at Hal & Mal's Aug. 15.

For a shorter drive, but no less fun, the Saturday jaunt is to see Little Richard at the Silverstar in Choctaw, 8 p.m. Tom Waits is at the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham on July 3.

Further down the line is Robert Plant and Alison Krauss at Mud Island in Memphis July 8, and Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy in the Crescent City July 9. The summer mother load of Lollapalooza in Chicago is but a month away. Aug. 1-3, and a doable day's carpool up I-55 (11 hours, 700 miles). It's a great line-up of Radiohead, Rage, Love & Rockets, and hot new artists like Yeasayer. Visit Lollapalooza for more info.