Ellington

If you rush for your weekly JFP on Wednesdays when it hits the stands, tonight is your last chance to see the Broadway percussion performance "Stomp!" at Thalia Mara Hall. As we go to press, tickets are still available at the box office at 601-981-1847, $15-$55.

Downtown continues to cook things up Friday night with the free annual street party Jacktoberfest on Congress Street, between Amite and Lamar. It starts at 11 a.m. with the Raphael Semmes Trio on your lunch break for folks that work downtown. The festival continues through the afternoon and into the night, so head back after work to hear the Delta Mountain Boys at 5:40 p.m. and regional roots favorites Blue Mountain from 9:30-11 p.m. Check the JFP music listings for a complete schedule.

On rare occasions, I run across an artist so immense that he transcends his genre and widens his audience on the sheer power of his talent. The blue-eyed soul of the Mike Zito Band at Martin's this Friday night, Oct. 17, is such a talent. His covers of "Rocket Man" and "Little Red Corvette" are so astoundingly smooth, you must try them on at mikezito.com. Truly, if you want to chill and bring your lover in your arms just like Aaron Neville and John Mayer would, you must abide.

If you prefer old-school blues, The Musicians are back in the historic Alamo Theatre on Farish Street this Friday night with their monthly Jazz, Blues and More series. Admission is $5; 7:30-9:30 p.m. And if you live in Madison, you don't have to go far to hear good music. Also Friday night, the Rhonda Richmond Jazz Combo is at Jazz & Java Café from 7-10 p.m., free. Area favorites Bernard and the B-Kats are back at 930 Blues Café this weekend, too.

This Friday and Saturday nights, the Pearl River Resort in Choctaw is hosting the Ground Zero Blues Fest, 6 p.m.-until both days. Ground Zero is Morgan Freeman's blues club in Clarksdale. They bring in top-dollar acts this weekend with Eddie Cotton and Bobby Rush playing both nights with the Fabulous Thunderbirds among others on Friday night. Solomon Burke headlines Saturday. Check out the whole line up in the JFP music calendar; free. If you want to drop a coin closer to home, you can see Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funkmonster at the Ameristar in Vicksburg Friday and Saturday, 7-11 p.m.

Saturday night in Jacktown is just as rock solid as Friday night. Club Fire downtown is amping up their game with the fun-loving New Orleans rock favorites Cowboy Mouth Saturday night. The show is $12 if you're 21-plus, $18 if you're 18-20 years old. You can sample tracks from the band's newly released album "Fearless" at cowboymouth.com.

Saturday gets more diverse with New Orleans indie-alternative rockers Rotary Downs at Martin's. Also Saturday, Skipp Coon and Mr. Nick bring the love for their CD release party at One to One Studios (121 Millsaps Avenue) at 9 p.m. with an afterparty at Seven*Studioz. If you want to see the best local hip-hop talent do big things, this is the show to see what's up. For hip-hop infused with some southern rock, check out Atlanta-based Rehab at Fire Monday, Oct. 20.

The annual all-ages Voodoo Music Experience is next weekend in New Orleans Oct. 24-26. There are 130 bands over three days; pay $50 for a day or $125 for the three-day arm band, which goes up to $150 at the gate. Get the schedule and tickets at thetenthritual.com.