Heavy Dates

Worcester/Allston rock gods Garrison celebrate the release of their long-awaited Revelation Records debut this Saturday at the Space. Also slated to play are Bluetip, Shiner, and the usually-terrific Six Going on Seven. Remember lite-rock-sensation Taylor "Tell It to My Heart" Dayne? Well, she's still around and playing a freebie show (though donations for the American Cancer Society are encouraged) at East Park. Also on Saturday, Wortown rap takes another big step when Billy Pain leads the pack in a night of action at Cafe Abba. Pain releases his excellent debut disc, Scorpion Summer (3rd Degree), along with opening sets from Mingo, L.I.Z., Unek Approach and the Nasty Love Band, Unravel, DJ Chill, and DJ Cool Chris. Meanwhile the Java Hut features Andy Cummings; Controlled Aggression head the line-up at the Lucky Dog, and Downchild let loose the funk at Commercial Street. What happened to Doc Hopper? Since winning the 'BCN Rumble these guys have been bitten by "the curse" worse than most. Which is a shame, cuz they're still a great band. Why the hell they're opening the festivities this Sunday at the Funny Bones Cafe is anyone's guess, but it ain't sittin' well with us. They're followed by the less-than-immortal Felix Frump and xbrx. How cruel is that? On a happier note the Space will be jam packed and rockin' with a bill that includes the ultra-cool Cave-In, Discordance Axis, and Isis. Tuesday brings an interesting roster to the Lucky Dog's acoustic night. Mike Duffy plays slightly skewered folk, Mark Fisher bends toward heartbreak roots, and White Knuckle Sobriety drink cheap beer and do whatever it is they do. The LD also hosts Garrison's CD-release party next Thursday (July 1). Go early, as Worcester's Jujitsu, Nobody's Hero, Slow Fore, and Coal Mare open. All are new bands to keep an eye on.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

You've got your pick of swampified soul at two spicy shindigs this weekend. On June 26 from noon to 9 outdoors at the Tsongas Arena Riverfront Grounds, (978) 897-4663, in Lowell, the Mohegan Sun-sponsored "Bayou Bash" features N'awlins legend Dr. John, local mattress-hawking jam-band faves Entrain, the Fat City Band, the Boogaloo Swamis, mod-punk outlaws the Shods, and Dell and Exit In. And on June 26 and 27 at the Stepping Stone Ranch, (401) 885-9219, in Escoheag, Rhode Island -- the site, for the past 10 years, of the Big Easy Cajun Fest -- the Ragin' Cajun Rhythm and Blues Fest includes CJ and His Red Hot Louisiana Band, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Dirty Rice, Dave Howard and the High Rollers, and Johnny and the East Coast Rockers.

Bonnie Raitt opens up the season of the Pines Theater Summer Music Festival, (800) 843-8425, in Northampton, on June 29; she won't be back this way again until August 26 at the Tweeter Center, (617) 931-2000, in Mansfield. Alterna-folkie queen Mary Lou Lord shows up at the Iron Horse, (413) 584-0610, in Northampton, on June 25. And Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, (401) 272-5876, in Providence, hosts exclusive area dates for grand-guignol-style metal heroes GWAR on June 27, reggae great Jimmy Cliff on June 30, and NY old-school hardcore stalwarts Sick of It All -- on tour with Good Riddance, In My Eyes, and Kid Dynamite -- on July 1, in a show originally scheduled for Boston's Tremont Temple.

Superb grindcore act Soilent Green, who put out the vinyl version of their Sewn Mouth Secrets on Hydrahead, hit the Met Café, (401) 861-2142, in Providence, on July 2.

-- Carly Carioli