Get out this week!

Here's a sample of some of the happenings this week, compliments of my friend, Sierra Madre Sue.

THURS. 8/23 - RICK SHEA AND THE LOSIN' END @ ARCADIA BLUES CLUB, 8-11:30pm, with special guest MIKE STINSON do ing the middle set at 9pm. 16 E. Huntington Dr. 626-447-9349. $5 cover - goes to the guest band. N ightly beer and cocktail specials, free pool & 2 great musical acts with frequent surprise guests - what a bargain! Honky Tonk Blues & Country every Thursday nite!

FRI. 8/24 - PRESTON SMITH @ BARRU IN MONTROSE, 9pm - 12ish. 2265 Honolulu Ave. 818-957-8800. Full kitchen & bar - fancy martinis! Jazz duo, but it sounds like there's 4 or 5 guys on stage! http:// prestonsmith.com/

SAT. 8/25 - SNOTTY SCOTTY & THE HANKIES @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9PM. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, lots of free parking in back. It's always a gas with the Hankies! My brother Rick will be in town - "the unknown Behrens"!

SUN. 8/26 - BARRY "BIG B" BRENNER @ FIREFLY BISTRO IN SOUTH PASADENA, 11am - 2pm. 1009 El Centro. 626-441-2443. BLUES Brunch under a big breezy tent. http://www.bigbbrenner.com/

SUN. 8/26 - GRANT PARK SOFTBALL - ALL ARE WELCOME! NOT A LEAGUE - JUST FOR FUN. CORNER OF CORDOVA & MICHIGAN IN PASADENA, 3 BLOCKS WEST OF PCC. BATTING PRACTICE 12:30, GAME TIME ASAP. BRING YOUR GLOVE, BAT, CHAIR, ICE CHEST, ETC. EVERY SUNDAY.....

SUN. 8/26 - have lunch with NEW ASTROTURF @ CAFE 322 IN SIERRA MADRE, 1:30 - 4:30pm. 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-836-5414. Full bar and great Italian food. Bring the family. I am!

THURS. 8/30 - LOS LOBOS @ THE SANTA MONICA PIER'S TWILIGHT DANCE SERIES, 7:30pm. FREE. http://www.twilightdance.org/

THURS. 8/30 - RICK SHEA AND THE LOSIN' END @ ARCADIA BLUES CLUB, 8-11:30pm, with special guest J.D. CRAWFORD do ing the middle set at 9pm. 16 E. Huntington Dr. 626-447-9349. $5 cover - goes to the guest band. N ightly beer and cocktail specials, free pool & 2 great musical acts with frequent surprise guests - what a bargain! Honky Tonk Blues & Country every Thursday nite!

FRI. 8/31 - PRESTON SMITH @ BARRU IN MONTROSE, 9pm - 12ish . 2265 Honolulu Ave. 818-957-8800. Full kitchen & bar - fancy martinis! Jazz duo. http:// prestonsmith.com/

FRI. 8/31 - KINGSIZE MAYBE & KARMA @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9ish. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, lots of free parking in back. Garage/Southern Rock is what KSM's website says. Not sure about Karma.

FRI. 8/31 & SAT. 9/1 - "THE SUBS" (Better Than Blue's acoustic alter ego) @ the DOCKSIDE in WEST COVINA, 7:30 - 11:30pm. 3057 E. Garvey Ave. North. 626-915-3474. Joe Velosa, Danny Hesse, Felicia Bright. Acoustic rock, soul & blues. http://www.wearethesubs.com/

SAT. 9/1 - DAVE OSTI @ THE EASTSIDE BOOK CAFE IN BIG BEAR CITY, 7 - 8pm -one set only. Original songs from Dave's 2007 CD "In The West". 409 W. Big Bear Blvd. 909-584-8910. I was up there last weekend and checked out the venue - a very cool used book store with several rooms of books, cozy furniture and a cafe as well. I also called KBHR 93.3 FM and requested some Dave and minutes later they played 2 of his songs, flanked by Stevie Wonder and Glenn Frey - pretty decent company, I'd say! Way to go Dave!!!

SAT. 9/1 - Open Mic Night @ the FRETHOUSE in Covina. 309 N. Citrus Ave. (626) 339-7020. Always on the first Saturday of the month, and just one dollar for performers or audience. Sign-up starts at 7:30. If there aren't enough slots for everybody they'll make a list for the next month, and call you. Each act gets two songs or ten minutes, whichever comes first. The show starts at 8:00. They'll have desserts and coffee ready. Bring your friends and family and join the show! www.covina.com/frethouse/

SAT. 9/1 - JEFF STETSON and THE B.O. TRIO PLAY A "MIXED BAG AND SOME BLUES" AT ZEPHYR COFFEE HOUSE IN PASADENA, 8:30 - 10pm. 2419 E. Colorado Blvd., just E. of Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-793-7330. Soups, sandwiches, coffee, tea, smoothies, etc.

SAT. 9/1 - MURPHY'S FLAW @ BEAN TOWN IN SIERRA MADRE, 8 - 11pm. 45 N. Baldwin Ave. 626-355-1596. Soups, sandwiches, desserts, coffee drinks, etc. Paul Dorn's OTHER Bluegrass band! Also appearing - Stephanie Bettman & the Boys.

SAT. 9/1 - HORSES ON ASTROTURF @ THE BUCCANEER LOUNGE IN SIERRA MADRE, 9PM. 70 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 626-355-9045. Full bar, no cover, lots of free parking in back. Labor Day Weekend show/Joan's b-day party!

SUN. 9/2 - WRECK 'N' SOW @ BARN BURNER RESTAURANT IN PASADENA, 5 - 8pm. 1000 S. Fair Oaks Ave. 626-403-RIBS. Still haven't been there yet. Bluegrass.