Gigs around town

By Brett Milano

FRIDAY

BOSTON CELTIC MUSIC FEST

A two-night feast of Irish, Scottish and Cape Breton music. Tonight, the groups Plaiditude and Long Time Courting are at Club Passim in Cambridge (617-492-7679), and Urban Ceilidh is at the Canadian-American Club in Watertown (617-924-9827). The finale concert with Halali and guests is Saturday at First Parish Church of Cambridge, 617-876-7772.

LYRES/SATIN KITTENS

Garage-rock kings Lyres recently tore it up opening for Roky Erickson; Satin Kittens are a promising female duo working with producer Rick Harte of Lyres/Mission of Burma fame. At T.T. the Bear’s Place, Cambridge,

617-492-0082.

JANE MONHEIT

Elegant NYC singer revisits jazz/pop standards with romantic spirit and impressive pipes. Through Saturday at Scullers, 617-783-0090.

PO GIRL

Vancouver alt-folk group whose harmony-driven sound is on the hypnotic, slightly trippy side. At Narrows Center, Fall River, 508-324-1926.

BALLAKE SISSOKO & VINCENT SEGAL

Multicultural collaboration between Sissoko, one of Mali’s premier kora players, and Segal, a French cellist who’s done both classical and trip-hop. At First Congregational Church, Cambridge, 617-876-4275.

SATURDAY

STEVE CONNOLLY

As far as we know, the first Elvis impersonator to play Berklee. At Berklee Performance Center, 617-747-2261.

MARSHALL CRENSHAW/RACHAEL SAGE

Another chance to see Crenshaw, the power-pop master who played Passim two weeks ago. Sage is a New York songwriter with a touch of Kate Bush/Tori Amos intrigue. At Narrows Center, Fall River, 508-324-1926.

RONNIE EARL

Former Roomful of Blues axeman is the rare modern blues guitarist who values expressive playing over flash. At Showcase Live, Foxboro, 508-543-0609.

LUTHER “GUITAR JR.” JOHNSON

Chicago-born, now a New Hampshire resident, Johnson was the last lead guitarist to be employed by Muddy Waters. At Johnny D’s, Somerville, 617-776-2004.

ERIC MARTIN & THE ILLYRIANS

Singer/guitarist Martin has led this fine rock ’n’ soul band ever since his old band the Neats broke up two decades ago. At the Plough & Stars, Cambridge, 617-576-0032.

TONY SAVARINO/AXEMUNKEE

Progressive instrumental rock from two of the Boston underground’s craftiest guitarists, Savarino (celebrating his solo CD “Guitaring”) and Axemunkee’s Catherine Capozzi. At Atwoods Tavern, Cambridge, 617-864-2792.

SPAMPINATO BROTHERS

Johnny and Joey Spampinato were both in the late, great NRBQ; Johnny is also a longtime Incredible Casual. At the Rosebud, Somerville, 617-666-6015.

THE TIMBERFAKES

The one Hub rock band that bothered to learn an entire set of Justin Timberlake songs. At Church, 617-736-7600.