Anyone looking for a little bit of New Orleans flavor this week will want to head to the Pacific Beach Library on April 12 for a performance from the Euphoria Brass Band. The group is an all-star combo dedicated to performing music from and inspired by the Crescent City, featuring saxophonists Dave Jackson and JP Balmat, who is also music director at Mission Bay High, trombonist April West and drummer Ron Bocian. Euphoria Brass Band’s shows are hugely entertaining, keeping a musical tradition alive, but also a heck of a lot of fun, with the band members enthusiasm a contagious part of the show. Euphoria Brass Band: Wednesday, April 12 at Pacific Beach Library, 4275 Cass St. 7 p.m. All ages. www.pblibraryfriends.org. Now 87 years old, Tomcat Courtney continues to be one of the hardest working musicians in town, playing regularly across the city and continuing to hold a Wednesday night residency at The Turquoise. Blues fans will love his take on blues. As one of the last surviving original performers in the genre, he has had an immense impact on San Diego’s music community, while also building a loyal following around the world. Courtney is one of the jewels in San Diego’s arts community, so make sure to take in an appearance while you still can and say “thanks” for all he’s given our city over the decades. Tomcat Courtney: Wednesdays at Café-Bar Europa, 873 Turqouise St. 7 p.m. 21 and up. www.theturquoise.com. It’s been 60 years since Elvis Presley first began recording and his popularity shows little sign of diminishing. As such, it’s no surprise that there are a numerous performers paying tribute to the king of rock ’n’ roll, but few quite on the level of Graceland, with singer Marlon Von Ratibor. Appearing at Tio Leo’s on April 7, this is a full Las Vegas revue type show, complete with backing singers, horn section and larger than life jumpsuits. While Von Ratibor does indeed have a more than passing similarity in the looks department, where he really excels is in his vocal delivery, with performances as close to the real thing as you are likely to hear.
Graceland with Marlon Von Ratibor: Friday April 7 at Tio Leo’s, 5302 Napa St. 8 p.m. 21 and up. Cover TBD. www.tioleos.com Jazz fans won’t want to miss Joe Garrison & Night People’s CD release show for their new album, “The People Upstairs,” at Dizzy’s on April 8. Garrison is a beloved area pianist and composer, here leading an all-star group of eight musicians including award-winning flautist Lori Bell and flugelhorn player Derek Cannon, so it’s clear that this will be a standout performance, start to finish. These instrumental pieces will appeal to anyone who likes ’70s era soundtracks or Blue Note jazz stretched out to big band proportions. Anyone looking for adventurous horn driven music will love this performance. Joe Garrison & Night People: Saturday, April 8 at Dizzy’s at Arias Hall, 1717 Morena Blvd. 8 p.m. $20. www.dizzysjazz.com. The greatest cover band of all time? There’s a pretty good chance it’s Liquid Blue, who perform at Humphrey’s Backstage Live on April 8. The Ocean Beach-based combo has become a worldwide favorite, particularly at corporate events. They have performed in more than 100 countries with a repertoire that numbers in the hundreds of songs, from Michael Jackson to Pharrell, making them the perfect dance band for just about any occasion. If you are looking to spend some time on the dancefloor this weekend, this excellent human jukebox is your best option.
Liquid Blue: Saturday, April 8, at Humphrey’s Backstage Live, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. 9 p.m. $12. www.humphreysbackstagelive.com Country music fans will want to head to Moonshine Beach on April 14 for a performance from Bakersfield-based group Truxton Mile. The band has a modern take on country, with plenty of radio friendly songs in their repertoire, alongside able covers of everyone from Tom Petty to Garth Brooks. The beach community may not seem like a likely spot for country music, but San Diego has a growing number of artists in the genre and it’s nice to see live music making a small comeback on Garnet Avenue.
Truxton Mile: Friday, April 14 at Moonshine Beach, 1165 Garnet Ave., 9 p.m. www.moonshinebeachsd.com.
