TUES 8/31: Folkiness/Rootsiness

It's a rootsy/mellow night of cheapness.

For all of my Somerville peeps, this is a way to be charitable with very little effort: Some of the pizza sales proceeds at Flatbread (inside Sacco’s Bowl Haven) will benefit Oxfam. Yep, there's a restaurant/bar inside Sacco's now.

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TUES 8/31

7pm
Van Morrison Tribute Night
at Club Passim, 47 Palmer St, Cambridge (Harvard Sq)
$10

Feat: Paul Janovitz, Tom Bianchi, Bethel Steele, Brendan Hogan, Lisa Bastoni, Danielle Doyle, Jacqueline Francis, Allysen Callery, more

Happy birthday to Van Morrison who turns 65 today! Throughout his catalog of amazing songs, I find it most admirable that Van is one of the few artists that consistently writes songs of joy. (Think about most of your favorite songs, and there's bound to be sadness and/or angst.)

As much as Facebook bugs me, there is info such as tonight's scheduled list of the 20 or so performers.

Of course, someone's doing "Moondance", "Brown Eyed Girl", and "Gloria". Others you should hear: "And It Stoned Me", "Crazy Love", "Tupelo Honey", "Caravan", "Have I Told You Lately", "Jackie Wilson Said", etc.

TUES 8/31

9:30pm
The Wooden Birds, Dan Mangan, St. Claire
at Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave, Allston
$9 / 18+

If you're familiar with American Analog Set, The Wooden Birds is the new project from the main guy, Andrew Kenny. To my ear Wooden Birds may dial it down further to a hush rarely heard from an electric band -- there's no choice to listen closely to the folky indie-rock.

Keeping things on the chilled side is Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Mangan and the local folk-noir goodness of St. Claire.

TUES 8/31

10pm
Jabe Bayer
at Atwoods Tavern, 877 Cambridge St, Cambridge (near Inman & Kendall Sq)
FREE / 21+

Although he's moved to Nashville, Jabe returns to the area every now and then. Besides this gig, there are a couple more free gigs at Toad this week.

Whether or not he's traveled up with some his Southern compatriots, I'd wager that many of his friends on the Boston Americana/roots scene will be joining him onstage for a rockin' good time.