Roots

Randall Grass, Pete Eshelman and company have more than 25 years of driving dancers with their custom blend of everything from blues to reggae. They make us proud.

Sept. 22, NXNW, 7165 Germantown Ave., 215-248-1000, www.nxnwphl.com.

Leana Song and Davina Stewart are among the talent sharing the stage with Voices of Africa in this big fundraiser. VoA have been chosen to represent not just PHL but the whole country in two world drumming festivals, first in Malaysia and then on to Ghana; this concert/party helps them with the airfare.

Sept. 28, African Cultural Center, 5000 Springfield Ave., 215-386-0088, www.voicesofafrica.net

Earnest banjo pickers of 1957 probably never imagined the charms of their daughters and grands, Full Frontal Folk, who reappear out of mommyhood hiatus to toast the Society with glorious, complex harmonies (and eye-candy costumes).

Sept. 30, Fireman's Memorial Hall, 36 Elm St., Conshohocken, 215-247-1300, www.pfs.org.

Country Joe McDonald (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

"One, two, three, what are we fighting four?" McDonald was a prominent anti-war troubadour in Vietnam times, carrying on Woody's gadfly banner. It should be great to hear McDonald revive that flame, with the benefit of many years distance.

Oct. 6, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St, 215-928-0770, www.tinangel.com.

Italian folk music is way too rarely heard around here. This group of Abbruzzesse are all the more welcome for their blended repertoire of traditional songs (yes, even bagpipe tunes) with contemporary sounds.

Oct. 13, Crossroads, Calvary Center, 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue, 215-729-1028, www.crossroadsconcerts.org.

Mickey Hart with the usual posse: Zakir Hussain, Giovanni Hidalgo and Sikiru Adepoju. Drum heaven if they are loose, drum disappointment if they have a less-than-inspired evening. We've seen both.

Oct. 22, Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com.

Sol y Canto has two separate programs to observe the Mexican holiday, morning for families and evening for grown folks.

Oct. 28, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

The cymbalom is yet another member of the hammered dulcimer family, played with jaw-dropping speed and finesse. This is caffeinated dance music.

Nov. 1, Crossroads, Calvary Center.

This old-time band tore up the Folk Fest, and even the codgers were trying out some rusty steps. They shine a light on a part of Southern history in danger of being lost: the African-American contribution to stringband sounds.

Nov. 13, Tin Angel.

Yes, Hussain again, this time trading tabla lines with santoor (hammered dulcimer ancestor) expert Sharma.

Nov. 18, Painted Bride, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914, www.paintedbride.org.

The "trio" part is fair warning that this is not a Mavericks honky-tonking gig. The subtitle, "Christmas Party 2007," gives pause. Malo's singing is meltingly romantic with that high, sweet range and the little weepy catch in his voice. Don't know how that blends with Fa-la-la-la, but he's so hot it's worth a shot.

Nov. 30, Keswick Theatre.

Celebrating New Orleans, Early jazz, second line, folk — they are all of a piece in New Orleans. Ellis Marsalis has been a pillar of that music scene for decades, raising his own family of hypertalented tradition bearers and educating quite a whole community. He's joined by Peter Martin, Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson, Jeremy Davenport, Victor Goines, Herlin Riley, Don Vappie and Reginald Veal.

Dec. 2, Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., 215-790-5800.

(m_armstrong@citypaper.net)