Sunday, Oct. 20: Paul Stookey is the "Paul" of Peter, Paul & Mary, but his real name is Noel (the "Paul" was the group's first manager's idea to get a more flowing name). I confess to having played onstage with Noel, but that shouldn't preclude me from recommending a show for kids that's happening today at 3 p.m. at the Barns of Wolf Trap. Stookey can speak to kids in their own musical language better than any performer I've ever seen (and I speak from experience -- when I was a kid, I often thought he was talking straight to me). If you have musically inclined kids who might like to sing along and clap their hands, bring them to this show.

Monday, Oct. 14
Twenty-five years ago at the Warner Theatre, Little Feat recorded one of the greatest live rock records ever. "Waiting for Columbus" is still considered a must have, like the Allman Brothers' "Live at Fillmore East" and the Band's "Rock of Ages," and it's recently been wonderfully remastered and repackaged. Little Feat is out on the road promoting it, and tonight the band performs at Lisner Auditorium, joined by lots and lots of serious guests: Levon Helm, Jackson Browne, Billy Bob Thornton, Joe Ely, Bela Fleck, Sonny Landreth, Washington sax great Ron Holloway and many more. They'll be rolling tape again, and here's hoping they'll capture some more magic. This evening's concert is a benefit for the Native American Rights Fund and the Simpatico Foundation. Tickets are $40 ($30 for students).

Tuesday, Oct. 15
He may be into his ninth decade on this planet, but dancer Frankie Manning is still the king of the Lindy Hoppers. He helped create its distinct moves in the '30s and '40s in films and at the legendary Savoy Ballroom; and as the swing revival chugs along, a broader appreciation of Manning's importance has been one of the happy consequences. Manning comes to town to dance and teach (and receive fans) tonight at the Clarendon Ballroom, where crowds of swing dancers will come to hear the big-band sounds of the Tom Cunningham Orchestra.

Wednesday, Oct. 16
Tonight at the Eighteenth Street Lounge, Cultureflux, a Washington-based arts and culture organization, presents an evening of local artists and general fellowship, with music from Red's DJ Aou and the group Aubergine 3, a lounge-electronica act that's making waves around the area. There's food from Cakelove and Sticky Fingers Bakery and a special martini created for the occasion. The cost is $25 at the door, and the event runs from 6:30 to 9:30.

What most people know of fado, the Portuguese ballad style, comes from their exposure to Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora. And that's a great place to start, but why not keep going? Tonight, head to the Smithsonian's Baird Auditorium to hear Cristina Branco, Portugal's queen of fado, performing in Washington for the first time. She'll be joined by her husband-guitarist-producer-chief songwriter Custodio Castelo for a concert long on melody and melancholy of the most beautiful kind.

Thursday, Oct. 17
Upstairs at Chief Ike's Mambo Room is the Cosmo Lounge, a great space that's never really been turned into the hot spot it should be. That may change now, with "Reunion Thursdays" moving in up there. Subtitled "The Rebirth of the DC Hip-Hop Party," this new party will feature two of the best hip-hop DJs in town, Orbit 122 and Eurok. Did I mention $2 beers and $4 cosmopolitans? Hey, now you have lots of reasons to go, if not this week, then next Thursday, or the next, or the next.

Tonight is the Radio King Orchestra's monthly appearance at Rockville's Timpano Italian Chophouse, featuring bandleader-trumpeter Rick Gordon and lead chanteuse Robin Gordon. But this evening the 10-piece swing band will feature (for a few songs) 8-year-old singer Jamie Boyd. There's a dance floor, plentiful Italian food and great live music. What else do you need on a Thursday night?

Friday, Oct. 18
Fred Yonnet has been living in D.C. for almost two years, and we're lucky he's chosen us to be his adopted home town. A French-born harmonica player who's decided to conquer the U.S., Yonnet has already received much acclaim as one of the best young diatonic harmonicists in the world. If you haven't yet heard him in various clubs around town, then head to the Borders Books & Music at 18th and L streets NW for a free concert from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight. He'll boggle your mind with his jazz, reggae, samba, funk, rock, gospel and country stylings.

Mississippi-born songstress Caroline Herring has recently moved to Washington, instantly adding great depth to the local folk scene. A superb songwriter and a moving singer, she'll perform tonight at the Starland Cafe.

Saturday, Oct. 19
Montgomery College's Black Box Theater kicks off its 2002-2003 season tonight with the traditional Andean band Andes Manta, featuring four Ecuadorian brothers who can play the pipes, the drums and the guitars with flair and emotion. They'll transport you to another continent and another time in no time at all. This band is truly special.

Sunday, Oct. 20
Paul Stookey is the "Paul" of Peter, Paul & Mary, but his real name is Noel (the "Paul" was the group's first manager's idea to get a more flowing name). I confess to having played onstage with Noel, but that shouldn't preclude me from recommending a show for kids that's happening today at 3 p.m. at the Barns of Wolf Trap. Stookey can speak to kids in their own musical language better than any performer I've ever seen (and I speak from experience -- when I was a kid, I often thought he was talking straight to me). If you have musically inclined kids who might like to sing along and clap their hands, bring them to this show.

Monday, Oct. 21
For the past four years or so, Bob Massey has been one of the most dynamic and creative artists on the D.C. music scene. His electric guitar was the driving force in the instrumental group Telegraph Melts; then he turned away from wordless sonic sculpting and plunged into the world of lyrical songwriting with his group the Gena Rowlands Band. (Does this man have a knack for names or what?) Meanwhile, he's been creating an "opera" of sorts, "The Nitrate Hymnal," which will be performed in about a year at the Corcoran under the auspices of the WPAS. On top of that, his passion for boundary-pushing modern experimental and classical music leads him to host periodic (and all too infrequent) shows featuring like-minded performers -- gatherings he calls the Punk-Not-Rock Salon. Tonight Warehouse Theatre hosts the latest PNR Salon, a free concert that begins at 7:30. The featured artists are John Kamman, Keith Kramer and Jonathan Matis performing "Trio" for three electric guitars, composed by Matis; Massey performing excerpts from "The Nitrate Hymnal"; the Cypress String Quartet performing the String Quartet in F Minor ("The Razor"), by Haydn, and another short work or two.

Seriously laconic, depressive and great, James McMurtry comes to Iota after a long absence. Opening the show is Brooklyn band ill lit (all lower case, if you please) that manages to blend "Americana" twang and trash with the loops and beats of electronica. Cutting-edge, indeed. It's a novel pastiche that doesn't feel like a novelty.

Read Eric's Nightwatch column every Friday in the Washington Post's Weekend section.