The Young Dubliners

MONDAY
>> The Young Dubliners -- well, youngish -- bring their Emerald Isle-by-way-of-the-Golden State nu-traditional celt-folk to the the Birchmere. Locals Scythian open. 7:30 p.m., $20.

>> Can you earn a spot in the Weekly Music Agenda on the strength of your name alone? So it would appear: The Artist Formerly Known as Six Finger Satellite, now doing business as The Juan MacLean, is at the Black Cat. With Edie Sedgwick and the Brunettes. 8 p.m., $13.

>> Little Cow, a self-described "Gypsy-tinged ska/rock/funk" outfit from Budapest, Hungary (NOT Budapest, North Dakota) brings their "real party music that makes your feet move and keep your mind work (sic)" to IOTA. Frankly, you had us at "Little Cow." With Katie Herzig. 8:30 p.m., $12.

>> Young ganjo, fiddle, and jug group Carolina Chocolate Drops perform for free at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.

TUESDAY
>> There comes a day -- and the earlier it comes, the luckier ye are -- when you stop worrying about whether you're cool and simply accept that you're not; ne'er were, ne'er will be, and get on with your uncool but considerably more fulfilling and productive life. In that spirit, Gentle Reader, I will admit to you that I had never even heard of Stereolab until they turned up on the High Fidelity soundtrack. So thanks, Nick Hornby and John Cusack. Anyway, Stereolab's at the 9:30 Club Tuesday night, so you probably should be, too. With Atlas Sound and Chessie. 7:30 p.m. doors, $20.

>> Could there be such a thing as a soulful Swede? Check out Theresa Andersson at DC9 and get back to us. But signs -- and this video, shot in her New Orleans kitchen -- point to "yes." $10, 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY
>> Critically-adored country songstress Patty Loveless has titled her 15th full-length album Sleepless Nights: The Traditional Country Soul of Patty Loveless, just in case any of you were confused about what's she's been doing all these years. No, the title actually does make sense, as it's a covers album of old-timey country standards. Personally, I prefer 1988's If My Heart Had Windows -- prefer it as a title, I mean; I haven't heard the album. Anyway, she's keeping it real at the Birchmere. She's there Thursday, too. 7:30 p.m., $45.

>> MySpace records signee Kate Voegele's web site says she has "something truly distinctive to offer," and it doesn't seem like the kind of website that would spread horrible lies. She brings her (sigh) Back2School (sic) Tour to the State Theatre. With The Virginia Coalition. Seems like a natural pairing, like Batman and Joe Lieberman. $15, 8 p.m.

>> Meanwhile, back inside the city at the Kennedy Center, "U.S. Azeris Network offers a rare opportunity for audiences to experience traditional dances and music from the heart of the Caucasus Mountains, as Azerbaijani stars perform folk songs, mughams, jigit dances, along with a sampling of modernity -- Azeri jazz and opera." 7:30 p.m.; call (703) 400-2523 for ticket prices and availability.

>> San Diego's Pinback bring their lo-fi indie pop (helps you tell what they sound like, no?) to the Black Cat. 8 p.m., $15.

Jenny Lewis

THURSDAY
>> Jenny Lewis's middling Acid Tongue is her second 70s-obsessed album in two years (after Rilo Kiley's Fleetwood Mac-tastic Under the Blacklight, for which J-Lew penned all but two of the songs). While falling far short of the rustic grace of her 2006 Rabbit Fur Coat, Acid Tongue's rowdiness should translate well to the stage. Sixth and I Synagogue. 8 p.m., $25 but long gone.

>> Oh-OH-oh-OH-OH! The New "Kids" on the Block are at the Phone Booth. Like you haven't had this on your calendar for months. 8 p.m., $38-$78.

>> Evan Mast and Mike Stroud -- The Artists Collectively Known asRatatat are at the Black Cat with Panther and E*Rock. I'll take any excuse to see Predator again -- even watching the video for "Mirando." 8 p.m., $18, sold out.

>> Seattle's Damien Jurado brings his skillful, literate songcraft to the Rock and Roll Hotel. With Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson and John Davis's post-Georgie James project, Title Tracks. $12, 8:30 p.m.

>> The Bar J Wranglers from Wyoming will be delivering their corny blend of country and western harmonies and cowboy humor at the Library of Congress Coolidge Auditorium, 1st and Independence Streets SE, at noon

>> Orlando "Maraca" Valle is a critics fave Cuban flautist, nicknamed for some reason for a percussion instrument, who leads a band that plays both Latin dance music and jazz. He and his band will be doing one of their two East Coast gigs (NYC was on Wednesday) at Zanzibar on the Waterfront.

FRIDAY
>> The Girls Rock & Girls Rule Tour lands at the Red and the Black to showcase "the best and hardest rockin' independent femmes," which sounds to me like a great opportunity to plug Monitor Mix, the blog written by Carrie Brownstein (of the late, great Sleater-Kinney). I don't see Joan Jett on their bill anywhere, but you get a bunch of NYC bands: G-Spot, Loki the Grump RewBee, Maria Mini & The Underage Hotties, America's Sweetheart, plus locals Tami D'Mar and Curly and the Rocket. Your cover charge is a tax-deductible donation to the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, the NYC based day-camp for lady-rockers aged 8 to 18, so get a receipt! 8 p.m., $8.

>> They're Bad, They're Nationwide: Fleet Foxes return to the Black Cat. With Frank Fairfield. 9 p.m., $15, sold way out.

>> Places like PASTE and Playboy say he's a songwriter to hear, and Rolling Stone likens him to Ryan Adams and Conor Oberst, which could mean any number of things, really. But we know this much for sure: It ain't his fault his name is Cory. Cory Brannan opens for Justin Trawick at IOTA. 8 p.m. doors, $10.

>> Aventura are a NY bachata boyband known to get girls squealing for their sometimes syrupy blend of Dominican sounds and American R&B. But they have musical chops too. They’ll be with another heartthrob, Enrique Iglesias, at the George Mason University Patriot Center. Bring earplugs. 8 p.m., $58-$88.

SATURDAY
>> Canuck synth-pop tarts Chromeo were a big hit at the Virgin Mobile Festival last month, despite being saddled with a thankless early-afternoon time slot. At the 9:30 Club, their invincibility is assured. Or at least probable. We think. With Treasure Fingers. 8 p.m. doors, $20.

>> Locals Jukebox the Ghost are doing well for themselves, headling the Black Cat mainstage on a Saturday night, so if they want to compare themselves to Elvis Costello and the Flaming Lips, well, there's nothing stopping me from comparing myself to H.L. Mencken, either. With Say Hi to Your Mom (my sparring partner's favorite band, since you asked), and Junior League.

>> Eighteen-year-old singer-songwriter Sonya Kitchell impressed Herbie Hancock enough that he invited her to sing in his band last year, and she turned up at his Wolf Trap gig last month, too. She's just released her sophomore album, This Storm, and she'll bring those tunes to IOTA. With The Slip and Brad Barr. 9:30 p.m.

>> Chicago soul man Lou Pride throws down at Comet Ping Pong. 9 p.m. doors, $10.

SUNDAY
>>With double-aught-eight three-fourths gone, I'm increasingly comfortable predicting that Dig, Lazurus, Dig!!! (the three exclamation points are part of the title, and being that Aussie Goth-lit romantic and preeminent "mustache on a wire" Nick Cave is, as of last March, an honorary Doctor of Laws from Monash University, presumably he knows all about punctuation) will wind up being my favorite album of the year. Dr. Cave begins a two-night stand at the 9:30 Club. With the Bellmer Dolls. 7 p.m. doors, $40 but long , long gone. Uncle Craig may help you there.

>> Malian guitarist/singer Vieux Farka Toure carries on his father’s desert blues sound and adds some newer funkier accents to it. He and his band will be at the Birchmere.

>> Frigg, fiddlers from Finland (and Norway), who play frenetically, accompanied by bass and bagpipes, will be filling up Jammin’ Java’s small stage at 7 p.m.

Steve Kiviat contributed to this week's agenda.