Deemed one of Buffalos hottest bands by the Buffalo News and winner of Art Voice Best od Buffalo award for best jazz band, Babik is on fire. The quartet performs a unique style of jazz called gypsy jazz, originally created in the 1930’s. The sound is a combination of American big band swing and European gypsy music. Babik will be hosting a party to celebrate their release of their first CD and DVD. The CD, entitled Pronounced Bah-Beek, and their DVD Live at Session, will both be available at the party. The release party will take place this Friday (Dec. 1st) at The Tralf Music Hall, doors will open at 7pm and the band will take the stage at 8pm.

How about an inspired triple bill with two great Buffalo bands and one truly wild wild card from out of town. First, there’s Brian Wheat & Groggy Darlin’ who have made a name for themselves with their laconic country rock, which they are currently putting down on a record. Then you’ve got their cross town friends Shambu – a quartet of free spirited, folk-rocking young men out for a good time. Finally, top it off with Murfreesboro, TN’s Ghostfinger who are a genre defying rock combo that includes pedal steel player Todd Beene from acclaimed band Glossary. Brian Wheat & Groggy Darlin’, Shambu and Ghostfinger play this Friday (Dec. 1) at 10pm at Mohawk Place.

For those of us anxious to see a concert in the recently renovated Hallwalls studio/performance space/ former church on the corner of Delaware and W. Tupper, now is the time. Jazz group the Ubudis Trio will be playing at the church on Friday, (Dec. 1) at 8pm, supported in part by The New York State Music Fund. The trio, comprised of an electric guitar, electric cello, and drums/percussion, is a band of two brothers and one Buffalo-based cellist/composer. Musicians and composers Omar and Emilio Tamez come from Monterrey, Mexico, to join forces with Buffalo’s very own Jonathan Golove for a premiere of their new material and some exciting improvisation as well.

Megan Piret belongs to The Stripteasers Vaudville troupe, and you may also recognize her as a face behind the bar at both Nietsche’s and Roxy’s. She was on stage performing when she broke her foot, and she has now been off of work since before Halloween. Recently, she had to have a surgical pin put in, extending her estimated recovery time about 8 weeks longer. Being an entertainer and a service person, she has no benefits and is unable to work. Megan definitely deserves our help, so friends, fans and co-workers are staging a benefit at Nietzsche’s on Friday (Dec. 1). It will be a variety show featuring Orgasmatron, The Meganetts (a Nietzsche’s all star band playing music with a Latino kick), Alison Pipitone, Helen Butler, Ann Philippone, The Stripteasers, Dimetrodon, a Shadow Puppet Show, Rose Bond & John Allen, Hawthorne, and Amanda Amico & Tim Baldwin. The party starts at 9:30pm.

Need a sure-fire remedy for the Saturday afternoon blues? Check out the ongoing Soul Saturday Matinee at Sportsmen’s Tavern with the Ronnie Davis Combo between 3 and 6pm. The group features Ronnie Davis on the Hammond, Doug Morgano on guitar and Rob Lynch on the trap kit, along with this week’s special guest—soul sister Gretchen Schulz heating up the vocal microphone. The band will be belting out classic organ soul jazz and groove blues from the 1960’s. Come out and enjoy the free tacos and the friendly vibe while you rediscover that sweet soul feeling.

A CD Release Party with Ice Cream Social may be the feel good event of the week. The music is super fun electro-indie pop, and these five friends and bandmates are celebrating the release of their full-length recording with support from other local favorites London vs. New York, Mopery in the No Tell Motel, and DJ Sparks playing in-between sets. What’s more, the CD is only $5 (this night only) and admission is included with its purchase! The show is at Mohawk Place on Saturday (Dec. 2) and starts at 10pm

Although separated by decades, cult hero Peter Walker and legendary Pelt member Jack Rose are both best known for embracing traditional folk instrumentation to make non-traditional music. Walker, whose 1967 album Rainy Day Raga blended Eastern and Western elements, studied with Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, and served as Timothy Leary’s musical director. Jack Rose and Pelt, on the other hand, emerged in the mid-90s as the primary architects of the melding of drone and traditional folk music touted as “New Weird America.” Since the early 2000s, Rose has performed solo, mixing folk blues and avant-garde elements. Most recently, he contributed to Raga for Peter Walker, a “tribute” album featuring performances by Walker himself and previously unrecorded songs adapted by musicians as varied as Thurston Moore and laptop artist Greg Davis. Catch Rose and Walker’s new folk roadshow at Soundlab on Monday (Dec. 4) 9pm.

Stacey Earle And Mark Stuart first met in 1991 after they had both done time playing with Stacey’s legendary brother, Steve Earle. After marrying a year later, both left her brother’s band to pursue individual solo careers. Stacey made two acclaimed solo recordings on her own label in the late 1990’s until finally working with her husband on the album, Must’ve Been Live. The two have been at it ever since. Fusing together traditional country and folk with two of the richest and harmonic voices ever heard, the duo has consistently entranced audiences all over the world at some of the most influential folk festivals. Their performances are always so intimate and comforting that it almost feels as though you’re listening to a few old friends at home harmonizing on the couch. Stacey Earle And Mark Stuart perform at Mohawk Place on Tuesday (Dec. 5), 8pm. Opening is Dee Adams, who will be celebrating her birthday that night.