Critics' picks - music

POP & ROCK

SARAH BORGES AND THE BROKEN SINGLES/GIRLS, GUNS & GLORY/MIKE MACDONALD & THE WIDOW MAKERS After you've had your fill of turkey and stuffing, fill up on a stellar lineup of three of Boston's most revved-up rockabilly and alt-country acts. 8 p.m. Nov. 28. $10. Church. 866-468-7619, www.ticketweb.com

FISHBONE Going strong for nearly 30 years, LA's brash purveyors of funk, punk, ska, and rock are back to help you get skanky in the positive sense. 8 p.m. Nov. 28. $15. Harpers Ferry. 617-254-9743, www.harpersferryboston.com

NADA SURF The New York pop trio returns to Commonwealth Ave. to showcase tracks from its dreamy, melodious latest, "Lucky." Make sure to arrive early enough to check out exuberant folk-tinged indie rockers Delta Spirit. 8 p.m. Dec. 2. $20. Paradise. 617-931-2000, www.ticketmaster.com

AUDREY RYAN The sweet and quirky avant rocker - for fans of everyone from Flaming Lips to Nellie McKay - kicks off a monthlong residency that will feature a rotating cast of characters. Tonight's guest is fellow Maine transplant Dan Blakeslee, celebrating the release of his charming seasonal EP "The Holiday Fair." 8 p.m. Dec. 2. Free. Toad. 617-497-4950, www.toadcambridge.com SARAH RODMAN

FOLK, WORLD, & COUNTRY

PREACHER JACK Once you've put the Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge, shake off that Tryptophan drowsiness and head out to see Preacher Jack, the fiery 66-year-old piano pounder once billed as "Boston's Jerry Lee Lewis." Nov. 27. 6:30 p.m. Free. The Beehive, 541 Tremont St. 617-423-0069, www.beehiveboston.com

DAVID BROMBERG It's a good week to see your folk legends (Tom Rush's show at Club Passim on Dec. 3 is sold out). Bromberg is touring behind a spare and vibrant new album, last year's "Try Me One More Time," his first in 17 years. Nov. 28. 8 p.m. $36. Newburyport City Hall Auditorium, 60 Pleasant St., Newburyport. 978-462-0760, www.mktix.com

BRENDAN HOGAN When he's not spinning his favorite blues records (and turning us on to forgotten gems) on his WGBH radio show, Hogan emulates his heroes with his own brand of acoustic folk blues. Dec. 2. 8:30 p.m. Johnny D's. 617-776-2004, www.johnnyds.com

JAMES REED

JAZZ, BLUES, & CABARET

ROOMFUL OF BLUES Rocking and swinging for almost 40 years, the Rhode Island ensemble remains one of the world's finest jump blues bands, despite numerous personnel changes over the years. The current lineup, eight musicians strong, is led by guitarist Chris Vachon and features the gutsy lead vocals of Dave Howard. 8 p.m. Nov. 28. $20-$45. Showcase Live. 888-354-7042, www.showcaselive.com

DANIELLE ELLIOTT The young New York-based newcomer plays keyboards, writes catchy numbers in a jazz/pop/neo-soul bag, and sings them in a sweet, sassy voice while her funky little band keeps things grooving. 8 p.m. Dec. 1. $5. All Asia Bar, 334 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 617-497-1544, www.allasiabar.com

ED SAINDON QUARTET The longtime Berklee professor studied with drummer Alan Dawson and vibraphonist Gary Burton, two of the finest percussionists in jazz history. His virtuosic, pianistic, four-mallet vibraphone playing represents swinging, committed, mainstream jazz at its best. With saxophonist Rick DiMuzio, bassist Dave Clark, and drummer Bob Tamagni. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2. $5. Jocko's Jazz at the Sahara Club, 34 Bates St., Methuen. 978-683-9200, www.jockosjazz.com

WAYNE SHORTER 75TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION It's nigh impossible to overstate the importance of this seminal composer and saxophonist, who profoundly shaped the sounds of both Art Blakey and Miles Davis and co-led fusion pioneers Weather Report. In his first Boston appearance in five years, the eminent master appears with his acclaimed acoustic quartet featuring pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade, powerhouses all. 8 p.m. Dec. 3. $46-$66. Berklee Performance Center. 617-747-2261, www.berkleebpc .com

KEVIN LOWENTHAL

CLASSICAL

BOSTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL A new annual chamber opera series begins this weekend with a double-bill of John Blow's "Venus and Adonis" and Charpentier's "Acteon." The creative team behind BEMF's elaborate 2007 production of Lully's "Psyche" has reassembled for the occasion, and the cast includes Amanda Forsythe, Tyler Duncan, and Aaron Sheehan. Nov. 29 at 8 p.m., $21 to $66, Jordan Hall, 617-661-1812 or www.bemf.org

OZAWA AT THE BSO The Boston Symphony Orchestra's former music director makes his first return to the Symphony Hall podium since his departure in 2002. He brings with him Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique" and Messiaen's "Trois Petites Liturgies de la Présence Divine." Nov. 28 at 1:30 p.m. and Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. $29 to $115, Symphony Hall, 617-266-1200 or www.bso.org

CARTER CENTENARY AT NEC After a drum roll that has lasted for months, the composer's 100th birthday is finally around the corner (Dec. 11) and more institutions are stepping up. As part of its monthlong Carter-fest, New England Conservatory is presenting the world premiere of "Tintinnabulation," written for the school's Percussion Ensemble and its director Frank Epstein. Dec. 2 at 8 p.m., Jordan Hall, free, 617-585-1260 or www.newenglandconservatory.edu/carter

CARTER AT THE GARDNER The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum cohosts (with NEC) the Laurel String Quartet and friends in a program devoted to the composer's chamber music, including his landmark Cello Sonata, the Quartet No. 5, and the Piano Quintet. Nov. 30 at 1:30 p.m., $23, Gardner Museum, 617-278-5156 or www.gardnermuseum.org

JEREMY EICHLER