Music picks: There can only be one … The Highlander Music Festival

Enjoy some of the best local music at The Highlander Music Festival
Eight of the best Baton Rouge bands perform on the patio at Highland Coffees Friday, Nov. 14, in an inaugural music festival called The Highlander. This mini-festival is an ample replacement for the annual North Gate Fest, which was canceled due to lack of sponsorship interest from businesses along Chimes Street. The Highlander kicks off at 4 p.m. with a performance from Caroline Schaff, then continues with Molly Taylor at 4:45 p.m., Ship of Fools at 5:30 p.m., Jetlagger at 6:30 p.m., Levee Daze at 7:15 p.m., Burris at 8:30 p.m., Minos the Saint at 9:45 p.m., and Gardens at 11 p.m. In between sets, there will be door prizes and local artwork giveaways. This show is free and is open to all ages. RSVP and get more information here.

Hear the country/folk sounds of The Lone Bellow
A Brooklyn band comes to Baton Rouge this weekend. The Lone Bellow performs at Spanish Moon Sunday, Nov. 16. Doors open at 7 p.m. The show starts at 8 p.m. and includes sets from Foreign Fields and Kristin Diable. Tickets are $15. The Lone Bellow is touring behind its eponymous 2013 debut, which was produced by Aaron Dessner of The National. The band and Dessner recorded the album in upstate New York in two years in a 19th century church that had been converted into a homey studio. The album debuted in the top 100 on the Billboard 200 and garnered critical acclaim. The first single, “Then Came the Morning,” premiered on NPR this month. Get more information on The Lone Bellow.

This week’s shows.

Wednesday, Nov. 12
Ship of Fools, The Kasey Ball Trio. Two local bands perform in the side bar at Chelsea’s Cafe. 7:30 p.m. Admission is $8. RSVP and get more information.
Secret Smoker, Coma Regalia, Lilith Velkor, No Gods. Rock bands perform at Hound Dogs. 9 p.m. RSVP and get more information.
Eli Young Band, Erik Dylan. Country bands perform at The Varsity. Doors open at 8 p.m. The show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 online and $32 at the door. Get more information.

Thursday, Nov. 13
Lynn Anselmo Songwriters Night. Local singer-songwriters perform in the side bar at Chelsea’s Cafe. 7 p.m.
Mara, The Vessel, Define, Donmoor, Shores of Acheron. Metal and hard rock bands perform at The Varsity. Doors open at 8 p.m. The show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 online and $15 at the door. Get more information.
Juke Joint Jubilee. Clay Parker, Ryan Harris and Eric Schmitt perform at Red Star. 9 p.m.
SunSquabi. Enjoy electronic dance music at Chelsea’s Cafe. 10:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 14
John Michael Montgomery. The country singer performs at The Texas Club. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $22 online and $28 at the door. Get more information.
Darrell Scott, Patrick Cooper. Singer-songwriters perform at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Red Dragon Listening Room’s series at Manship Theatre. Tickets start at $40. Get more information.
The Chambers, Sleeping Hipsters, My Fire. Three up-and-coming bands perform at the Blue Verse Room inside Baton Rouge Music Studio’s new digs at 9327 Burbank Drive. 7:30 p.m. Cover is $8. RSVP and get more information.
Royal Teeth, Super Water Sympathy, The Widowers. Louisiana pop-rock bands take over The Varsity. Doors open at 8 p.m. The show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door. Get more information.
Gal Holiday. The honky-tonk singer-songwriter performs at Red Star. 9 p.m. RSVP and get more information.
Summer Fits, Bantam Foxes, Mobley. Enjoy dance/alternative rock bands at Spanish Moon. Doors open at 9 p.m. The show starts at 10 p.m. Cover is $7. RSVP and get more information.
T-Bird & The Breaks. A soul and R&B band out of Austin, Texas, visits Chelsea’s Cafe. 10:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 15
Hazy Ray. Enjoy funky jams from this local band at Chelsea’s Cafe. 10:30 p.m.