Best bet: Music at Mississippi Mud House

Most one-year birthdays involve cake and kiddie songs, but SemoScene.com has put a grown-up twist on its own 12-month mark.

The entertainment website has planned two nights of music for the weekend. Starting with a new music showcase at 7 p.m. today at the Mississippi Mud House, SemoScene will highlight four fledgling bands from Southeast Missouri. Anonymous Plague, Pretty Mary, Carson Kelley and Before All Falls will alternate entertaining you at the cafe/concert house on Broadway.

Saturday night, The Backsliders will be back from Texas and joined by local bands The Biggest Car in the County, The Futz and Warchalking. The Backsliders seem to like the area. They've played the River City Music Festival, a few gigs at Schock's Pub in Scott City and made other appearances on the scene. The Texans will be accompanied by rock-country, garage rock and chalk rock.

Each concert has a $5 entry fee. The new music showcase is for all ages; Saturday night is 18 and older.

-- From staff reports