What makes a great band? Just add water...

City Of Roses...again. Cape Girardeau's perennial music festival featuring local and regional acts. This year features 3 street stages and stages in the local clubs. Rhythm & Blues fans have the largest selection this year. Bruce Zimmerman and the Shysters have been playin' the blues for years. World tours and tons of regional shows have polished their show to an automatic status. Acme Blues Band, another yearly favorite, performs for the sole purpose of havin' fun and you can tell. Be sure to listen for the horn sections for some funny quotes. Snooky Pryor and the rest of the Pryors, is a musical family not to be missed. Snooky has played with just about everybody that is on the blues who's-who list.

Funk fans check out Funky Donkey Cheese. FDC is a great funk/dance band. They've gotten away from the disco in recent years and ventured further into the funk. The Big Boys are not newcomers by any means, but they debut on Friday October 6, so all I've heard is hype, not the band.

Trademark is a good easy listen; they can cover many styles effortlessly. Check out there set of 50's rock and roll. Returning from a year of obscurity, is last years City of Roses Best Band recipient Van Goghes Ear. They are a great all-purpose band.

Country fans, be sure to catch Crossfire. These guys work almost year round, making their show very tight. Also Neon Nites should be on any country fans list of bands to see.

If you like the concept of jam bands Cape Rock Drive should a definite stop on your list. Not to be discouraged the Alternative/Rock fans have some real cool acts to look forward to - Emaciation, Pushy Mother, The Influence and the Disposable Heroes. There are a growing number of solo/duo acts to check out, Doug Rees, Bruce Zimmerman, Mike and Mark and Don Haupt. Also for a good listen check out some of our favorites Fifty-Cent Buddha, All That Matters and Papa Aborigine. There are a lot of bands that have never played here, or for some, anywhere so get out and check them out before they fade into the obscurity that is the Cape Girardeau music scene for another year. Also if you enjoy seeing live music let the club owner know. The list of bands shows there is plenty of music, just not too many clubs. See clubs. See you there.