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Call it a comeback

Music Features

Bounty

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA: set their guitars on fire at the Orpheum October 17.

The show will feature a stellar line-up of locally based players with national reputations, along with some still-to-be-announced stars. So far JERRY PORTNOY, DAVIDMAXWELL, MATT MCCABE, MICHAEL “MUDCAT” WARD, RICKY “KING” RUSSELL, JEFF PITCHELL, DARRELL NULISCH, MIKE WELCH, BRIAN TEMPLETON, PER HANSON, RACKY THOMAS, NICK ADAMS, and SAX GORDON BEADLE — a blues who’s who — have signed on.

“Everybody loved Teo,” says guitarist Peter Ward (Michael’s brother), who, along with long-time Boston impresario Fred Taylor, is staging the benefit. “He was a champion of so many artists and was quick to lend a helping hand. Now it’s time for those who were touched by him, the musicians and fans who benefitted from what he did, to reach out to his family.”

By the time of the Leyasmeyer benefit, the fall roots-music calendar will be fully revved. Here’s a rundown of other highlights.

September
The annual free BOSTON BLUES FESTIVAL takes over the Hatch Shell September 22 and 23, from noon to 6 pm. On Saturday, it’s New Englanders LLOYD THAYER, RYAN HARTT & THE BLUE HEARTS, BILLY BLUE, and the WHITE OWLS leading up to turban-wearing lap-steel ace SONNY RHODES backed by the BRIAN TEMPLETONBAND. The great songwriter SIR MACK RICE headlines Sunday, with CHICAGO BOB NELSON, the MYSTIX, CHRIS STOVALLBROWN, MADELINE HALL, and JEREMYLYONS opening (more at www.bluestrust.com).

Folksinger JOHNNY IRION brings his band to Johnny D’s (17 Holland St, Somerville; 617.776.2004) on the 27th; local retro hounds TARBOX RAMBLERS appear there on the 28th. Across the street that same night at the Somerville Theatre (55 Davis Square), hot Irish acoustic traditionalists LÚNASA take the stage. And Boston folk-scene legend BILL STAINES holds court at Harvard Square’s Club Passim (47 Palmer St; www.clubpassim.org or 617.492.7679) on September 29.

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