Downtown Jamestown is once again poised to experience what is conceivably its busiest night of the year.

That’s right, folks, the time has again come for Infinity Visual and Performing Arts’ Local Music Showcase – the largest display of homegrown musical talent condensed into a five-block radius over the course of eight hours – which will be held Saturday evening.

It’s always worthwhile to be a part of the action on this special evening. It’s the only time of the year that you’re guaranteed to run into friends and acquaintances while out and about, and it’s for one of the best causes out there – fostering the educational and artistic development of our community’s youth.

This year will mark my sixth consecutive September as a performer in and patron of the showcase, and the event has coalesced from an amorphous, atypical occurrence to a staple in my yearly calendar in that timespan. Anyone who’s read this column for any amount of time will know that I am a champion of any happening that will either utilize or further our arts and music community, and this particular event is probably the chief example of what we are capable of when we come together and support one another in that endeavor.

Unfortunately, a recent development will prevent me from sticking around the downtown area and catching different acts at different venues as I normally would. Thankfully, however, that development comes in the form of another performance running concurrently with the showcase.

After The Elektra Kings play Mojo’s from 7:20-8:20 p.m. I’ll have just enough time to pack up and depart for the Bullfrog, where my cover band Backlog will entertain from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. It’s not the evening I had originally planned for myself but, as a working musician, you can’t complain about having gigs to play.

Regardless of my wacky social schedule, as per usual, I hope you will consider catching some live music in Jamestown on Saturday evening. All of the effort and coordination that goes into hosting an event of this magnitude, as well as that of the bands working to put together the music they play, often goes overlooked by the casual observer; but all of that work will be on full display this weekend, and it deserves the recognition and support of its community.

As for myself, I’ll be running around just trying to keep up with it all. The show must go on, after all; and it’s up to me to make sure I’m there when it happens.

And now, here’s some of what you can expect to find in the area this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

‘Back Room Radio Hour’ Season Premiere Is Tonight: Trinity Guitars will launch the third season of its monthly radio program, “Back Room Radio Hour,” with a live taping tonight at 7. The program will feature the Erie-based folk-rock band Smilo and the Ghost along with area singer-songwriter Dan Vogan.

Established earlier this year around Erie folk musician Tyler Smilo, who also performs with his other band Daybreak Radio as well as solo shows, Smilo and the Ghost already has a handful of reputable performances under its collective belt – including opening for 10,000 Maniacs as part of Erie’s “8 Great Tuesdays” concert series in July. Vogan, a long-time friend and collaborator of program host Bill Ward, comes from different stock in his approach to songwriting, offering a different, but equally enticing, dynamic to the program. The show will also feature the Chautauqua County Humane Society and its animal services director, Sue Bobek. The mission at the humane society is to provide temporary shelter and rehabilitation for homeless animals for the purpose of finding permanent new homes. Bobek will be on-hand to discuss the shelter and its upcoming Walk 4 Paws fundraising campaign, which will be held at Chautauqua Institution on Oct. 1.

There is no cost to attend a taping session of “Back Room Radio Hour,” but it is preferable that those interested in attending reserve their seats by contacting Trinity Guitars at 665-4490 or trinityguitarsbill@gmail.com. Reservations may also be made by visiting trinityguitars.com or via the event’s Facebook page. It is recommended that attendees arrive at 6:30 p.m. to ensure the program begins on time.

Trinity Guitars is located at 800 W. Third St. in Jamestown. For more information, find the event on Facebook.

Fifth Annual Great Jamestown ChalkWalk Is Saturday: Jamestown Now, Michaels Craft Store and Jamestown Renaissance Corporation will present the fifth annual Great Jamestown ChalkWalk in downtown Jamestown from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Throughout the day, there will be activities for children and entertainment for all. Novice or experienced chalk artists of all ages will cover Jamestown’s sidewalks with works of art and compete for cash prizes and certificates. There are three categories, with first-place winners in each category receiving a total of $1,200. The winners will be announced at the Winter Garden Plaza at 6 p.m. on the day of the event.

For more information, contact Jamestown Now at 483-5772 or jamestownnow@gmail.com, or find “5th Annual Great Jamestown ChalkWalk” on Facebook.

13th Annual Local Music Showcase Is Saturday: Infinity Visual and Performing Arts will present its 13th annual Local Music Showcase running from 6 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. This year’s event features more than 50 acts performing in 13 downtown Jamestown locations including Brazil Craft Beer and Wine Lounge; Forte; the Infinity Arts Cafe; Jamestown Skating Products; Jones Valhalla Restaurant; the Labyrinth Press Company; Mojo’s Music Bar; Phoenix Rising Wellness Studio; Shawbucks; the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts’ Studio Theater; The Pub; The Q Sports Bar and Night Club; and The Wine Cellar.

Tickets for the showcase are available at Infinity’s downtown location at 301 E. Second St. They can be purchased for $10 in advance, and exchanged for an all-access wristband on the day of the showcase. Wristbands can also be purchased on the day of the event for $15 at one of three kiosks that will be situated throughout the city at: Infinity Visual and Performing Arts from 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; Shawbucks from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; and Phoenix Rising Wellness Studio from 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Infinity is also looking for volunteers to work two- to three-hour shifts. Those interested can visit infinityperformingarts.org and follow the link at the bottom of the Local Music Showcase lineup. Volunteers will receive a free, all-access wristband.

For more information, including a complete schedule of bands, call 664-0991, visit infinityperformingarts.org, or search for “13th Annual Local Music Showcase” on Facebook.

HAPPENINGS

To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email gpaterniti@post-journal.com or call 487-1111, ext. 243 by Monday.

Tonight

Greatest Hits: 5 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown

Indian Outlaw DJ Services: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Jules-R-Us Karaoke: 8 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Karaoke with DJ Xcite: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 10 p.m., Forte, 114 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Friday

Brian Hanna: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Alex Kates: 9 p.m., Yesterday’s, 103 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Crossfire: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Saturday

Smokehouse: 8:30 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown

Jules-R-Us Karaoke featuring Tami T: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Backlog: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Sunday

Open Jam: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Wednesday

“Sweet Caroline” (Neil Diamond tribute): 2 p.m., Seneca Allegany Events Center, 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd. in Salamanca