After a long and, at times, exhausting weekend full of live playing music I have just enough time to reflect on the memories I’ve made while looking forward to the ones to come over the next few days.

Pulling off three consecutive gigs in a two-day time span was just the thing I needed to assure myself that, not only am I where I should be from a creativity standpoint, but that Cold Lazarus is a band with huge potential — if we truly apply ourselves.

Firstly, Friday’s show at Mojo’s was a great way to kick things off. For about a week beforehand, I caught a fair amount of buzz going around Facebook and from my personal interactions with people downtown that led me to believe that we should at least have a decent turnout.

And we did, for which I am truly grateful. I mentioned last week that having a good crowd is no longer a guarantee in the downtown music scene. Getting people to come out is something that you have to put some effort into, and even then you hope that even half the people you personally invited will actually show up.

Thankfully, my success ratio exceeded that percentage this time around. But what really amazed me was the fact that people were up front and grooving along for the entirety of the show.

Based on my previous experiences at Mojo’s with The Elektra Kings, it’s common to have a handful of dancers coming up to the stage in ebbs and flows; but we had people right up there with us, genuinely digging the songs, all night long. We even played a few minutes past closing time and the crowd (and, thankfully, the bar staff) stuck by us.

It was nice to get some hometown love before heading out for our double-header in Mayville and Erie the next day. Saturday’s gigs didn’t quite match the one from the night before in the way of turnout, but they did net us some extremely valuable and meaningful positive feedback; some of which has led me to believe that good things may be on the horizon for us in the coming seasons.

I was feeling blessed to have shared these experiences with my fellow musicians, who I consider my dear friends and brothers. I look at all of our performances, practices and recording sessions as pages and chapters of a larger tale that we are crafting each and every day. I have no idea how this story ends (and I have no intention of finding out for quite some time) but my heart is an open book full of several blank pages yet to be filled.

And so, with one hectic weekend now behind me, I shift gears mentally to prepare for another slew of gigs with my other bands in the coming days.

It starts tonight with The Elektra Kings and our third appearance in the annual “Third Thursday” downtown concert series (see below). These shows are always a blast, providing that the weather works in our favor, and I look forward to playing “Third Thursday” every year.

Saturday and Sunday will bring a pair of outdoor Danger Bird gigs my way. Most notably will be our day-long appearance at Erie’s Beer on the Bay festival at Liberty Park, where we’ll play two, three-hour sets from noon-3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. I’ve been assured of many fine food and beer vendors, along with a large crowd, so I’m eagerly anticipating this experience.

Rounding out the weekend will be a Sunday afternoon show at Docksider’s Cafe at Wolf Run Marina in Clarendon, Pa., at 2 p.m.

I guess it’s true that the life of a working musician is never dull. But that’s made even better by the fact that I get to share my stories with all of you.

Thanks for reading! As usual, I’ll plan to report back next week.

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

HIGHLIGHTS

‘Third Thursday’ To Feature Elektra Kings, St. Vith Tonight: The sixth annual “Third Thursday” downtown Jamestown concert series, presented by the Active Artists Alliance and the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, will continue with a concert tonight by The Elektra Kings and St. Vith at the Winter Garden Plaza starting at 6:30 p.m. “Third Thursday” concerts are free, family-friendly and open to attendees of all ages. Music will run until approximately 9 p.m.

The Winter Garden Plaza is located adjacent to The Wine Cellar at 313 N. Main St. For more information, find the event on Facebook. If the weather is uncooperative, the concert will be held at its “rain location” at Jamestown Skate Products, 209 Pine St., Jamestown.

Scandinavian Folk Festival Begins Friday: The Festival will be held at the Gerry Rodeo Grounds. On Friday, the hours are 1-9 p.m. The hours on Saturday are 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year, paying a gate fee on one day, provides free admission for the remaining days of the Festival. The adult gate fee on Friday is $10 but is also good for Saturday and Sunday. The adult gate fee on Saturday is also $10 and is also good for Sunday. The gate fee on Sunday is $5. Children 12 and under are free. There is a family maximum of $20. Parking is free.

The Entertainment Showcase on both Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. is this year’s main highlight. On Friday there will be over 50 performers and on Saturday over 60. Dennis Webster will introduce the many acts of this extravaganza. Included will be wooden horns as well as a brass horn quintet, several fiddle players, Gary Kindberg singing a duet with a recording of his father Gunnard Kindberg, folk dancing, a bagpipe tribute to Norm Owen, two folk bands, and much more. Saturday’s showcase will include Razz and Friends as well as another 15-member surprise band.

Featured performers are Peter Puma Hedlund from Sweden, who is a world champion nyckelharpa player, and the group Tants Muziky from Canton, Ohio, who play folk and medieval music. On Sunday at 2 p.m., the Jamestown Municipal Band will perform a concert of Scandinavian music.

For all the schedules and details, visit scandinavianjamestown.org or call 665-0883.

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

Bob Campbell: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

DTO: 7 p.m., Ellicottville Brewing on Chautauqua, 57 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

Comedy open mic: 8 p.m., The Q, 104 W. Second St. in Jamestown

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

Adam Gould: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Greg Ford: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Addison Moon: 6:30 p.m., Southern Tier Distilling Company, 2051A Stoneman Circle in Lakewood

Infinity instructor concert: 7 p.m., Infinity Arts Cafe, 301 E. Second St. in Jamestown

“Captain Underpants” screening: 7 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Jules-R-Us Karaoke: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Dan Baney: 7 p.m., Hadley House, 3328 Hadley Bay Road in Stow

No Limit: 8 p.m., Vikings Lake Lodge, 4923 Route 430 in Maple Springs

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 9 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

The Saloonatics: 9:30 p.m., Big Shots, 674 Route 394 in Kennedy

Porcelain Busdrivers: 10 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Diggin’ Roots Band: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

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

Saturday

“Captain Underpants” screening: 2 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Bill Ward: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Sean Patrick McGraw: 7 p.m., Hadley House, 3328 Hadley Bay Road in Stow

DJ Leezle: 8 p.m., Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 865, 41 Bigelow Ave. in Jamestown

DJ Karaoke: 9 p.m., Big Shots, 674 Route 394 in Kennedy

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

The Untouchables: 9 p.m., Steener’s Pub, 3022 Route 430 in Greenhurst

Wanyama: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

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

Sunday

Steelhorse: 2 p.m., The Vegas Pad, 1064 Route 394 in Kennedy

Bob and Liz: 2 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Bill Ward: 4 p.m., Hadley House, 3328 Hadley Bay Road in Stow

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

Monday

Bill Ward: 6 p.m., Andriaccio’s, 4837 W. Lake Road in Chautauqua

Tuesday

Greg Ford: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Ryan Buzzetto: 7 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Wednesday

Bluegrass Jam: 7 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown

“Tommy’s Honour” screening: 7 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown