I'm headed to the Austin City Limits Festival! I had a blast last year and this year promises to be even more fun! Indianapolis' own Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band is playing Sunday, October 4, 2009. I have a photo pass and bought a fancy new camera lens for the festival. I'll try not to take too many pictures of my feet.

Music on Thursdays at Locals Only is taking a little turn starting in October. The shows are free and back to smoking. October 1, 2009: Mardelay. October 8: Win With Willard. October 15, 2009: The Right Now and Xeno Bia Green.

I hate it that I will be out of town for this. The INDIEana Handicraft Exchange is to highlight local crafters and artisans as well as to expose Indianapolis to some of the best vendors on the national indie craft fair circuit. From their press release: Most of the products sold by IHE artists serve the dual purpose of art and function and range from the beautiful to the irreverent, from the adorable to the slightly sinister, from the hysterical to the just plain bizarre. Vendors may use traditional crafting techniques but they express contemporary themes and design. Vendors offer a range of unique handmade goods from wooden jewelry to fanciful undergarments, from custom vintage-inspired western wear to stationery, from plush animals to natural bath and body goodies, from hand-screened rock 'n' roll poster art to pop culture icon finger puppets and much, much more.

IHE will feature 70+ vendors, live roller girls, live music by the Shirtless Biddles, Mandy Marie Luke & Mo Foster, The Jack Davies, Julia Schafer & D. Mark Conway, Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun, and A Squared DJs, as well as giveaways of many fantastic raffle prizes donated by our vendors and sponsors.

Admission into the fair is FREE to the public. Raffle tickets are sold for $2 each, three for $5 or 7 for $10. Patrons may obtain additional raffle tickets by bringing children's arts and craft supplies, or children's art books, for donation at the door the day of the event. Money made from raffle ticket sales is used to purchase arts and craft supplies for select Indianapolis area public school art programs. Prizes for the raffle are donated by our vendors and local, independent business sponsors. The event is kid-friendly, but some artists' work features the occasional dirty word or sexual image, so parents might want to take a gander before their little ones get an eye full.

I've only watched one season of the The Bachelor/Bachelorette series, but I find it fascinating. Michael Stagliano was on the last season and from everything I read he was as charming as could be. Now is your big chance to see the singer-songwriter up close.

Continuing with Birdy's musicians you've seen on television. . . .actress singer-songwriter Julie Neumark is performing. You might recognize her from the Gilmore Girls and Mad About You. She'd been secretly writing songs since her childhood in Cincinnati, but it wasn't until a role called for her to play guitar that she picked one up and gave herself a crash course. Soon touring won out over acting parts and she's been on the road ever since.

David Carducci is touring with Julie, and is also based in Los Angeles. He's played everywhere from busking in Santa Monica to jamming with Loudon Wainwright III for a documentary.

Chad Mills has a steady stream of gigs, but I was happy to see his name in the Birdy's lineup - closer to home. Carrie Pietz is an Indianapolis based singer-songwriter. I think this will be a solo gig for her, but her band includes former Gazette writer, Ashley Plummer (the Peggy Sues).

Jeff Sample (music booker extraordinaire and Upper Room bartender) is celebrating his birthday with bingo, beer and music. The Playboy Psychonauts and Charlie Krone of the Born Again Floozies will play. Cavalier Distributing is hosting a beer tasting from 6-8pm.

I'll have a full schedule in the next issue, but I want you to save the dates. And you should probably buy a ticket now for the Friday night kickoff at the Vogue. The concert features the original lineup of Johnny Socko, The Pieces and Mad Lab.

I also want to put a bug in your ear about the Emerging Artists stage at Birdy's on Saturday. I'm a huge fan of Matthew (Dirty Matt) Aaron's photography. His band, Endiana, is playing. The band is made up of Matt (vocals), Scott Manning (guitar), Tim Fuller (bass), Tim Gray (drums) and Nick Jones (keyboard). The rest of the lineup looks great too: Eisinore, Stranger Lazy, Harley Poe, Dorsey, Eisenhower Field Day, Beta Male and Hey Hey Melodica.

I've been listening to Cari Ray's new CD, Always On, for a few weeks now. Cari is an excellent songwriter and storyteller, not to mention singer and guitar player. She writes songs that speak to any heartbreak and joy in relationships and families that we've all experienced, yet are uniquely her own. Listening to the record reminds me a bit of another outstanding singer-songwriter, Carrie Newcomer.

I always have a blast when I see these guys play. They play a fun mix of Scott Sanders originals, and rock and bluesy covers. I can guarantee a danceable good time every time you see The ReachArounds.