Pop-rock band Thirstbusters returns to Ashkenaz for its annual hometown stand, with more new songs to dance to. Their friends Local Hero and Girl Named T open. Thirstbusters, formed by members of the Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble when they were juniors, has branched out (and graduated), incorporating a wide variety of influences in their dynamic and emotional sound and melding rock drive with jazz inventiveness. The band’s live shows and debut album, “Time You Awake,” take audiences through original songs that reflect on the human condition, love, death, emotional restraint, political war, and individual power, as well as yearning for love during that excruciatingly long second-period class in school. Thirstbusters are Zach Sorgen on keyboards and vocals, guitarist Ryan Thomas, electric bassist Chase Jackson, and drummer Forrest Mitchell.

Young Berkeley pop-rock trio Local Hero plays a set of original songs in their first week in public after woodshedding for more than six months. Most of the songs are written by singer-guitarist Alex MacKay. The rest of the band is bassist Jojo Brandel and drummer Leo Grossman. www.localhero.metrojolt.com

Berkeley singer-songwriter Girl Named T, with band of same name, opens with original music, songs that, she explains, are “influenced by living in Berkeley, looking at stars, and having deep sea adventures in outer space. They are dedicated to everyone and their dogs.” www.myspace.com/GirlNamedTmusic

Making its Ashkenaz debut, Brooklyn’s hot young Zongo Junction is a big band with a bigger sound. With electric guitars, layers of percussion, and six horn players, Zongo Junction delivers incendiary Afrobeat in the best tradition of the late Nigerian legend Fela Kuti (the current award-winning Broadway musical “Fela!” attests to the style’s universal popularity). The Zongo Junction members grew up playing jazz and other American music forms. Most just graduated from New York University or the New School. All are in their early 20s, and four are Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble alums. Berkeley-reared drummer Charles Ferguson spent six months in Ghana during 2008 studying African xylophone while in music school. The wild cornucopia of styles he heard there inspired him to start Zongo Junction. “There was a ton of highlife and funk in Ghana,” he says, “but Fela lived there for a while and used a lot of Ghanaian musicians, many of whom still live there.”

In between school and other bands, Ferguson assembled Zongo Junction to play his version of ’60s and ’70s Afrobeat grooves from Ghana, Nigeria, and Benin combined with the influence of funk music (as in James Brown) from the U.S. In July 2009, Zongo Junction’s debut performance at Public Assembly in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was a huge success and led to a monthly residency for the rest of 2009. This year Zongo is heading up a new monthly residency at Cameo in Williamsburg entitled “Afro Funky!”

Led by Ferguson, Zongo Junction is bassist Joshua Hari Brozosky, electric guitarists Jordan Hyde and Pavel Kogan-Liakov, the roaring percussion section of Aaron Shafer-Haiss and Adam Coopersmith, and horn players Raffi Garabedian (tenor sax), Tim McKay (baritone sax), Danny Lubin-Laden (trombone), Joe Hartnett (alto sax), and Aaron Rockers and Will Magid (trumpets).

Blind Willies plays original songs written by guitarist-singer Alexei Wajchman, a soulful mix of rock, folk, jazz, and blues that fits comfortably within the wide arms of alternative Americana. After releasing two acclaimed albums as an acoustic duo, “The Unkindness of Ravens” (2007) and “Everybody’s Looking for a Meal” (2008), Blind Willies is now a band of five eclectic and accomplished young musicians: Wajchman, drummer Adam Coopersmith, cellist Misha Khalikulov, keyboardist-trumpeter Max Miller-Loran, and bassist Daniel Riera. As with Zongo Junction, some members are Bay Area natives who attended college in New York City. The band has played numerous clubs and festivals, including Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and just recorded a new rock album at John Vanderslice’s all-analog San Francisco Mission District studio, Tiny Telephone. www.blindwillies.net

Buy tickets online!

Virgin Islands reggae band Inner Visions has been popular at home for 25 years, but only over the last decade has it taken its distinctive, conscious music to the States. Based in St. John, Inner Visions has performed from the California World Music Festival (Grass Valley) to headlining the Bob Marley Festival in Houston and Dallas. Their melodic songwriting, impassioned lead vocals, and sweet three-part harmonies – reminiscent of the best vocal groups of the ’70s – are captured on a half-dozen recordings from the past 15 years, including 2010’s “Stay Alive.” Inner Visions is a true family band, featuring two generations of players: singer-bassist-percussionist Alvin “Jupiter” Pickering; his brother, guitarist and lead singer Phillip “Grasshopper” Pickering; and Phillip’s sons, keyboard player Akiba “Mr. Snooze” Pickering and drummer Aswad “Hollywood” Pickering.

Daddy Stevo launched the DJ sound system Comanche High Power in 1999 after 20 years of collecting reggae records. Based in Santa Rosa, it has grown to be the king reggae sound of the North Bay. Comanche High Power spins a roots and culture sound, “meaning we are concerned with the culture of Jamaica and the Caribbean,” explains Daddy Stevo, “as well as being well conscious about the message in the music we play.” www.myspace.com/comanchehighpower

The Mood Swing Orchestra is tonight’s attraction at Ashkenaz’ exciting “Sweet & Low Down Wednesdays” Series that takes place all odd Wednesdays (1st, 3rd, 5th). The series brings in some of the West Coast’s favorite blues bands, as well as those that stretch into such related dance music as West Coast Swing, New Orleans R&B, East Coast Swing/Lindy Hop, and jump ’n’ jive jazz. As with many Ashkenaz offerings, each show will be preceded by a lesson that will help all comers dance the night away in style on the spacious floor at Ashkenaz – voted “Best Dance Club” in the East Bay Express Readers’ Poll once again in 2009.

A long tradition (begun in the 20th century), Ashkenaz’ Grateful Dead night continues to turn new corners and present surprises, always rooted in the spirit of the Dead and its aesthetic of jamming to achieve communal enlightenment through dancing. In this case, two bands provide a full night of jam-dance music. Dead Dreams, which made its Ashkenaz debut under that moniker in April, takes its name from a line in the song “Box of Rain” – “inch your way through dead dreams to another land.” Although the group is new, the players have been seen at Ashkenaz in various other bands: guitarist-singers Dave Stein and David Gans, bassist Jeff Faust, drummer Mark Corsolini, and keyboardist Mookie Siegel. They take familiar repertoire – “Eyes of the World,” “Cassidy,” and “Playin’ in the Band,” among other tunes – in new directions.

Buy tickets online!

For Santa Cruz-based SambaDá, founded in 1997 by native Brazilian Papiba Godinho, every night is Carnaval. The ultimate goal isn’t just to preserve traditions the nine musicians are so well-versed in – including samba, bossa nova, pagode, samba reggae, batucada, and forró, plus some well-placed surf guitar – but also to get everyone dancing to the band’s infectious blend of Brazilian roots and other North and South American styles such as funk, reggae, jazz, rock, and hip-hop. The pulsating percussion, uplifting vocals, and rich melodies of SambaDá give it a distinctive sound, heard in both popular and original songs.

SambaDá went to Brazil in July 2009 and became the first band from the United States to play at the legendary house of Ilê Aiyê, the first black Carnaval group in Brazil. Lead vocalist Dandha is a master dancer from Ilê Aiyê, and singer-guitarist Papiba is a master of the Brazilian martial art form capoeira. SambaDá released its new CD, “Gente!” in April, the result of more than two years of “hard work, love, laughter and tears,” the band says.

Mucho Axé’s goal is unifying peoples and cultures. Their music brings together genres and grooves from South America and beyond: from various folkloric rhythms (including tango) to samba and bossa nova, and from mambo and cha-cha-cha to reggae and ska. They have enjoyed developing their concept of “reggae en español,” which includes reworkings of various Bob Marley songs. Mucho Axé’s repertoire includes traditional songs and original music and poetry with lyrics in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. The band is led by lead vocalist-composer Pepa Quiroga, a native of Argentina, and guitarist-singer-composer-arranger Edgar Macchiavello. www.muchoaxe.com

The legendary Jamaican band Mabrak headlines a night of deep roots reggae that also features Mr. Majestic and Earl Zero. The national talking drum champion of Jamaica, Leroy Mabrak first came to the United States in 1972 as a member of pioneering group Count Ossie & the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari. On his own he created an ensemble where the West African talking drum is the lead instrument, first under the name Genesis, and then as the band Mabrak. The group built not only on reggae but even rootsier Nyabinghi sounds, adding in polyrhythmic percussion. In 1974 the drumming section of Mabrak won two of four medals awarded for drumming in the Jamaica National Drum Music Finals. The group’s 1975 recording “Drum Talk” (produced at King Tubby’s studio) was chosen to be the theme song for the 1975 Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth Conference. While Mabrak regularly tours the world’s reggae festivals, this is its first Ashkenaz appearance in more than 20 years.

Reggae singing great Earl Zero has just issued his latest songs on the CD “And God Said to Man,” continuing his reign as one of the great messengers of Jah music. Zero has long influenced musicians and listeners far beyond the reggae realm. His best-known song, “None Shall Escape the Judgement,” was the basis for Jonathan Richman’s “Egyptian Reggae.” His “Please Officer” was covered by Jimmy Cliff as “Peace Officer.” Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Zero was schoolmates with guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith, and they made amateur recordings together. In the ’70s and ’80s Zero scored his own hits at home and in England, before relocating to the United States, where he may not record as often as followers would like, but he is one of reggae’s hottest touring acts for his hard-hitting Rastafarian messages in song, balanced by love songs. www.earlzero.com

Jamaican native Mr. Majestic sings his own mix of reggae with hip-hop and R&B, heard on his albums including the 2006 CD “Unbreakable,” featuring such songs as the heartfelt “Peace in the Middle East,” “Mama Africa” in classic conscious reggae style, and “Borderline” with hard-hitting rap vocals over an insistent hip-hop rhythm track. www.mrmajesticmusic.com

A hot band of Cajun/Zydeco veterans, CZ & the Bon Vivants dish out classic Cajun dance tunes and originals. Along with singer and fiddler Catherine Matovich (whose day job is playing with symphony orchestras), the Bon Vivants are Lake Charles, Louisiana, native and East Bay great Andrew Carriere on accordion, guitarist John Graham (of MotorDude Zydeco and more), bassist Elaine Herrick, and drummer Timothy Orr. Over the last few years they’ve appeared frequently on the festival and outdoor event circuit – from downtown Oakland to the Solano Stroll, the Kaiser Rooftop concert series to Bay cruises – and at many a Bay Area dance hall. The group was born when Matovich got home after playing in Neil Diamond’s touring band and saw a concert by Cajun/Zydeco fiddler Tom Rigney. “I loved working big shows, but seeing Tom’s band made me want to be in a group like that, that had so much fun playing together.”

Mamadou & Vanessa perform their lilting, uplifting music they describe as Mali blues, a blend of Wassoulou from Mali (music originally based on the rhythms of hunting ritual) with American blues, which is rooted in West African music. For tonight’s concert they bring their full band, with Mamadou Sidibe singing and playing the six-string doso n’goni harp, Vanessa Sidibe singing and playing nkerenye, and a backing band on bass, calabas, djembe, and a second ngoni. Grand prize winners in the World Music category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the Bay Area duo has also picked up other prestigious awards for its most recent CD, “Wassoulou,” including winner of the 2008 Independent Music Awards. Tonight they also features song from their current recording project, to be released later this year.

Buy tickets online!

Buy tickets online!

Zulu Spear’s inspired and uplifting African dance music returns to Ashkenaz, along with a set of South African freedom songs performed by the vocal group Kalahari: Voices of South Africa.

Zulu Spear was a pioneer and leader in the Bay Area’s World Beat scene of the ’80s, a movement that quickly spread across the country, and issued an LP on Capitol Records. The band of African and American musicians combined South African rhythms and songs with American rock and blues, using electric guitars and drums, resulting in South African pop music before Paul Simon’s 1986 “Graceland” album popularized the style. Additionally, members presented traditional South African dancing along with the music. The group was founded by the late South African expatriate singer-composer-dancer Sechaba Mokeoena. In the U.S. Mokeoena started U-Zulu Dance Theater and, after moving to the Bay Area, he formed Zulu Spear to play traditional South African mbaqanga rhythms and harmonies using modern and electric instruments.

A veteran of several reggae bands, Asheba brings children and families into his joyful world of Caribbean music. Playing guitar and steel pans and singing, he performs an infectious mix of songs and tells stories from his island childhood in a participatory concert that appeals to children of all ages. The effervescent musician moved from his native Trinidad to New York City in 1989. He has called Oakland home since 1999 and has put out four popular kids’ CDs: “Go Itsy, Music for Kids Caribbean Style,” “No More Monkeys,” “Children Are The Sunshine,” and the recent “In the Kid Zone.”

Tri Tip Trio is steeped in Louisiana and New Orleans zydeco and swamp blues. Although little more than three years old, the band comes with a vision and well over a decade of its members playing together. The Tri Tip Trio concept is based on Clifton and Cleveland Chenier’s early zydeco/blues dance hall sounds. Lloyd Meadows’ propulsive washboard and harmonica and soulful vocals, along with Bruce Gordon’s pumping accordion and Tyler Eng’s rock-solid drumming, are all Tri Tip Trio needs to capture raw and exciting sounds for both dancers and listeners. The three musical musketeers play classic zydeco, blues, and New Orleans funk as well as band originals. They also like to integrate cover tunes that were never originally zydeco songs into their sound. The group’s debut CD, “3 of a Kind,” is a tribute to “King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier and includes a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Miss You” alongside original and traditional tunes.

The California Honeydrops return to Ashkenaz’ exciting “Sweet & Low Down Wednesdays” Series that takes place all odd Wednesdays (1st, 3rd, 5th). The series brings in some of the West Coast’s favorite blues bands, as well as those that stretch into such related dance music as West Coast Swing, New Orleans R&B, East Coast Swing/Lindy Hop, and jump ’n’ jive jazz. As with many Ashkenaz offerings, each show is preceded by a lesson to help all comers dance the night away in style on the spacious floor at Ashkenaz – voted “Best Place to Dance” in the East Bay Express Readers’ Poll once again in 2010.

In spite of their name, the California Honeydrops play New Orleans-rooted dance music: blues, gospel, second line jazz, and early R&B. From the stomps of Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet to the romps of Fats Domino and Chris Kenner, plus Ray Charles and the band’s original songs, the California Honeydrops have been making listeners and dancers ecstatic since they formed in 2007. Their first CD, “Soul Tub,” is pure party music, but nothing like experiencing the band on the Ashkenaz dance floor. The group recently returned from a three-week Northern Europe tour, including the Moulin Blues Festival and Breda Jazz Festival, and just released their second CD, “Spreading Honey.”

The night of the Living Dead seems to happen at least once or twice a month at Ashkenaz. This triple-bill Grateful Dead tribute show features two Ashkenaz regulars (David Gans and Play Live Dead) and the club debut by the North Coast’s Thugz. Gans opens with a solo set, and joins the Thugz on a few of their songs, before Play Live Dead concludes the concert.

Play Live Dead is the new name of two bands that recently coalesced into a single entity, Live Dead Band and Play Dead. As the musicians explain, “We’re just going to let the music play the band.” Featuring former members of Workingman’s Ed, Crazy Fingers NY, and more, Play Live Dead plays the music in exquisite detail, helping create an evening of music, dance, community, and adventure. www.myspace.com/playlivedead

Thugz doesn’t exactly sound Dead-oriented, but “don’t let the name fool you,” the band says: it’s an acronym for Tribal Hippie UnderGround Zone. Based on the northern Sonoma County coast, the sextet spins off Grateful Dead classics as well as band originals and songs by Bob Dylan, Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, even Donovan. Along with singer-guitarist-trumpeter-group founder Mike Campbell, Thugz is singer-keyboardists Sylvia Murphy and Brackett Clark, bassist Chris Lushington, singer-drummer Ian Favell and guitarist-singer Andre de Channes. www.thethugz.net

Buy tickets online!

Buy tickets online!

Forró Brazuca plays the sensuous, upbeat sounds of northeastern Brazil like no other band on the West Coast. Inspired by the music of wild accordionist Luiz Gonzaga, Jackson do Pandeiro, Trio Virgulino, and Dominguinhos, Forró Brazuca performs Latin, folk, and roots music at its festive, rollicking best! Formed by four San Francisco-based Brazilians – each from a different region of Brazil – in early 2007, Forró Brazuca has been bringing its accordion-powered dance music (very similar to zydeco and Cajun music, and just as high-energy) to venues all across the Bay Area, with accordionist Mestre Francelino, triangle player Carlos Baiano, bassist Carlos Oliveira, and drummer Chris Carioca.

DJ Carioca spins delicious tracks of forró and more throughout the night. Hailing from the Zona Sul of Rio de Janeiro, he has amassed a plethora of delectable samba grooves and recordings of samba school baterias straight from the vault. www.myspace.com/sfdjcarioca

Buy tickets online!

The Caribbean Allstars are pioneers in the Bay Area reggae scene and longtime regulars at Ashkenaz. The talented ensemble, whose geographical roots range from Jamaica and South America to West Africa and the United States, began joining their musical forces and international backgrounds during the early 1970s. The Allstars not only play Jamaican reggae with a traditional electric bass-drums-guitars-keyboards lineup, but also add steel drums to bring in South Caribbean calypso and soca styles of Trinidad and Tobago, producing rhythms that drive listeners to the dance floor.

The bottom-end beat is the foundation of Bass Culture, the dance band that features music and artists from Bass Culture Productions. Lead vocalist Nez B (Ernesto Browne), a native of Trinidad, was lead singer in the Bay Area’s first reggae band, Obeah, and other groups including Vision, One Love, and DV8. The rest of tonight’s ensemble includes some of the Bay Area’s best players in the reggae-world-Caribbean realms: guitar ace Jason Collins (from 7th Street Sound and Funkanauts), keyboardist-vocalist Parabar Martin Weber (Tazmanian Devils, Judy Mowatt, Joe Higgs, the Itals), percussionist Abdul Waheed (Butch Haynes, Cosmo, S.E. Rogie), bassist-singer Gary Nelson (Zulu Spear, Judy Mowatt, Cosmo), and drummer Barry Lowenthal (Tazmanian Devils, KBC Band, Taj Mahal). www.basscultureproductions.com