• Here's the drama at Cefalo's Saturday night. Most of the musicians know each other well, but only one band and one solo act/duo will win the fourth annual Blues Challenge and move on to compete in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge in February.

The Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania holds its Challenge at the Carnegie club with 11 entries from Pennsylvania and seven bands from five other states. Among the acts are Shot O' Soul, Mystic Knights, Jill Simmons, Angel Blue and the Prophets, Blu Razor Band, Memphis Cradle (Akron) and Willie Phoenix (Columbus).

It runs from noon to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $12; $15 day of event; $13 society members. Call 412-276-6600.

• Speaking of blues: Do you like them "romanceable, backbone-slippin, sweat-drippin', finger- poppin', hang-up-droppin"?

That's what The Blues Junkies promise. The gritty band celebrates its debut CD, "Blues Is Our Business," with a release party Saturday at Molly Brannigan's, 660 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon.

The band is fronted by Rufus T. Firefly (on loan apparently from a Marx Brothers movie) and also features bassist Jim McCabe (The Boilermakers), drummer Ed Kruck (Gary US Bonds, Mitch Ryder) and guitarist Mike Scheer (Jumpin Jack Flash).

"After a long hiatus that turned into a 10-year sabbatical from playing in a band, I've found playing in the blues junkies to appreciative dancin' and drinkin' crowds just damn good fun," Firefly says. "Just singing and playing blues harp in front of such seasoned professionals gives me the freedom to explore being a frontman in the style of James Brown and everybody else that has copied him through the years."

It begins at 10 p.m. Call 412-341-7827.

• And then there are those events that are so funky, live musicians aren't even necessary. DJs Jay Malls and Omar-Abdul present the Big Throwback Second Anniversary Party Friday night at the Brillobox in Bloomfield spinning rare funk and funky soul. Their special guest will be DJ Pari, of Germany, who was once the official DJ on a James Brown tour. The evening begins at 8 p.m. with food, drinks and DJs Juddy & Gordy of Vipers Soul Club.

On Saturday night, the Vipers Soul Club is at the Shadow Lounge for The Heart Of Saturday Night, with special guests Ann Arbor Soul Club DJs Brad Hales and Robert Wells. That begins at 10 p.m. According to Juddy, "This weekend, which we did not plan together but which we're promoting together, proves the 'burgh to be at the center of America's burgeoning soul and funk DJ scene."

• Lindsey Horner, former bassist with Pittsburgh jazz band OPEK, returns to town Sunday with Jewels and Binoculars, a jazz trio that specializes in interpretations of Bob Dylan songs. The trio also features reed player Michael Moore (ICP Orchestra, and Clusone Trio) and drummer Michael Vatcher.

The group's latest record, "Ships with Tattooed Sails," features such songs as "If You See Her, Say Hello," "Blind Willie McTell," "Cold Irons Bound," "Senior" and "Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)."

Alan Jones, of One Final Note in the UK, wrote of Jewels and Binoculars, "Bob Dylan should be flattered, as his music here is imaginatively interpreted with gorgeous instrumentation, while treated with obliging respect."

It begins Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside with the Thoth Trio (featuring Ben Opie). Admission is $10.

• Uh-oh, twins are on the way. That means Kip Ruefle is going to be too busy for a while to be behind the drums for A.T.S. He'll play a pre-fatherhood show with the classic Pittsburgh band Saturday at Howler's in Bloomfield. Ruefle and Evan Knauer will be joined by former drummer Steve Heineman (now based in New York) and bassist Mike Marcinko. Also on the bill are EdfromOhio (fIREHOSE) and Brian Richmond, WJ and the Sweet (Jersey City), Welcome Abraham and The Branches. A.T.S. will play on, by the way, with backup Jay Matula. It begins at 10 p.m. Call 412-682-0320.

• If this show is as scary as the poster, look out. Mr. Roboto Project has doom and sludge on the menu with Ol' Scratch and Admiral Browning, a pair of headliners from the Virginia/Maryland that share personnel. The show is presented by the Pittsburgh-based Oppressive Sound System Releases, which is working with Ol' Scratch on a 7-inch picture disc. They are joined by Hodag Redux Delux (Brian Colleran or Weird Paul) and the debut of Teeth. It's at 7 p.m. at 722 Wood St., Wilkinsburg. Admission is $6.

• Glam, punk and horror-surf-rock will all be accounted for at Z Lounge on the South Side Saturday when The CosmoSonics headline with The Forbidden 5 and Baltimore's Filthy Rotten Sex Machine. It begins at 10 p.m. Call 412-431-1800.

-- Scott Mervis