Wide variety of great bands playing in Eureka this boo-tiful weekend

Don't Stop Please performs Saturday night at Chelsea's.

On Friday night, head on over to Squid and Whale Pub for headliner Brooklyn, N.Y.-based JP & The Gilberts, an Americana-bluegrass style group with harmonies that will remind you of the Beach Boys.

JP & the Gilberts, which began as a family-style band fronted by guitarist John-Paul Saxon Gilbert (formerly of the Ace Fu rock outfit J.A.C.K.), emerge from an extended hiatus to debut a streamlined format and leaner, nastier take on traditional American music that made them an instant fan favorite when they hit the Brooklyn folk scene in 2010.

Veteran Gilberts Alex Hills (accordion) and Lily Maase (guitar) make up the core of the band's current lineup, with both members doing double duty on their respective instruments and percussion. Followers of the New York cult guitar competition-slash-gong-show Shred For Your Life might recognize Maase as the 2010 champion and 2011 national championship runner-up.

One critic recently wrote of the group: "JP & The Gilberts fill the air with accordion sounds that exude a haunting feeling. Their music has a canon that is mindful of bluegrass tradition, rooted in the past. Rich and charismatic vocals sing beautifully pained stories of despair and affliction. ... JP & The Gilberts bring in music of old-time fiddling with an effective mix of Irish undertones. The highly intoxicating set equally seduces both bluegrass newcomers and devoted fans, fostering a universal appeal."

Opening their show on Friday night will be Joe Mack and Carter Sampson. Music begins at 8 p.m. and there is no cover. Squid and Whale Pub is located at 37 Spring St. / 10 Center St., 479-253-7147.

On Saturday night, don your best Halloween garb and join the fun at Chelsea's Corner Cafe & Bar, 10 Mountain St., for the performance by Conway-based Don't Stop Please.

This six-member experimental jazz-Americana band with roots founded in rock and folk influences has been rapidly rising through the ranks of musical acts in The Natural State and winning over audiences with every new venue they play.

This band has been quickly making a name for itself by constantly raising the bar, show after show, and was a standout in the Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase this past spring, winning its semifinal round and impressing judges (and a skeptical me) at the finals competition. Here's a video of them competing in the first round of the Showcase:

With smooth jazz sounds, euphoric vocal harmonies, and amazingly tight rhythmic changes, Don't Stop Please produces a high-energy psychedelic showcase of original sound and presence that exceeds expectations of even the most demanding music enthusiasts.

Their music and stage presence is guaranteed to keep your toes tapping and your butts shaking and will have you begging: Don't Stop Please!

Show begins at 8 p.m. at Chelsea's. Admission will be $5.

On Sunday night, everyone in town is invited to help celebrate Sarah Renko's birthday at Caribe Restaurant and Cantina, 309 W. Van Buren, as the Memphis-based Cherry Brooks Band (formerly out of Fayetteville) headlines.

Cherry Brooks and crew knows how to rock a party. They play R&B, Motown and other blues and rock dance favorites (think "Mustang Sally," etc.), and sitting in with them will be Eureka Springs' own David Renko on saxophone.

This show starts at 7 and goes through 11 p.m., and children are WELCOME. Caribe has plenty of room for dancing, and it's Chalupa Night -- you get a ton of food for a reasonable price with the Chalupa Night special that runs every Sunday at Caribe. And did I mention how delicious their chalupas are?

Oh yeah, there's a costume contest as well, beginning at 9 p.m.

So dress up for Halloween, grab the kiddos, make room in the bellies for a great dinner, then get ready to dance afterward and come join us at KJ's Caribe Sunday night. I can promise a good time will be had by all!

Following is the schedule of live entertainment for Eureka Springs venues for the coming weekend:

* Jack's Place / Centerstage Live, 37 Spring St., 479-253-2219: Karaoke and DJ Goose, 8 p.m. till midnight.

* Squid and Whale, 37 Spring St., 479-253-7147: Monster Mash with Stevie Tombstone and Jerry Jones, 7 p.m.

* Berean Coffee House, 4032 E. Van Buren, 479-244-7495: Live music, 7 p.m.

* Cathouse / Pied Piper, 82 Armstrong St., 479-363-9976: Jason Gordon, 8 p.m.

* Chaser's, 169 E. Van Buren, 479-253-5522: Ozark Thunder, 8 p.m.

* Chelsea's, 10 Mountain St., 479-253-6723: Clawhammer, 9 p.m.

* Eureka Live!, 35 N. Main St., 479-253-7020: DJ & Dancing 9 p.m. to close

* Jack's Place / Centerstage Live: The Barflys, 9 p.m.

* The Lumberyard, 104 E. Van Buren: Bike Night, 4 to 9 p.m. or later, food and drink specials, DJ on demand and prizes; DJ & Karaoke, 9 p.m.

* New Delhi Cafe, 2 N. Main St., 479-253-2525: Brick Fields Band, 6:30 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Den, 45 Spring St., 479-363-6444: Skillet Lickers, 7 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Tavern, 417 W. Van Buren, 479-253-8544: Left Of Center, 6 p.m.

* Squid & Whale: Joe Mack & Carter Sampson opening for JP & The Gilberts, 9 p.m.

* Cathouse / Pied Piper: Jason Gordon, 8 p.m.

* Chaser's: Left Of Center and Crown Girls, 9 p.m.

* Chelsea's: Don't Stop Please, 9 p.m.

* Eureka Live!: DJ & Dancing 9 p.m. to close

* Jack's Place / Centerstage Live: The Barflys, 9 p.m.

* The Lumberyard: Thundercrow, 9 p.m.

* New Delhi Cafe: Dog House Daddies (award-winning Kansas City blues band), 6:30 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Den: Skillet Lickers, 7 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Tavern: Annual Halloween Party (with prizes for costumes) featuring Brian Odle and the Hillbilly Underground, 6 p.m.

* Squid and Whale: Annual Grand Opening Celebration and Halloween Party featuring Clawhammer opening for R.J. Mincho and his Red Hot Blues Band plus prizes for best costumes, 9 p.m.

* Chelsea's: Happy Hour live music, 4-8 p.m.

* Eureka Live!: Customer Appreciation Night specials 5 p.m. to close

* New Delhi Cafe: Dog House Daddies (award-winning Kansas City blues band), 4-7 p.m.

* Squid and Whale: Jeff Freeman Band, 8 p.m.