It’s going to be a pretty great week for Southern music in Athens, from blues to folk and beyond. The Burning Angels will embody that Southern spirit, at the same time as distinct as an Allman Brothers guitar solo and as diverse as brands of barbeque sauce produced from Texas to South Carolina.

“We like to call it Americana soul,” said Mark Cunningham, lead vocalist/guitar player of The Burning Angels and an Athens native. “But we also like to keep it so it’s kind of indescribable on a lot of stuff.”

The band is a five-piece — two guitars, bass, drums and violin — and for the past year has kept a steady schedule of shows pumped up with a very Athenian variety of rockin’ folk.

Cunningham, who was raised in Athens in the ’70s and ’80s, saw the rise of bands such as R.E.M., Pylon and the Flat Duo Jets in their prime, and paired his appreciation for the new indie vibe with his love of songwriters like Johnny Cash and Gram Parsons. From this, his song writing style was born, and he has performed in various acts around town since then.

“You know, I’ve been writing songs forever and playing in bands for a long time — [songs] just come to me,” Cunningham said. “The meter and the melody, I like to just kinda pair it to how I’m feeling.”

Rounding out Cunningham’s emotionally-loaded but cerebrally-balanced vocalizing is Natalie Garcia, who harmonizes in that oh-so-sweet Southern way (definitely some June Carter/Johnny Cash dynamic there).

Garcia matches Cunningham’s mistiness with beauty, and the songs have a familiarity that anyone who’s ever had a glass of sweet tea on a front porch will recognize.

Cunningham promises the band doesn’t just sit and strum as folk musicians are sometimes wont to do.

“It’s energetic,” he said. “We get at it pretty hard. We like to hit people hard comin’ out of the gate, take ’em up then take ’em down with our mellow stuff, then take ’em back up and then end the show.”

Occasional specials guests for a little onstage reinterpretation is not unheard of either, and The Burning Angels travel in some pretty well-renowned circles. They were in the top two for the Flagpole Upstart of the Year award last year, and have played shows with local favorites like The Whigs and Drive-By Truckers.

The band’s début album was also recently recorded by celebrated local producer John Keane, and is due out in December.

“We been just really hittin’ kinda hard in the music scene in the last year,” Cunningham said, and it doesn’t look like they have any intention of burning out any time soon.

The Burning Angels

Where: Farm 255

When: Friday, 11 p.m.

Price: Free

Thursday

40 Watt

“Floor Show.” 10 p.m., $3

American Cheeseburger

Old-school thrash metal with new-school technique

Guzik

Down-home death metal

Hot Breath

A destructive wave of grungy punk and thrash metal

The Caledonia Lounge

10 p.m., $5 (21+), $7 (18-20)

Manray

Math rock whose technique winds up tight only to explode with energy.

Ahleuchatistas

Drum/guitar experimental punk freight train

Flicker Theatre & Bar

9 p.m., $5.

Dodd Ferrelle

Folk anthems from longtime Athenian

Clint Maul

Pumped up alt-Americana rock big on soul

Timber

Country rock straight from the barstool

New Earth Music Hall

9 p.m.

Ample Mammal/Polish Ambassador

A man and his mixer, a West Coast love story of electronic beats and insane sample skills

Serkatree

Three locals play live electronica — half-man, half-machine

Flight Risk

Mellow dub electronica, a musical robo-trip

The Melting Point

9 p.m., $15 adv., $20 at door

Donna the Buffalo

Folk rock ranging from countrified to funkadelic, from New York

Farm 255

10:30 p.m., free

Ruby Kendrick

Singer/songwriter specializing in catchy, quirky acoustic pop

Delicate Cutters

Woefully hopeful folk with an offbeat approach to the genre

Little Kings Shuffle Club

9 p.m., $5

Thrift Store Cowboys

Rootsy, gothic, Texas alt-country

Lera Lynn

Soulfully Southern tunes with haunted hymn vocals

These United States

Alt-rock pairing dark twang and inventive song-writing style

Nowhere Bar

10 p.m., $2

JazzChronic

A funk body with a jazz mind and a rock soul

Friday

The Caledonia Lounge

10 p.m., $5 (21+), $7 (18+)

Powerload

Locals reproducing AC/DC tunes for the masses

Pastor of Muppets

Classic Metallica covers and an awesome band name

The Melting Point,

10:30 p.m., $20

Love and Theft

Nashville based nu-country, soaring harmonies singing radio-ready hooks

Farm 255

See “Spirit of the South”

Flicker Theatre & Bar

8:30 p.m., $5

Hurray for the Riff Raff

Music born in the hills, raised in New Orleans’ alternative scene

Samuel Doores and the Tumbleweeds

Soulful acoustic tunes rattling in an empty train car headed South

Sea of Dogs

Local ladies playing ghostly, old time folk with modern songwriting sensibility

Ciné BarCafé

10 p.m., $5

Incatepec

Traditional Latin American instrumentation and songs, plus a little saxophone for good measure

Los Meesfits

Misfits songs, in Spanish, with salsa rhythms. Really.

Los Pleneros

Puerto Rican traditional plena music

Go Bar

10 p.m., $5

The Fact

Local punk with Latino background

Reeks of Failure

’80s-style, lyric-barking, pounding, full-bore punk

Immuzikation

Talented sampling DJ known for his dance-party-inducing skills

Hendershot’s Coffee Bar

8 p.m., free

Efren

Hushed but heavy folk not afraid to be dark and mysterious

Terrapin Beer Co.

9 p.m., $20 adv.

David Barbe and the Quick Hooks

Athens music vets playing Southern-tinged rock from anthems to lullabies

Kuroma

Pop rock that shimmers and buzzes under soothing melodies

The Globe

10 p.m., free

Jeremy Roberts Quartet

Locals performing jazz of every shape and size

New Earth Music Hall

See “Pump up the Jam”

You could not possibly count the number of “bands” in Athens started in some basement, just a group of dudes jamming in a smoky room who come up with a silly moniker, play at one party, and then basically forget it ever happened.

But it’s not that often such a band blows up, especially in Athens. But Dank Sinatra is doing just that.

Since starting up last spring, Dank Sinatra has brought its particular variety of “jamtronica reggaefunk” from the back room of frat parties to bars to major downtown venues such as New Earth Music Hall and The Melting Point.

What’s their secret? Work hard, have fun, and invite all your friends.

“A lot of our buddies are into the same kind of music, so we got a good crowd of regulars,” said Pearson Beasley, guitarist for the band.

Several of the band members are in University fraternities, and the band as a whole is riding the good times/laidback tunes wave.

The sound, like Beasley’s  “jamtronica reggaefunk” description, is a blender full of genres pushed up to liquefy, with heavy influences from rock, electronic, funk and soul.

They certainly follow in the jam tradition, with emphasis on onstage improvisation that all depends on the vibe of the room.

“Part of that live experience that we wanna do is that ‘jam thing,’ and that involves an aspect of jazz, electronic, rock, a lot of blues,” said bassist Clint Meadows. “If people are into it, we’re gonna play more, if people are cheerin’ and stuff we’re gonna raise that mood … We’re not throwin’ random notes out there — we’re just kinda lettin’ the rhythm and the tempo change to how we think it should go.”

That rise and fall is part of the draw for Dank Sinatra, says Meadows, as well as jam music in general.

“Sometimes it works out really good, sometimes not as much, but I think for the better, that’s part of what the jam scene is, takin’ that risk,” he said.

Beasley agrees, as a musician and a fan.

“From a fan’s perspective — being a fan myself — jam music is great because every time you go to a show it’s a different experience,” he said. “It’s almost new music because the musicians change it up and improvise.”

That attitude has worked, and it’s not just Greeks coming out to shows anymore.

Dank Sinatra has filled up clubs at its relaxed shows, playing originals and covers in front of crowds of up to 400 people.

The members are happy with that, but are still pumping up advertising and booking ever-bigger shows, with their first show at the 40 Watt in the planning stages.

“Getting your name out there is a big thing in Athens, so I feel like if you can do that here, you can make it as a band, and we’re givin’ it a shot.,” Meadows said

But you can bet they’re not stressing out about it too hard.

Dank Sinatra, with bonus DJ dance party

New Earth Music Hall

Friday, 9 p.m.

$5

Saturday

40 Watt

8 p.m., $6.

Brad Downs & the Poor Bastard Souls

Southern stories over thoughtful roots rock

Charlie Garrett Band

Rock of the Southern variety with crunchy guitars and clean vocals

Jay Lang & the Devil’s Due

Blues rock dirtier than the Mississippi Delta it was born in

The Caledonia Lounge

9 p.m., $7 (21+), $9 (18+)

The Arcs

Melodies reminiscent of ’80s powerpop plus chunky guitars

Paul Collins’ Beat

Sunny powerpop with gruff, bad to the bone vocals from New York

Future Virgins

Florida punk with holler-able melodies that ain’t too down on themselves

The Melting Point

9 p.m.

Zach Deputy

Multi-mic layering madness making “Island infused drum ’n’ bass.”

Wisebird

Super soulful, bass-heavy Southern rock from Austin, TX

Farm 255

11 p.m., free

Eddie the Wheel

Minimalist acoustic with a dissonant ambience

Union of Concerned Scientists

Nate Nelson and Hunter Morris’ melodic new project

Veelee

NC duo embracing low-fi, low-key and low-down pop

Terrapin Beer Co.

5 p.m.

Mellow Down Easy

Psychedelic rock that digs down to the roots

Monday

The Caledonia Lounge

6 p.m., $2 (21+), $4 (18+)

Hayride

Garage rock that knows how to get technical while maintaining a carefree demeanor.

Little Kings Shuffle Club

10:30 p.m.

Boo Ray’s Backslidin’ Baptist Truck Stop

A weekly tribute to all things country featuring down-home all-stars

The Rye Bar

9 p.m., free

Max Eve

“Melodic story telling” via instrumental rock

Monday

The Caledonia Lounge

6 p.m., $2 (21+), $4 (18+)

Hayride

Garage rock that knows how to get technical while maintaining a carefree demeanor.

Little Kings Shuffle Club

10:30 p.m.

Boo Ray’s Backslidin’ Baptist Truck Stop

A weekly tribute to all things country featuring down-home all-stars

The Rye Bar

9 p.m., free

Max Eve

“Melodic story telling” via instrumental rock

Tuesday

Highwire Lounge

8 p.m., free

Kenosha Kid

Genre-bending originals driven by jazz philosophies

The Caledonia Lounge

9:30 p.m., $5 (21+), $7 (18+)

Madeline

Melodic acousti-pop with unapologetic lyrics

Toby Foster

Fresh-faced folk with an honest tone from the Hoosier state Stonebreakers

Pop rock from experienced offbeat Athens musicians

Theo Hilton

Solo show from Nana Grizol frontman

David Dondero

Minnesotan candidly hollering lyrics over unconventional acoustic folk

40 Watt

8 p.m., $11 adv.

Frightened Rabbit

Scottish pop-minded rock that feels expansive yet personal

Plants and Animals

Bestial, rhythmic rock with ominous, old-growth melodies and ambience

The Phantom Band

Sinister rock haunted by the demons of folk musicians passed

Go Bar

10 p.m.

Eskimeaux

Quiet and disquieting, ominously beautiful gothic-folk

Sea of Dogs

Local ladies playing ghostly, old time folk with modern songwriting sensibility

The Melting Point

7 p.m.

Exception to the Rule

Resonating harmonies, high-energy twang, classic instrumentation with a bold alternative

take on bluegrass

Little Kings Shuffle Club

10 p.m.

Bobby Joe Ebola and the Children MacNuggits

Dead baby joke humor and metal from California

Dinner

Jared Gandy of Nana Grizol flying solo

Wednesday

New Earth Music Hall

9 p.m., $8

Eprom

Rage pop, electronic spacy soundscapes and heavy beats, an out-of-this-world

danceability

NastyNasty

Electronica grime with wobbly beats and airy vocals makes NastyNasty buzz like they

are transmitting by satellite

The Melting Point

9 p.m.

The Suex Effect

Progressive rock with reggae rhythms, instrumentation results in a metal meets jazzy-

blues feeling.

The Hypsys

Funky jazz fusion laced with psychadelia

Farm 255

9 p.m., free

Aaron Gentry and Patrick Morales

Local musician of Quiet Hooves and singer/songwriter Morales team up

Rye Bar

10 p.m., $2 (21+), $5 (18+)

Molly

Beat-heavy rap with attitude to spare

The Swank

Local rapper Son1 and Co. treading heavily on the rap-rock border

Other Events in Athens

THURSDAY

WHAT: Eye-Films Series: “Them”

WHERE: ACC Library

WHEN: 7 p.m.

PRICE: free

CONTACT: (706)  613-3650 ext. 33

WHAT: BRAcapella Concert

WHERE: Amphitheater behind Miller Learning Center

WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

PRICE: $5

CONTACT: (865)804-3310

FRIDAY

WHAT: Next to Last Film Fest: Night One

WHERE: Ben’s Bikes

WHEN: 5:30 p.m – 2 a.m.

PRICE: free

CONTACT: www.nexttolastfest.com

WHAT: Haunted Plantation

WHERE: Tucker Plantation

WHEN: 7 p.m – midnight

PRICE: $20, $15 (kids)

CONTACT: (706) 788-3803

WHAT: Athens, Ga., Half Marathon

WHERE: Various locations

WHEN: 7 a.m.

PRICE: $60

CONTACT: www.athensgahalf.com

WHAT: Latin American Film Festival

WHERE: Ciné

WHEN: 7 p.m.

PRICE: $9, $7 for students

CONTACT: www.athenscine.com

SATURDAY

WHAT: Next to Last Film Fest

WHERE: Ben’s Bikes

WHEN: 4 p.m. – 2 a.m.

PRICE: free

CONTACT: www.nexttolastfest.com

WHAT: Red Bull Chariot Race

WHERE: Downtown Athens

WHEN: 2 – 5 p.m.

PRICE: free

CONTACT: www.redbullchariotrace.com

WHAT: Lady Comedy

WHERE: Flicker Theatre & Bar

WHEN: 9 – 11 p.m.

PRICE: $3

CONTACT: ladiesofcomedy@gmail.com

Sunday

WHAT: Fall Wine Fest 2010

WHERE: Ashford Manor

WHEN: 3 – 6 p.m.

PRICE: $30 (advance)

CONTACT: (706) 769-4565