Tonight brings a downright spectacular pairing to Raleigh's NC Museum of Art, two wonderful acts guaranteed to get your mojo workin'. I've done interviews with both in the not-too-distant past; so you can read up on Bettye LaVette and Marcia Ball.

We've got more to report from the NC Museum of Art summer concert series, after yesterday's Bettye LaVette news. Confirmed for July 18 is Dan Zanes, originally a member of the Del Fuegos but lately a highly acclaimed star in the world of children's music. Ticket details to come. 

New to the NC Museum of Art concert schedule, according to Pollstar listings: sassy soul goddess Bettye LaVette on July 10, in a killer pairing with bayou country pianist Marcia Ball. Should be a great one.

The rest of the NCMA's concert schedule so far consists of Pink Martini on June 6; Hubert Sumlin with Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin on Aug. 8; and Doc Watson on Sept. 26.

The weather outside might be frightful, but next summer's shows are already popping up for the Triangle's big warm-weather venues. Raleigh's Time-Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek has its first show of 2009 on the calendar, country icon George Strait on May 16, according to his online tour schedule. No surprise that it's a country show, since Walnut Creek has been more of a country venue than a rock one for years now.

Over at the NC Museum of Art, meanwhile, two concerts are already on the schedule, according to Pollstar listings -- Pink Martini on June 6, and the venerable Doc Watson on Sept. 26.

Click through for a bunch more verbiage on John Hiatt than the blurb that's in Friday's paper.