Once again it's time to rock and roll with Rios and Roberts, the guys who keep you up to date on the local music scene.

• Feeling festive? Then you've come to the right place.

Have we got some festivals for you.

First up, some details on The Blues Festival at the Ephrata Main Theatre on Friday, Oct. 8.

The show will kick off at 7:45 p.m. with The Blue Hornets -- a rare appearance from this State College blues band that was a regular at the Chameleon Club in the '80s and '90s, when it was fronted by the late great often-shoeless blues diva Tonya Browne, aka Queen Bee, who died in March 2001.

The Hornets will be followed at 9 by longtime Blues Fest favorite Daryl Davis, a boogie-woogie piano player who does Chuck Berry tunes in ways that would make Berry's jaw drop.

Philadelphia-based blues harp player Steve Guyger and Excellos will take the stage around 10:15, to be followed by longtime regional blues favorite Clarence Spady.

Tickets cost $25 and are available online at ephratamain.com/showtimes or by phone at (800) 838-3006.

You must be 21 or over to attend. And YOU MUST HAVE THE BLUES!!!!

Next fest:

The second annual Fall Music Festival hosted by MyRuralRadio.com.

Never heard of it? Neither did we, but we're glad we did. This year's festival, which benefits a local children's charity, will feature local faves Slimfit and Steven Courtney and his Band of Friends.

When: Saturday, Oct. 23, noon to 10 p.m.

Where: Naylor Winery, 4069 Vineyard Road, Stewartstown.

So there you have it: good music for a good cause in a beautiful setting on a Saturday afternoon. Details: www.naylorwine.com.

And have we mentioned there's wine?

Next fest:

The CHOC Full of Talent 3 fest on Saturday, Oct. 2, will feature local Celtic duo Fire in the Glen, as well as singer-guitarist Jim Folker, classical/jazz vocalist Anne Mason with pianist Simon Andrews, pop/blues vocalist Clare Daher and blues guitarist Tim Truman.

If that doesn't do it for you -- and we feel sorry for you if it doesn't -- then how about this: admission is free, but the audience will have to opportunity to make donations AND a copy of the "Grateful Dead-opoly" board game will be raffled off.

Proceeds benefit the Community Homeless Outreach Center of Lancaster. Music kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster, 538 W. Chestnut St.

Hope to see you there.

• Did someone say radio?

Mike McMonagle will be at Borders Books & Music, 801 Bethlehem Pike, North Wales, for an interview and performance that will be carried on Transitions Radio (www.transitionsradio.com) beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7.

McMonagle is close to beginning work on a new CD he said will include some current and new songs. We'll keep you posted as the project moves forward.

Closer to home, Mike will join Case 150 at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at HMAC: Stage on Herr, 268 Herr St., Harrisburg, and he'll be at Quips Pub, 457 New Holland Ave., at 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14.

• Well, the battle is over and done.

The Barnstormers Battle of the Bands, that is. And we have a winner.

(Drum roll, please!)

And it's the band Shaika!

The self-described "New Age Indie Rock" band got 90 seconds to shine, and they did it with their tune "Close Your Eyes."

Never heard it? You need to go to more Barnstormers games. Or to www.shaikaband.com/discogra..., where you can hear that tune and more by the first-place foursome.

Second place in the contest went to Slimfit -- You've heard of them, right? -- and third went to Motion Life.

Will they rematch next year? We'll let you know -- when we do.

• Singer-songwriter-guitarist Stu Huggens has kicked off a career as a music columnist. Now there's a job you couldn't pay us to do!

Stu's first column came out in the Sept. 13 issue of Lancaster County Woman, according to a recent e-mail. Good luck, Stu! (And plug us in your column, OK? It's only fair.)

You can get it at bars and restaurants, such as Symposium, where that guy we know -- What's his name? -- runs that open mic on Monday evenings. Stop by and pick one up -- and do a few songs while you're there, OK?

• Living for the CD:

August Burns Red's new live CD/DVD "Home" will be in stores and available online beginning Tuesday. The 15-song CD includes songs from the band's first three albums -- "Constellations," "Messengers" and "Thrillseeker" -- and the DVD includes tour footage as well as a documentary and a live performance shot in the band's hometown of Manheim.

A trailer for the DVD is available at http://www.youtube.com/watc.... Watch a clip from the DVD at http://www.noisecreep.com/2.....

The band is currently on tour and won't be in the area until a Nov. 18 show at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia.

• Slackwater News guitarist Matt Johnson dropped us a line to let us know the band will record 10 songs on its upcoming CD, which is still untitled. He said the album probably will be ready for release in early December. He also mentioned the band will release one or two music videos to go with the album. We can't wait.

For now, if you want to catch the band in action, it will be at Appalachian Brewing Company, 50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg, for an 8 p.m. show on Wednesday, Oct. 13, as part of the American Babies October Residency.

• And Lucky You is gathering material to begin work on a new CD. We'll pass along more details as they become available.

In the meantime, you can catch them at The Village, 205 N. Christian St., at 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Opening act: Silverscreen Prom Queen.

Finally, a few quick hits:

• Don't forget to catch Adam Taylor at Ephrata Main Theatre, 124 E. Main St., Ephrata, Friday and Saturday. Friday's show is for all ages and begins at 8 p.m. Saturday's show is for the 21-and-older crowd and kicks off at 9 p.m.

Singer/songwriter James Wolpert will open for Taylor Friday; The Beggar Folk will open for him Saturday.

Admission on both nights is $10.

• ArtWalk is coming up soon, and with it, some music.

Veleska Jewelry, 348 W. Orange St., will feature a junkyard band and break dancing from Heads Up Lancaster at various times through the day on Saturday, Oct. 2, and local folk/blues/jazz/pop band St. Eloise on Sunday, Oct. 3, from 1-3 p.m. Enjoy.

• Wonder why you haven't heard from Vinegar Creek Constituency lately? Because you haven't been spending enough time in the Carolinas, we guess. 

They're set for a gig Saturday at The Cavern Tavern in Chapel Hill. Closer to home, they'll be doing the 5 p.m. set at McCleary's Public House in Marietta on Saturday, Oct. 9.

But the big news is that they'll be playing a show with The Wood Brothers at York's Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center on Friday, Dec. 10. Details at www.vinegarcreek.com.