Taj Mahal

Oct. 4-6

Clifton Center
2117 Payne St.
cliftoncenter.org
$25 (daily), $75 (weekend); 6 p.m. daily

For the first of what will hopefully be many festivals, the Clifton Center’s executive director, John Harris, called on Duke Ellington’s thought that, “There are two kinds of music — good music, and the other kind.” Both big and rising names in fun, classy entertainment will play on three different stages throughout the complex, starting with lifer bluesman Taj Mahal on Thursday. Locals Tyrone Cotton, Joe Manning and Steve Cooley & Friends join the rest of the line-up, which also includes influential jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, bluegrass’ The Boxcars, Brazil’s Trio Brasileiro, young Americana duo Shovels & Rope, Cajun dance band Feufollet, and Seattle country band Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers. A BBC cash bar and local food vendors will also be participating. Tickets are available at Carmichael’s Books and the Clifton Center. —Peter Berkowitz