Music Picks 

Thursday 8.24

Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven (Gallivan Center); Salty Frogs (Piper Down); I Am the Ocean, Gaza (Broken Record)

Friday 8.25

PARK CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL

Think there’s only one way to do jazz? Think again. Consider the basic formats'Dixieland, bebop, free, acid, nu, etc.'off which Miles, Dizzie, Ella, Charlie and others launched classic albums. Besides, there’s no reason contemporary artists necessarily follow the traditional back catalog. Featured performers at this year’s three-day Park City Jazz Festival draw on a wide range of influences from myriad genres including blues, rock, ’80s pop and more. That’s why the Robben Ford Trio sounds different from Tucker Rountree, whose jazz guitar work hardly resembles the swing of Royal Crown Revue. Not feeling any of those artists? Try Lonnie Smith, Lavon Jackson, Chris Botti, Ileane Santamaria Orchestra or Marcus Miller. No reason to limit your options. Deer Valley Resort, 2250 Deer Valley Drive, Park City, 3:30 p.m. All-ages. Tickets and daily lineups: ParkCityJazz.org.

Also Friday: Unwritten Law (In the Venue); The Plus Ones (Kilby Court); Hot Rob Hillbillies (Burt’s Tiki Lounge)

Saturday 8.26

UNIVISION REGGAETON FEST

If you listen to KRCL’s La Bulla, own a Daddy Yankee album or just dig traditional/contemporary music hybrids, the Univision Reggaeton Fest is a fine opportunity to further explore the body-shakin’ world of Latin and Jamaican-influenced dancehall. Next Level Entertainment’s Leimomi Cronin, who has long celebrated the cultural smash-up of traditional Spanish-language songs, new-school hip-hop and groundbreaking beats, recruited national artists Nicky Jam and Carlitoz Way'along with local groups Ale y Maivao, JV & Nene Sammy, Pe$o, and Georgie'to perform for an all-ages, cross-cultural audience. Expect teenagers and baby boomers to bounce in equal measure. Hollywood Connection, 3217 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, 6 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: SmithsTix.com.

ABC, ENGLISH BEAT, NAKED EYES

A quick MySpace music search for ABC turns up no less than 31 pages of hip-hop, rap, crunk, hardcore, grindcore, punk and comedy acts whose moniker is their singular link to a British band responsible for such new-wave gems as “The Look of Love” and “Poison Arrow.” Thanks to recent ’80s revivalism (see: ankle-length leggings and Keds for further proof), the group is out to reclaim re(tro)spect'or at least a few sold-out shows. They’re back in full effect with fellow U.K. artists English Beat (“I Confess,” “Mirror in the Bathroom”) and Naked Eyes (“Promises, Promises”). Bring your own synth. Springville Acres Park, 700 S. 1300 East, Springville, 7 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: SmithsTix.com.

THE MINDERS

Jeff Magnum’s rumored return to recording has generated renewed interest in Elephant 6, the eclectic music collective responsible for Neutral Milk Hotel, Apples In Stereo, The Olivia Tremor Control, Dressy Bessy and, lucky us, The Minders. Like their cohorts, the Portland, Ore., trio crafts catchy, somewhat anachronistic pop songs that inspire both la-la-la singalongs and Matthew Sweet shoulder shimmies. Other tracks off 2006’s Bright, Guilty World flex some psychedelic muscle, inviting the listener to sit back with eyes closed and imagine tiny elephants traversing on clouds against a backdrop of sunshine supermen. What do you see when The Minders plug in? Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, 7:30 p.m. All-ages. Tickets: 24Tix.com (with Drew Danburry and The Grizzly Prospector).

Also Saturday: Bowling for Soup (In the Venue); Mountain West Metal Fest (Great Saltair); Park City Jazz Festival (Deer Valley); Vile Blue Shades CD Release (Urban Lounge'see Music, p. 50)

Sunday 8.27

Park City Jazz Festival (Deer Valley); Wolf Parade (In the Venue'see Music, p. 48); Gays in the Military (Urban Lounge); Blackhole (Urban Lounge)

Monday 8.28

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (Avalon Theater); Sam Bush (The Depot); Drums & Tuba (Urban Lounge)

Tuesday 8.29

Tool (E Center); Keith Varon (Kilby Court); The Boomsticks (Monk’s)

Wednesday 8.30

NIGHT OF THE LIVING REDNECKS

There are few images more frightening than a crowd of hillbilly zombies roaming the streets, searching for fresh flesh under the command of a war-mongering leader'except perhaps a visit from our El Presidente. Calm your nerves after a day of anti-Bush protests with more freedom-hating fun as Dead Kennedys tribute band Night of the Living Rednecks invoke the political musings of Jello Biafra. Singing along to “Police Truck,” “Holiday in Cambodia” and “Too Drunk to F'k” might not bring down the current administration, but it’ll help you sleep better. That, and seven or so Jack & Cokes. Burt’s Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State, 10 p.m. Info: 521-0572.

Also Wednesday: Dave Matthews Band (Usana Amphitheater); Leahy (Kenley Amphitheater, Layton); Cabaret Voltage (Urban Lounge)

COMING UP

Toto (Sandy Amphitheater, Aug. 31). Vince Neil (Ogden Amphitheater, Sept. 1). I Can Lick Any Son-of-a-Bitch In the House (Egos, Sept. 1). Reggae Sunsplash (Usana Amphitheater, Sept. 4). The Gossip (Urban Lounge, Sept. 4). Utah State Fair (Utah State Fairpark, Sept. 7-17). Legendary Shack Shakers (The Depot, Sept. 7). Vast (Avalon Theater, Sept. 8). Alan Jackson (Usana Amphitheater, Sept. 9). Shooter Jennings (The Depot, Sept. 9). Jurassic 5 (The Depot, Sept. 11). Gigantour: Megadeth, Lamb of God (Usana Amphitheater, Sept. 15). Sugarcult (Avalon Theater, Sept. 15). Brian Jonestown Massacre (Urban Lounge, Sept. 15). Reggae in the Mountains (Gallivan Center, Sept. 16). Elton John (E Center, Sept. 19). Redfest (University of Utah, Sept. 21-22).