Tunes to Please All Ages

If you’re a music lover and a parent with little ones, chances are your “mini me’s” think Imagination Movers are the bomb. And you probably even like them a little bit, yourself. Show your rug rats just how cool you can be by taking them to see the rock stars of their generation at the Center on Saturday. This quartet of musicians from New Orleans knows how to ham it up for the kids and rock it out with a certain amount of hipness for the parents. The Imagination Movers’ “In a Big Warehouse” concert tour should demonstrate why these Emmy Award-winning dudes are all the rage for all ages. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster for $27, $37, and $117 (VIP package) plus fees. Matinee at 2 p.m. and evening show at 5 p.m.

And for those who think that the live music scene is overly dominated by male singers, this one’s for the girls. We have a pair of fantastic female musicians to recommend this week. Carisa Turner is a local singer/songwriter who stirs up a refreshing mixture of pop, indie, rock, and soulful sounds on the piano. A pianist since the age of 4, Carisa Turner takes her cue from influences such as chanteuses Sarah McLachlan and Ingrid Michaelson, among others. Love and life tend to be Turner’s songwriting inspirations. She appears at Friday from 8 to 10 p.m. There is no cover charge.

The frontwoman of Cosmic Gypsies, Dawn, has got some impressive pipes. Covering powerpop, rock, and dance music across four decades, this rocking four-piece brings its party mode to quirky watering hole on Friday night. One can also count on high quality, danceability, and entertainment value from Cosmic Gypsies’ original material. Music begins at 9:30 p.m. and there is no cover charge.

Ray’s on the River – On Friday, local legend Tommy Dean brings his roguishly stylish trio to wow the crowd with jazz standards, classic Americana, blues and a smattering of Rat Pack gems. Music begins at 8 p.m. in the bar area and there is no cover charge.

– Friday night welcomes Rockasaurus, the band who is “licensed to party” with a funky blend of classic rock, oldies, Motown and Southern rock.  Music is at 8:30 p.m. and there is no cover charge.

- Singer/songwriter Brian Wiltsey performs as a duo with bass on Friday night. Wiltsey will begin at 10 p.m. and Padriac’s has no cover charge.

Dixie Tavern hosts popular local alterna-rockers Seven Sharp Nine on Friday night. Also known as 7 Sharp 9, this band cranks it up at 10 p.m. Cover charge will be $5.