Here is a listing of Altoona area live music happenings for the weekend and week of Friday, Jan. 19 through Thursday, Jan. 25.

One of this weekend’s highlights blends live music with a tasty variety of chilis and soups. The fifth annual “Feel the Heat Chili & Soup Cookoff” takes place Saturday in downtown Bedford. Various area restaurants, taverns and other eateries will offer samplings of their chilis and soups to willing tasters at seven participating downtown Bedford locations: HeBrews Coffee Shop, Briar Valley Winery, Bedford Candies, Founders Crossing, Oak Spring Winery, Pigeon Hill Studios and Locality art studio. Live music will happen at each location, featuring a number of (mostly) acoustic performers: Happy Hour (Tommy Fix and Sarah Mellott) at Bedford Candies, Coltt Lepley and Brandi Naugle at Founders Crossing, Bad Luck Lover Boys at HeBrews Coffee Shop, and Dunnings Creek, Dave Howsare and Eric Delozier performing at the other three locations. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those wishing to participate in the tasting need to purchase wristbands, which are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event, and can be purchased at the various tasting locations or online through Downtown Bedford, Inc.’s website. www.downtownbedford.com. Only a limited number of wristbands were still available as of Friday afternoon.

For those wanting to get their drumming on, the Altoona West African Drumming Circle and Camara Drum and Dance present the Joy Drummers’ Winter Retreat, which takes place on Saturday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Altoona. The event begins at 11 a.m. with a gratitude sharing and drum introduction at 11 a.m., lunch at noon, drumming with Yamoussa Camara at 1 p.m., and a water blessing at 2:30 p.m. Beginners are welcome, and no experience is necessary. Admission to the event is free, and donations will be accepted.

Among notable shows on the area nighttime stages this weekend: popular State College acoustic roots rock group The Tommy Roberts plays their first-ever Altoona performance on Friday night at McGarvey’s, with a rare appearance of special blues-rocking guests The Blacksnakes to open the evening; that show starts at 10 p.m. And Railtowne, a new area country group featuring members and alumni from Bad Daze, Chris Woodward & Shindiggin,’ Matt Pletcher & the PDX and more, will make their first Altoona appearance at the Four Dees Lounge on Saturday night. That show begins at 10:30 p.m.

For outdoor shows, in the event of inclement weather, please call or use social media to check ahead to make sure the show is still taking place, especially if you are driving any distance to attend.

Check out and support the area live music! And if you celebrate heavily while doing so, please designate a sober driver or call a taxi to get you home.

FRIDAY NIGHT 1/19:

The Tommy Roberts and The Blacksnakes at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 10 p.m.)

Felix & the Hurricanes at Newburg Firehall, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

The Boomers at Bavarian Aid Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

Greg Burley at U.S. Hotel, Hollidaysburg (starts 7 p.m.)

Flight 19 at Huntingdon Elks, Huntingdon (starts 8 p.m.)

Johnny Stevens and Dylan Miller at Johnny’s Bar, Huntingdon (starts 10 p.m.)

Kenny Fetterman at OMNI Bedford Springs Resort, Bedford (starts 8:30 p.m.)

Open Mic with Dave Howsare at River Cafe, Everett (starts 6 p.m.)

Pat “Mingo” Lidwell at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 7 p.m.)

Krazy Kat Daddies at Patton American Legion, Patton (starts 9:30 p.m.)

Acoustic Stew at Our Station House, Ebensburg (starts 7:30 p.m.)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON 1/20:

Joy Drummers’ Winter Retreat with Camara Drum & Dance at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Altoona (starts 11 a.m., free admission)

“Feel the Heat Chili & Soup Cookoff,” downtown Bedford; live performers at chili/soup-tasting locations include Dave Howsare (at Briar Valley Winery), Dunnings Creek, Happy Hour (at Bedford Candies), Bad Luck Lover Boys (at HeBrews Coffee Company), Eric Delozier, Coltt Lepley & Brandi Naugle (at Founders Crossing) (starts 11 a.m., wristbands for tasting $15/advance, $20/day of event)

SATURDAY NIGHT 1/20:

Jae Smith at Family Pizza & Pub, Altoona (starts 8:30 p.m.)

Naildriver, Darkness On The Radio and It Is Written at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 10:30 p.m.)

Railtowne at Four Dees Lounge, Altoona (starts 10:30 p.m.)

R2B2 at Unter Uns, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

KB Express at Bavarian Aid Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

Three of Hearts at Newburg Firehall, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

Locked & Loaded at Blue Knob Clubhouse, Blue Knob Ski Resort (starts 9 p.m.)

Rue Moyer and Alec Zander Redd at Locality, Bedford (starts 7 p.m.)

Hawestone at Double LL Bar & Grill, Everett (starts 10 p.m.)

The Chaneysville Ramblers at Breezewood VFW, Breezewood (starts 7 p.m.)

Felix & the Hurricanes at Cresson American Legion, Cresson (starts 9 p.m.)

Open Stage Night at The Gathering Place, Patton (starts 6 p.m.)

Ed N’Born at Park Avenue Pub, Patton (starts 10 p.m.)

Lauren & Joe at Patton American Legion, Patton (starts 10 p.m.)

Rokkandy at Patton VFW, Patton (starts 10 p.m.)

Crawdad Joe at Our Station House, Ebensburg (starts 7:30 p.m.)

Adam Ernst at Castle Pub, Ebensburg (starts 9:30 p.m.)

Matt Kozlovac at Ebensburg Moose, Ebensburg (starts 8:30 p.m.)

Jampact at Philipsburg American Legion, Philipsburg (starts 9 p.m.)

SUNDAY NIGHT 1/21:

Dave Howsare at Family Pizza & Pub, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)

The Band OZ at U.S. Hotel, Hollidaysburg (starts 6 p.m.)

Felix & the Hurricanes at Black & Gold Tavern, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)

MONDAY NIGHT 1/22:

Simple Gifts at Juniata Valley Elementary School, Alexandria (starts 6:30 p.m.)

TUESDAY NIGHT 1/23:

Open Mic with the Backyard Rockers at D’Ottavio’s Gran Sasso, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)

“Tuesday Night Therapy” with The Traveling Troupe at Bedford Hotel, Bedford (starts 6:30 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT 1/24:

Open Mic Night at Unter Uns, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

THURSDAY NIGHT 1/25:

Steve Summerhill at Jethro’s, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)

Open Stage Night with Rue Moyer at Green Bean Coffee, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)

Rogan Allen at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)

Open Mic Night with Dylan Miller at A.C. Darby Studio, Huntingdon (starts 6:30 p.m.)

Open Mic Night at Our Station House, Ebensburg (starts 7 p.m.)

(NOTE: More shows may be added to this list as information becomes available. Feel free to check back.)

To report additional shows or corrections to this listing, email information to jptheprofessor@gmail.com. Deadline to submit information for the initial posting is each Friday morning at 9 a.m.