As with most three-day weekends, a great number of New Yorkers ditch the city to enjoy the extra day of R&R. Sunday night is pretty dead at most of the city's clubs, but all other nights are as happening as ever.

For fans of African music, you can't do too much better than Bembeya Jazz's show at S.O.B.'s tonight. Tickets are $22/$25. There's a show at 9pm and another show at 10pm. Seriously. I guess there won't be much of an encore. Attention Anglophiles! Also tonight, the Streets and Dizzee Rascal play their second straight night at Irving Plaza. Tickets are $20/$25.

On Thursday, start your evening off with a free show at the South Street Seaport at 6pm. (The weather should be good for this one.) The increasingly famous singer-songwriter-for-the-indie-crowd Sufjan Stevens is supported by local band The Silent League. Stevens writes beautiful, delicate songs and The Silent League will make any fan of Mercury Rev smile. Not to be missed. Later, German dance masters Jazzanova play at Rare.

Saturday afternoon at PS1's Warm Up series mixes music, art and alcohol. This is the first of the summer and it's gonna be a good one. Travor Jackson (Playgroup, Output Recordings) will be joined by Madlib and Peanut Butter Wolf. Later that night, Trevor Jackson joins Tiga and Dead Combo at Disgraceland, a new party at Crobar.

More hot stuff on Saturday can be found at BB King's. Are you ready for...Tribute Wars?! A night of tribute bands is almost too much to handle (as if BB's overpriced drinks weren't enough) but there's something intriguing about a line-up that pays homage to Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Slayer and Pantera. Could be pretty hot.

Also Saturday, electronic music anarchist Kid 606 headlines the Tigerbeat 6 label showcase on the Knitting Factory along with Hrvatski, Dev Null and DJ C. Nobody rocks the laptop like Kid 606!

There's gonna be a great show at Battery Park on Sunday: Lyle Lovett and Calexico. Coolfer hasn't seen Calexico for years and misses their rootsy Southwest-flavored songs. And what of the former Mr. Julia Roberts? The guy rules. Show starts at 4pm.

Other ways to spend your paycheck:

- Vandermark 5 at Tonic, tonight. (For avant-garde jazz lovers.)
- Japanther at Tommy's Tavern, tonight. (If ya wanna get crazy.)
- Souad Massi and Maria de Barros at Summerstage, tomorrow. (Music from Algeria and Cape Verde. Should be good. And it's free.)
- Alexander Robotnick w/John Selway at the Coral Room, tomorrow.
- The Alarm at the Knitting Factory, Friday. (Yes, that The Alarm.)
- Bacilos w/Cabas and Radio Mundial at the Prospect Park Bandshell, Saturday.
- The legendary Psychic TV at the Bowery Ballroom, Saturday.
- The Star Spangles at Sin-E, Saturday. (It's like Johnny Thunders rose from the grave.)

Other Ways To Use Up Your Hard Drive:

- Sufjan Stevens: "Year of the Dog"
- The Silent League: "Breathe"
- Radio Mundial: "Me Voy"
- Vandermark 5: "The Cooler"
- Kid 606: "fuctmpclivejam"