Garvin Gates Blues Festival
Garvin Place, between 4th and 6th Streets
Oct. 9-10
"The largest free neighborhood street music festival in Louisville" is free and open to everybody (which is probably part of the reason it's the largest free festival in the first place). Head to Old Louisville for blues, food, drinks and those ubiquitous artist booths. Since 1988 the festival has featured legendary blues musicians: this year Lil' Dave Thompson is Friday night's headliner while Sugar Blue has the honors on Saturday night.

Louisville Sub Rosa: The Gypsy Courtyard
Tequila Factory Bar & Grill
917 Baxter Ave.
Sept. 18, 8 p.m.-2 a.m.