Grass Roots -- your complete guide to Eureka's 5th annual Bluegrass Festival.

Ø Eureka's 5th annual Bluegrass Festival kicks off tonight with a seed-spittin', clog-dancing hootenanny driven by at least four hot bands in Basin Spring Park at 7 p.m.

  This year's Friday and Saturday Bluegrass headliners at the Auditorium include Sam Bush, The Tennessee Gentlemen, The Buffalo City Ramblers, Ronnie Reno, Old School, Marty Stuart and Sunday's 2 p.m. Gospel Show superstars The Williams Family, The Nelson Family, The Ozark Alliance and Mare Winningham.

  Everything you want to know about this weekend's festival is detailed in Summit Publication's Grass Roots guide-book available all over town and distributed in surrounding states.

Bobby Miller Day

* Dr. Bobby "Always There When You Need Me" Miller's ashes began their eternal float trip on the King's River three years ago to the day, as of Thursday, Aug. 23, when those of his friends who are still paddling on top of the water will gather at Chelsea's for a memorial tribute and ... party!

  A plaque commerorating Bobby's long service to the drinking public will be mounted in the bar where he poured out his soul for years. Never-before-released photos of the good Doctor of Mixology will be revealed and Chelsea's will show its appreciation of Bobby's friends with drink and food specials.

  This is not an event for crying in your beer. It'll be about giving thanks for all the years Bobby brightened our lives. You might say it'll be a No-Wake zone.

Starlight Cinema

* The Lucky 13 Starlight Cinema will screen Waiting for Guffman, Sunday evening, Aug. 26, beginning at dusk. The gates will open at a new time -- 6 p.m.

  Awe-insprinng music will be performed by The Awesome Possums. The evening's entertainment will feature a "World's Worst" contest which will consist of truly-terrible, 1-minute monologue audition pieces.

  Sunday's Lucky 13 will be sponsored by Liberty Service Company and hosted by Eureka Theatre Co.

Cajun's Benefit

Ø According to no-less a pornobilly angel than Melissa Carper, there'll be a gathering of the green to benefit Cajun (aka Keith Rajotte), Eureka's legendary Lord of the Board, Sunday, Sept. 2 at Chelsea's community re-hab center and pub beginning in the 4s, as time is oft reckoned in the Slowzarks. Mountain Sprout and other local musicians will provide the entertainment.

  Cajun's had some medical problems that weren't helped a bit when he was shell-roaded with debris from an unanounced dynamite blast near his Ozark mountain home.

-- Vernon

Thursday, Aug. 23 H

* Basin Park Hotel Balcony: Crosstown Richard, noon-3 & 5-8 p.m.

* Basin Spring Park: Bluegrass Festival Watermelon Party with 4 Bands, 7 p.m.

* Cathouse Lounge: Bike Night with The Hogscalders, 6-9 p.m. and The Sideshow Tramps, 8 p.m.

* Chelsea's: Customer Appreciation Day and Salute to Bobby Miller, 5 p.m.

* Michael's Center St. Pub & Grill: Ladies' Night, (Co-ed)

* New Delhi Cafe: Mountain Sprout, (Pornobilly), 6:30 p.m.

* Shawbee's Big Dawg Saloon: Ladies Night

Friday, Aug. 24 H

* Auditorium: Sam Bush, The Tennessee Gentlemen and The Buffalo City Ramblers, 1:30 p.m. and Sam Bush, Ronnie Rio and Old School, 7 p.m.

* Basin Park Hotel Balcony: Fish Fry with The Hogscalders, noon-3 & 6-9 p.m.

* Cathouse Lounge: Mountain Sprout, (Pornobilly), 8 p.m.

* Chelsea's: Arkamo Rangers, (Hard-Time Bluegrass)

* Coop Dog's Hog Shack at Anglers' Grill: Don O'Barr

* Crescent Hotel Dr. Baker's Lounge: Maureen Alexander, 8-11

* Eureka Live: Music, 9 p.m.

* Grand Central Hotel Grand Taverne: Arkansas Red, (Jazz Guitar), 6-9 p.m.

* Henri's: Burnett & Taylor, 9 p.m.

* Jack's Place: 2nd Anniversary Party with Fatz 59, (Rock & Roll)

* Lumberyard Bar & Grill: Dance with DJ Tic, 7-11 p.m.

* New Delhi Cafe: The Sideshow Tramps, 6:30 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver: Live Music, 7 p.m.

* Shawbee's Big Dawg Saloon: Karaoke with the Big Dawg, 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 25 H

* Auditorium: Ronnie Reno, The Tennessee Gentlemen and Old School, 1:30 p.m., and Marty Stuart, Ronnie Renor and The Buffalo City Ramblers, 7 p.m.

* Basin Park Hotel Balcony: Catherine Reed, noon-3 p.m. and Rachel Fields, 6-9

* Basin Spring Park: Bluegrass Competition, 10 a.m.

* Cathouse Lounge: The Sideshow Tramps, 1 p.m. and Mountain Sprout, (Pornobilly), 8 p.m.

* Chelsea's: Arkamo Rangers, (Hard-Time Bluegrass)

* Crescent Hotel Dr. Baker's Lounge: James White, 8-11 p.m.

* Eureka Live: Music, 9 p.m.

* Jack's Place: Fatz 59, (Rock & Roll)

* Lumberyard Bar & Grill: Dance with DJ Tic, 9 p.m.

* Michael's Center St. Pub & Grill: The Hogscalders

* New Delhi Cafe: The Sideshow Tramps, 6:30 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver: Live Music, 7 p.m.

* Shawbee's Big Dawg Saloon: Karaoke with the Big Dawg, 9 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 26 H

* Auditorium: Bluegrass Festival Gospel Show with The McClung Family, The Williams Family, The Nelson Family, Ozark Alliance and Mare Winningham, 2 p.m.

* Basin Park Hotel Balcony: Maureen Alexander, noon-3 p.m., and Catherine Reed, 5-8

* Cathouse Lounge: Mountain Sprout, (Pornobilly), 2 p.m.

* Chelsea's: The Sideshow Tramps, afternoon

* Crescent Hotel Crystal Dining Room Brunch: Arkansas Red, (Jazz Guitar), 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

* Lucky 13 Starlight Cinema: Waiting for Guffman, with music by The Awesome Possums, dusk

* Michael's Center St. Pub & Grill: Open Jam

* N. Main St.: Sunday Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

* New Delhi Cafe: Opal Fly & The Bastard Jazz Brass All Stars, (afternoon)

Monday, Aug. 27 H

* Chelsea's: Ladies Night

* Lumberyard Bar & Grill: Happy Hour with Mary

* Michael's Center St. Pub & Grill: Hospitality Workers' Appreciation Night

* Shawbee's Big Dawg Saloon: Free Pool Night, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 28 H

* Chelsea's: Open Mic

* Eureka Live: Ladies Night, 5-8 p.m.

* HI Elks Lodge: Charitable Bingo, 6:30 p.m.

* Shawbee's Big Dawg Saloon: Guys Night Out

Wednesday, Aug. 29 H

* New Delhi Cafe: Open Jam