Yes, it’s true. For the fourth week in a row (fifth? It’s so hard to count things like weeks), we here at "Sibilance" central will deal exclusively in Katrina benefit shows. Also, if you’ve held a Katrina benefit show and raised some money, send an email follow-up to sam@phx.com (our editor, who knows how to work email) and let him know how much. We’ll print any and all amounts — nothing’s too small to be proud of. Any live-music show in Maine that doesn’t lose money should be considered an unqualified success (yikes! That sounds a bit cynical, but here we are working on a federal holiday that honors a guy who indirectly wiped out some 24 million people in the span of 100 years, so who can blame us?).

Next week, we’re pretty sure, we’ll get back to reporting the freakin’ news (or a close approximation thereof).

This Saturday, October 15, gets the Katrina madness started with a tripleshot. First up in a somewhat odd affair at the Cumberland County Civic Center. It’s called the Cajun Connection Hurricane Relief "Festivale" — "From the Maine Coast to the Gulf Coast" — and is most prominently (from the literature) a public skate, running from 12:30 to 3:30 pm, with the whole event happening from 11:30 am to 4 pm. Cover is $10 for peeps over 12, $5 from 3 to 12, and free for the littl’ns. There will also be "Jail & Bail" (a band? some kind of activity?), face painting, a silent auction, food, games, prizes, and live music. Who’s playing the live music? Well, the McCarthys say they are, and we think maybe there will be other bands, but nobody’s told us who. This is likely a solid family affair to take the kiddies to on a Saturday afternoon. All proceeds from this one benefit the citizens of Washington Parish, Louisiana.

Next on Saturday, there’s Rock4Relief (is there a copyright on that?), featuring Modern Syndrome, Fifth Freedom, Trading January, U-Turn, Third Floor View, Aimless Drive, the Shams, and Haven’t Talked Since, at Catherine McAuley High School. These are mostly the sorts of bands you’d see on the Warped Tour — in fact, Haven’t Talked Since did play the Warped Tour — and it’s heartening to see a benefit show that should largely attract donations from the teen set. Suggested cover is $6. Get mom and dad to give you more. It all goes to the Red Cross.

Finally on Saturday, we’ve gotten word about a bluegrass festival at a farm called Stonehedge, situated at 342 West Gray Road (Route 202) in Gray. Blistered Fingers and other notable Maine bluegrass acts are on tap, running from early afternoon past nightfall, and camping is available (we think the show runs into Sunday). Again, proceeds are going to the Red Cross.

On October 16, close by in Windham at the Lakes Region Eagles, you can check out a buffet, bake sale, auction, and music by Florita, Brian Wardwell, Jubilee’s, Elizabeth Decker, and others, starting at noon and going into the wee hours. It’s free to get in, but you better buy stuff, cuz it’s a benefit and all. Get it?