The Portland Press Herald reported this week that the Rock4Relief concert profiled in this space last week raised $1500. Not bad. Not bad at all. Unfortunately, the bluegrass fundraiser in Gray was totally washed out — we bet they took a bath, but maybe they didn’t invest much. Anyhoo, we’ll be peppering benefit news into the column as it comes in, but we’ll now be returning to our gossipy news format after more than a month of non-stop Katrina coverage. Cheers to everyone who spent time and energy raising money for people who really need it. Bands never get enough credit for the good work they do, playing just about any benefit that comes calling and investing major time and effort into making the event a success.

That said: Mighty Sam McClain, a Boston-based bluesman who got his start in New Orleans and who is a Louisiana native, has announced a benefit show for Red Cross to happen at the Stone Church, in Newington, New Hampshire, November 5. He’ll have a brand-new, unreleased disc, Betcha Didn’t Know, available for sale, and $5 from each purchase will go to hurricane relief along with the as-yet-unknown door. As McClain says, "We need your face in the place."

Andy Happel, electric fiddler du jour, continues to push his Dreaming By the Sea record with a gig October 21 at Bubba’s. This one’s notable for the addition of new band members. It’s getting to be a veritable orchestra. In addition to current keys-man Duncan Watt (also a noted producer down on the Seacoast), percussionist Rocket Richard (not the hockey player), and drummer Sean Daniels, Happel will be backed by guitarist Sumner McKane, with whom he’s familiar since they both back country crooner Don Campbell, and bassist Patrick Johnson, with whom the Rocket has built chemistry as part of the Difference, the rhythm section backing Joshua Eden and DJ p.nice on a number of occasions. McKane, especially, is something of a big deal, having been highlighted on NPR recently, and his band will open Friday’s show.

DJ Jim Casey, more of a disc spinner than a scratcher, will be taking over Wednesday karaoke, game shows, and dancing at Montebello in Raymond, through December. Notably, Casey reports that Portland newspapers (Press Herald, Kennebec Journal, etc.) "totally ignore disc jockeys and I can’t seem to get a good explanation from them. I realize we are not bands creating music, but we do have talent and entertainment skills too!"

It’s official. Sidecar Radio’s debut full-length, Soundtrack from the Upside, will be out November 1. The CD-release show will be the Halloween gig at the Asylum, with Paranoid Social Club, Animal Suit Driveby, and Lost on Liftoff, October 28. Look for a review next week in "The Beat Report."

Finally, as has been widely reported, Herb Ludwig, of the nationally known and loved folk group Devonsquare, died recently while undergoing heart surgery. There is universal opinion in the local music community that Ludwig was a stand-up guy, great musician, and always willing to help other local players get a leg up. He’ll be missed. A good indication of that is that Devonsquare’s Industrial Twilight made our "Top 10" this week as a best-selling local album. Cool.