By Jason Andreasen

In recent years, plenty has been made about the lack of big-name talent that comes through Baton Rouge when it comes to music. Sure, we don’t see Bruce Springsteen or U2, but that doesn’t mean that great acts ignore the Red Stick altogether. In fact, during the month of January, it looks like local venues have gone out of their way to bring in some fantastic shows. Here’s my top 5 - and be sure to check out The Hookup (TW’s Entertainment Section) for more in-depth looks at each of them:

 5.) Lil Ray Neal @ Phil Brady’s (Jan. 24) - An award winning guitarist from Baton Rouge’s first family of Blues. If you haven’t seen Neal’s fretboard ferocity, I would suggest taking advantage of this opportunity to see one of the city’s most talented bluesmen.

4.) Black Light Burns @ Spanish Moon (Jan. 17) - While Fred Durst has been honoring Limp Bizkit’s memory doing guest spots as a bartender on House, M.D., Wes Borland has been busy fronting the industrial rock trio, Black Light Burns. The band just released their second album, Cover Your Heart, and is currently on tour with Combichrist.

3.) Blue Mountain @ Chelsea’s Cafe (Jan. 24) - This Mississippi-based Americana outfit is one of the South’s best, with obvious influences as diverse as Tammy Wynette, Robert Johnson and Keith Moon. If you can appreciate American roots music (and if you can’t I feel sorry for you), then you definitely need to check out Blue Mountain.

2.) Richie Havens @ The Manship Theatre (Jan. 18) - A true, honest-to-God legend rolls into Baton Rouge and you don’t want to miss him. You may know Richie Havens from his gut-wrenching performance of “Freedom” when he played the original Woodstock in 1969. Since then, he’s authored dozens of albums and produced plenty of works of original art. This is a serious artist with serious songs that can range from the socially conscious to the spritually enlightening. Richie Havens is the real deal.

1.) North Mississippi Allstars @ The Varsity (Jan. 15) - This band out of Hernando, Mississippi is an incredible trio of musicians. For over ten years, the band has been delighting audiences with their incredible fusion of blues, rock and country, including a central role in the film, “We Have Arrived Bonnaroo 2004″. The band’s frontman, Luther Dickinson, is also the newest member of The Black Crowes. This is the show that everyone will be talking about this month, so don’t miss it!

Be sure to check out Tiger Weekly’s first issue of 2009 for interviews with North Missippi Allstars’ Luther Dickinson, music legend Richie Havens and Black Light Burns! The issue hits stands on January 14!