By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

Fans of American roots music might be scratching their heads sorting out the plethora of options they have for live music entertainment this weekend. So we here at Cityview thought we'd give you the lowdown on a jam-packed two days of shows that are sure to pull hardcore roots music fans in several directions.

In particular, not since the Iowa State Fair have we seen a concentration of country music acts - real country music acts, that is, not the ones the fair, Country Music Television and commercial radio try to pass off as "country music" - come to town. These are artists who represent the soul of American music, some of whom made a name for themselves years ago thumbing their nose at the establishment and playing their music their way, others who have followed suit and are making a name for themselves as the next generation of fire pissers. All, we might add, travel the lost highways Hank Williams sang about and are poets of the common man.

Here's the roundup:

- Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard; Friday, 7:30 p.m., Val Air Ballroom - What's there to say about two music legends that hasn't been said? Dylan was already a folk-rock superstar before he inadvertently helped move forward the country-rock movement of the '70s with the release of "Nashville Skyline" - an album he claims in his autobiography "Chronicles" was an intentional attempt to sabotage his fame. These days, he plays with notable Austin musicians, wears retro cowboy threads and tours the country like Billy the Kidd on the run. Haggard, one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of any genre, still walks a fine line between patriotism and treason. His status as a country music icon and rebel grows exponentially with each surviving year. He once sang about the pitfalls of fame by boasting that he "kept the wine and threw away the rose." Now he's getting his dues from a new generation of fans. At $125 a pop for general admission tickets or a table of eight for $2,500 ($312.50), this may be the least working man-friendly show of the weekend. Proceeds benefit the ALS of Iowa.

- The Outlaw Family Band; Saturday, 9 p.m., Hairy Mary's - One of the hottest alt-country bands on the road today, The Outlaw Family Band mixes bluegrass, hardcore twang and rock into a backwoods blend of country music that is gaining critical and popular acclaim. They've been building a steady following in Des Moines, packing the old Walnut Tap and Hairy Mary's whenever they visit. Their self-titled new album for Slackjaw Records is a keeper. Austin-based Wayne "The Train" Hancock was supposed to headline this show, but cancelled late last week due to a scheduling conflict. Club officials say he will perform there sometime in August. Admission is $5.

- Robert Earl Keen, Cross Canadian Ragweed; Saturday, 8 p.m., Veishea Music Festival, Ames - An architect of the alt-country sound that took hold in the early '90s, Keen emerged from Texas during the '80s as an independent singer-songwriter with a penchant for real-life tales and wry humor. Like most Texans, his sound is a mix of styles, mostly country and folk. A musician's musician and songwriter's songwriter, Keen's songs have been covered by a variety of artists, including The Highwaymen (Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings) who recorded his biggest hit "The Road Goes on Forever." His latest album, "What I Really Mean," is a tour de force and his best work to date. Sharing the bill with Keen is Cross Canadian Ragweed, who has gained mainstream success thanks to their videos on CMT, yet maintains some street credibility with the alt-country sect thanks to their rough-and-tumble sound that incorporates country, rock, blues and bluegrass. Their latest album, "Garage," is also their finest effort to date. Ragweed has built a steady following in Central Iowa thanks to a regular stream of gigs here over the years. Expect a large crowd, especially with free admission.

- Kelly Joe Phelps; Saturday, 9 p.m., Vaudeville Mews - Every now and then the Mews likes to add a tasty roots music artist to its lineup that is mostly filled with indie-rock acts, and Phelps is one of the finer choices they've made. His spacious sound and scratchy vocals are at once haunting and beautiful and you'd be hard pressed to find a better lap Dobro player. His 2005 live album "Tap the Red Cane Whirlwind" is a breathtaking collection of some of Phelps' best live tunes. It's been a long time since Phelps played Des Moines. Let's hope it's the first of many repeat performances here. Alt-country and barroom rockers Randy Burk and the Prisoners open. Admission is $10.

- Kelly Pardekooper; Saturday, 8 p.m., Eagles Lodge - Iowa City native and singer-songwriter-guitarist Kelly Pardekooper left the Hawkeye State for Nashville a few years ago, but has since found a home and fiancè in Madison, Wis. He's still churning out roots-rock and returns to play his home state a few times each year. This time, he's playing a real down-home joint, the Eagles Lodge, where beer is drank from a can and pickled eggs served from a jar pass are hors d' ourves. Earlier this month, Pardekooper spent a week in East Nashville recording a new album with longtime friend, producer and guitarist Teddy Morgan. The album marks their first full-length collaboration and has already gained interest from an independent record label in Nashville, though he doesn't know when it will be released. "Musically, I've never been happier with a recording than I am with this one," he says. "Sonically, it's really jumping. It's a mixture of blues, country and rock, kind of expanding on 'Haymaker Heart.'" You can hear some of those tunes live at the Eagles Lodge, 6567 Bloomfield Rd. Admission is free. Call 285-6455.

- Leo Kottke; Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Pella Opera House - Heralded as one of America's great storytellers and a regular guest on National Public Radio's "Prairie Home Companion," Kottke is equally entertaining picking out ditties on his 6- and 12-string guitars as he is sharing offbeat stories between songs. "Home and Away Revisited," a newly reissued DVD of a sold-out 1988 performance at Toronto's Bathurst St. Theater, has been restored to include Kottke's entire performance that night as well as behind-the-scenes footage that includes a cameo by Doc Watson. It's a must-have for fans, as apparently are tickets to show at the Pella Opera House, 611 Franklin St., as only single tickets remain at $21.99. Call (800) 720-6327.

- Wishing Chair, BeJae Fleming; Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Ritual Cafè - The folks at the Ritual Cafè have been hosting concerts in their intimate confines for a little more than a year now, but the expectations for this show require them to host it next door in that much roomier suite. Wishing Chair is a national touring folk duo of Miriam Davidson and Kiya Hartwood making a rare Des Moines appearance. BeJae Fleming, as many of you know, is a Trailer Records recording artist from Ames. Her latest offering for Trailer, "Destination Unimportant," is an inspiring collection of blues, country, folk and rock. Admission is a suggested donation of $15. CV

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