After a relatively quiet weekend to close out April as most of our local bands were at Norman Music Fest, this week is busier than ever with a mix of local bands and touring acts. With too much going on to list here, you'll need to reference our live music section for the detailed listings, but here are the highlights to get you out the door and pointed in the right direction.

Thursday, May 3

If you're looking for the bigger, touring shows, Hank Williams III returns to Cain's Ballroom for what is always a wild and unpredictable show, while Casting Crowns brings the big Christian concert of the month to Spirit Bank Events Center. Bob Reuter's Alley Ghost brings an old school, punk and rockabilly vibe to Soundpony and The Bourgeois plays Treehouse for a free show with Carnegie and The Outset.

Friday, May 4

Sawyer Brown comes to River Spirit Events Center to show who really laid the groundwork for bands like Rascal Flatts to become so huge in modern pop-country and Gooding returns to Tulsa to debut at Fassler Hall for a great night of killer guitar rock. Meanwhile Back Porch Mary plays the first of a two night stand with Brandon Clark Band at Mercury Lounge as the group says farewell and hang sit up.

Saturday, May 5

This one proves to be Back Porch Mary's final hurrah (in Tulsa, at least) and Brandon Clark Band opens, recording the show for posterity and a possible live disc. Bixby BBQ and Blues Festival brings Walter Trout and Joe Louis Walker to Washington Irving Park for a full day of music and food, bit the names just get bigger. Monte Montgomery plays and acoustic show at All Souls Acoustic Coffeehouse to close out the spring season and Roger Waters brings his over the top solo production of The Wall to BOK Center.

Monday, May 7

Turnpike Troubadours packs out Mercury Lounge for a sold-out CD release party on its home turf that will undoubtedly be one of the best gigs of the week. If you're into indie-pop, though, you need to go out of your way to check out Go Radio as the band headline Eclipse with Tyler Cater, There Providence and more.

Tuesday, May 8

Eclipse is busy again, this time hosting Kittie for a hard rock show, but the best bet if the night is Thrice at Cain's Ballroom on the band's farewell tour with Animals as Leaders and O'Brother.