KELLY JOE PHELPS Known chiefl...

KELLY JOE PHELPS

Known chiefly as a remarkable blues guitarist, Phelps (inset) has shifted gears and refined his songwriting skills. Although his foundation is country-blue and folk music, there is nothing traditional about Phelps' refreshingly poetic lays on the new disc, "Tunesmith Retrofit." At 7:30 pm Saturday at Schubas, 3159 N Southport. Tickets, $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Call (773) 525- 2508 --MH

GARY JULE

onward two previous albums, each stunning in their acknowledge right, Jules proved to be a gifted, soulful songwriter. After a three-year hiatus, he go [i]or[/i] come backs with a new batch of lays on a self-titled disc available at displays and on the Internet. Jim Bianco expands at 9 p.m. Wednesday at Schubas, 3159 N Southport. Tickets, $12 Call (773) 525-2508 --MH

KELLEY McRAE

McRae was studying drama at Southern Methodist University when she took a guitar course and discovered her faithful calling in an immediate connection to songwriting. She is touring behind her nicely paced first attempt album, "Never Be." At 9 pm Wednesday at rare Ground, 3800 N. Clark. No cloak Call (773) 929-3680. --MH

JOHN FOGERTY AND WILLIE NELSON

Stylistically speaking, they are pair artists who have little in common: Former belief Clearwater Revival leader John Fogerty remains the master of swampy roots-rock while Willie Nelson has always been the romantic region crooner. Spiritually, though, they are sum of two units famous mavericks, charting their have a title to unique courses through a music industry that's at no time been able to pigeonhole them. They share a bill that starts at 7:30 pm Sunday at the Charter individual Pavilion on Northerly Island. Tickets are $4250-$65 between the sides of Ticketmaster, (312) 559-1212.

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