"Every music scene thrives on weekends. The good ones keep going strong throughout the week."

Those not-quite-immortal words were written by yours truly, just a month after I arrived back in Minneapolis in 2001 — back when the Star Tribune still hired people, and I still had the stamina to go out every night of the week.

Yes, folks, after six years on the job, I’ve finally gotten around to regurgitating the same column idea, but it’s really out of inspiration more than desperation. There’s a great new crop of weekly gigs on the calendars around town, plus some old standbys that are as reliable as ever.

SUNDAY

: Sunday nights at the Turf have taken on new life along with the acoustic folk/blues/Americana scene, whose stars sit down here on the club’s smaller stage (where the big booth usually sits). Regulars include Charlie Parr, the Get-Up Johns and this weekend’s guests, the Brass Kings. (9 p.m., free-$5, 1601 W. University Av., St. Paul.)

Also recommended:(a k a Dr. Mambo’s Combo or the Legendary Combo, with Michael Bland, Sonny Thompson, Billy Franze, etc.) has played a weekly gig at Bunkers going back to, like, the Eisenhower administration. Now, it plays Sundays and Mondays (9 p.m., $5, 761 Washington Av. N., Mpls.).

MONDAY

: It was 10 below this past Monday and warm as a campfire inside the crowded 331. Led by ex-Accident Clearinghouse co-leader Quillan Roe and his wife, Kim, and featuring Trailer Trash guitarist Dan Gaarder, the folksy acoustic troupe plays old Harry Smith-approved folk tunes, lots of Carter Family and clever originals with banjo, mandolin and even a musical saw. (9 p.m., free, 331 13th Av. NE., Mpls.)

Also recommended: Mondays at Memory Lanes are, where bowling is $2 a game, PBR tallboys are $2.50 and the balls are rolled extra hard in the name of anarchy. (9 p.m., 2520 26th Av. S., Mpls.) Fat Kid Wednesdays or some of their friends host the improv-oriented: Nobody wants to have to stand in a club on a Tuesday or listen to some songwriter singing about their own problems, which makes it the perfect night for the plush couches and velvety vibe at this Dinkytown hangout. The music skews toward experimental jazz by the likes of the James Buckley Trio, and, this week, the all-star trio Battle Cat with drummer Greg Schutte, guitarist Park Evans and bassist Cody McKinney. (315 14th Av. SE., Mpls.)

Also recommended: Theat the Artists’ Quarter didn’t lose its groove when Bill Brown took over a couple years ago from Billy Holloman. (9 p.m., $5, 7th Place & St. Peter St., St. Paul.)

WEDNESDAY

: The kings in question are three DJs who used to spin roots reggae, dub and dancehall jams at Rudolph’s before relocating last year. At this better-suited West Bank pub, their booming international grooves are complemented by the local immigrant population, the occasional soccer match on TV, plus $3 Red Stripes and some hard-to-find African beers. (9 p.m., free, 501 Cedar Av. S., Mpls.)

Also recommended: KFAI-FM blues/roots specialist Jackson Buck hosts his: Each month, one band of the sort you’re likely to hear on the Current/89.3 FM (the series co-sponsor) is picked to branch out over four consecutive weeks, usually with its own interesting choices for opening acts. Past months included Mouthful of Bees, Mel Gibson & the Pants and Romantica. Bouncy pop band Mighty Fairly is holding it down this month. Speed’s the Name takes over in March. (10 p.m., free)

FRIDAY