Beat Happenings

Back to school blues: Teachers, books and dirty looks are the clichéd blues of detention-doomed delinquents. But for the masters of reading, writing and rhythm, the Blues Royale competition at the Lucas School House (1220 Allen Avenue; 314-621-6565; www.lucasevents.com) is bound to bring musical liberation. Local blues bands go bass-to-bass in hopes of winning performance prizes, including a main-stage slot at the world-famous Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival. At 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 17, the Blues Royale will put the following semifinalists to the test: Jimmy Lee Kennett Band, Norman Jackson & the Pawn Shop Blues Band, New Rising Sun, Oysters Rockefeller, and Mark Moore and the Smokers. The winners will compete with the previous week's champs at the final battle of the blues on Saturday, August 19, at 9 p.m. Semifinal tickets are $5; finals admission is $10.

It's like red but not quite: Steven Tyler may have been the first to call pink "the color of passion" that "goes with the fashion," but the monthly dance party Subluminal at the Ground Floor (215 East Main Street, Belleville, Illinois; 618-277-1026; www.thegroundfloorclub.com) is putting his lyrics into action. On Friday, August 18, pink is the new black for clubgoers, who are eligible for a mysterious hot-pink prize by wearing the hue. Pimping the pink party will be electro-faves Hyperbubble, Mystechs, Gravity Plays Favorites, DJ 486 and General Speculum. The free show starts at 7 p.m.; everyone nineteen and older is welcome. — Kristyn Pomranz