The annual winter lull in shows is slowly ending, based on this weekend's schedule. Take a look:

Friday Night:

Simon Joyner and the Wind-up Birds is at O'Leaver's with Iowa City's Miracles of God. Joyner and his band, as everyone knows, recorded a new number of new tracks recently for an upcoming album on Jagjaguwar Records. Word has it that it's some of the best stuff of his career. Here's a chance at a sneak peak. I've been spending a lot of time with Joyner's just-released B-sides and singles collection Beautiful Losers -- an excellent introduction to his early work (though nothing beats The Cowardly Traveler Takes His Toll, which remains out of print. Perhaps Jagjaguwar will step up and make it part of their Joyner rerelease campaign). Miracles of God is a low-fi indie/garage four-piece that reminds me of laid-back Neil Young. Good stuff. I suspect that this will be a very packed show, as Joyner shows usually are at O'Leaver's. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Madison, Wisc.-based Charlemagne is playing at Mick's with David Potter. Charlemagne records on SidCho Records, the same label as Neva Dinova. As a result, there's been some confusion as to the band's home town, with the good folks at SXSW accidentally reporting that they're from Omaha. There's a funny retelling of the blunder online at the Isthmus (read it here). Charlemagne plays jangly, acoustic-folk indie clearly influenced by Simon and Garfunkel and the Beach Boys. $5, 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, down at Sokol Underground, Sarah Benck and The Robbers are playing with Anonymous American and The Scott Severin Band. $7, 9 p.m.

Saturday Night:

A huge show at Sokol Underground with Clair de Lune (Deep Elm Records), Lawrence band Ghosty (Future Farmers Records), Lincoln's Eagle*Seagull (Paper Garden Records) and Omaha favorites Landing on the Moon, who are offering their brand new EP for sale that night. You'll never have a better chance to see these rising stars all on one bill. $7, 9 p.m. Get there early.

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