LISA DENTON: Barry, it seems that music is always uppermost in our thoughts - as an antidote to the voices in our heads, I'm thinking - and the coming week is a good reason why.

Let me count the ways: Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers at Memorial Auditorium on Thursday, Elizabeth and the Catapults at Nightfall on Friday, the Glenn Miller Orchestra at the Chattanooga Choo Choo on Friday and Saturday, and the Masters of Funk Tour at the auditorium on Sunday.

And I'm not done yet. Famed pastor Marvin Sapp leads a Gospel Explosion at the auditorium Friday, and there's a guitar duo, Gyan Riley and Shane Perlowin, at Barking Legs on Saturday.

You want festivals? We've got Perpetual Groove jamming at Amberland at Cherokee Farms in LaFayette, Collin Raye at Music on the Square in downtown LaFayette and three days' worth of bands at Thunder on the Rock in Monteagle.

BARRY COURTER: Oh, praise be ... you hear the voices too?

You are correct about the music. Where to start? When we say Martin will be pickin' and grinnin', we mean it. The funnyman is a world-class banjo player. The lead vocalist for the Glenn Miller Orchestra is Valerie Duke, a young Chattanooga native with a great voice.

Sapp is the highest-charting gospel performer of all time, and the funk tour will feature the Barkays, Sugarfoot's Ohio Players and Slave. You can get all funked up on Friday and then get some religion on Sunday.

The lineup for Thunder on the Rock is crazy good if you like music that reminds you of mullets, T-tops and cut-off jeans. And, who doesn't, right? Georgia Satellites, the Kiss Army tribute band and the Fabulous Thunderbirds are just three of the acts.

And if you've never been to a hootenanny or festival at Cherokee Farms, it is the most perfect spot for such a thing maybe ever.

LISA: Of course, the big news in music this week will be who wins "American Idol." That'll be decided Tuesday and Wednesday, giving me plenty of time to trim the mullet and head to Monteagle.

BARRY: Lauren Alaina Suddeth and Scotty McCreery going head-to-head in the finals. That's good stuff.