Back Beat

Whether you celebrate Happy Singles Awareness Day or are sitting on a cloud of paper hearts and cupids with your boo, there’s lots of good music to embrace, or embrace to, Saturday, Feb. 14. Spread the love at the all-ages Valentine’s Day dance and karaoke fundraiser for KindTree Autism Rocks 1 to 3:30 pm at Cozmic. If your couch sounds like the best venue, tune in to Mike Meyer’s special “Anti-Valentine’s Day edition of his show Acoustic Junction” to hear “music of love lost, love betrayed and love never found in the first place” including “murder ballads and prenuptial agreements” 5 to 7 pm on KRVM (91.9 FM). But who knows romance better than the French? Eugene’s own powerhouse songbird, Siri Vik, channels another — the Frencher-than-French Édith Piaf (her nickname, “La Môme Piaf” means “The Little Sparrow”) — in the Valentine-inspired tribute concert “La Vie En Rose,” 7:30 pm at The Majestic Theatre in Corvallis. The Grammy-winning Miranda Lambert fills Matthew Knight Arena with the sounds of country loving from 2014’s Platinum, winner of Best Country Album at the Grammy Awards Sunday, kicking off at 7:30 pm with country singer-songwriters Justin Moore and RaeLynn from season two of The Voice. Then there’s the indie-folk lovefest at WOW Hall featuring Austin’s Wild Child, Provo’s Desert Noises and San-Fran-meets-Chapel Hill band Goodnight, Texas at 9 pm. Looking to celebrate early? Head over to the Eleven EyesPre-Valentine’s Day Romp: Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By” 10 pm Friday, Feb. 13, at Luckey’s. Or want to extend that loving feeling? Eugene vocalist Sara Scofield (of local band Whopner County) performs at the 3rd annual Sweethearts at Sweet Cheeks event, a fundraiser and silent auction for the Emerald City Roller Girls 6 to 9 pm Sunday, Feb. 15, at the winery.

The UO student-run Ethos magazine hosts its increasingly beloved (and sixth annual) Bandest of the Bands competition 7 pm Friday, Feb. 13, at WOW Hall; $3 adv., $5 door. Six local bands — Dr. Rocket, Face For Radio, Human Ottoman, Mellow Yellow, The Zendeavors and YamaYama — compete for the top spot, which will be decided by the audience. The winner nabs a secured spot in the 2015 UO Campus Block Party. Past winners have included Small Joys, Hot Milk and Rare Monk.

In the news: Eugene Symphony has just announced the hiring of new Development Director Sara Mason, succeeding Barrett Anderson. Mason was formerly the director of development for the UO’s School of Journalism and Communication.

Many will nod their heads in agreement watching the new music video “Trash” from local experimental funk jazzers Bustin’ Jieber. The band — featuring UO jazz alums Andy Page on sax, Susan Lucia on drums and Dusty Carlson on bass — collaborated with Ninkasi (hence the obligatory Total Domination bottle clink at video’s end?) and Eugene filmmaker Paul Bright to bring to life this groove with hilarious salty and sassy lyrics like “Every time I turn the radio on I hear that same old garbage song and I can’t — I just can’t listen” and “I’ll give you scout’s honor that we’ll pitch a tent, in your pants — everybody dance.” Watch the video at http://wkly.ws/1xg.

Body Language. Photo by Kellam R. Clark.

Don’t miss: Brooklyn darlings Body Language — whose R&B take on electro-pop dance music has gained rave reviews from NPR, Spin and Rolling Stone (who described it as “soulful dance-worthy grooves”) — hit up Eugene 8 pm Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Cozmic; the “Baroque pop” and tall tales of singer-songwriter Marya Stark, who often incorporates looping of audience voices directly into live shows, 7:30 pm Thursday, Feb. 19, at a house concert at 755 River Road (contact mmeyer@efn.org for details).