After a week of vacation -- and a crazy first half of this week -- the Doctor is back, ready to blog his brains out.

First up: The final lineup for 8 Great Tuesdays, at least the headliners.The 2008 season isn't heavy on big names but it will still offer lots of quality music.
First up: A zydeco party, headlined by Lil' Briain and the Zydeco Travelers on July 8.
The following week brings the great, roots band Donna the Buffalo on July 15. They're one of my favorites, and they've played Erie many times, including Forward Hall and CelebrateErie. How great to have them as part of 8 Great Tuesdays.
Blues great Bernard Allison will perform on July 22. He's the son of Luther Allison, and his band includes former Erie bassist Jassen Wilber, who played with Jake's Blues. Speaking of Jake, Jake's Blues will headline on July 29.
Singer/songwriter Leon Russell will perform on Aug. 5. Though best known for 1972's "Carny," he also played with a Who's Who of musicians, including Joe Cocker. Pittsburgh's great blues-rockers Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers arrive on Aug. 12. Grushecky's long career was recently featured in a documentary that included one of his best friends, Bruce Springsteen. Bruce always invites Joe on stage with him when he plays PIttsburgh.
Hey, Joe: How about inviting Bruce by for your Erie gig?
Dave Stevens Big Band headlines on Aug. 19. The series ends with boogie rockers Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen.

Opening acts are still to be announced.

Edinboro's Downtown Art and Music Festival had hoped to add Donna the Buffalo to its lineup in May. That didn't happen but the event will feature Jeb Puryear -- one of Donna's main songwriters and singers -- performing with Hank Roberts. Puryear released his solo debut earlier this year, so this will be a chance to experience his solo music.

The event, set for May 15-17, also features Big Leg Emma, Gypsy Dave and the Stumpjumpers, the Woodticks and plenty more.

Presque Isle State Park has finalized its Sprint Sunset Music series, which features live artists on Beach 1 on six successive Wednesdays.
Performers will include: Duke Sherman Blues Band (june 11); Abbey Road and String Theory (June 18); Sam Hyman Band (June 25); Tennessee Back Porch and the Hubcaps (July 2); Key West Express (July 9); and Soul Session, from Albany, N.Y., on July 16.

So, Celebrate Erie has announced Foreigner will be its big headliner. That'd be better news if Lou Gramm -- who sang all their hits -- was still with the band. But he left in 2003 to front his own band, leaving vocal duties to former Hurricane front man Kelly Hansen.
On the plus side, Mick Jones remains Foreigner's lead guitarist and their drummer is Jason Bonham, the son of Led Zep's John Bonham. Of course, Jason recently filled in for his late dad on Zep's big reunion show.

Foreigner plays Celebrate Erie on Aug. 16.

Look for Presque Isle Downs & Casino to announce its summer concert series next week. If Internet web sites are to be believed, however, we already know at least 3 of them -- Grass Roots with Rob Grill (June 26), Donnie Iris and the Cruisers (July 24), and Sha Na Na (Aug. 15).. All will be free with Player's Club memberships. Those memberships are free.

The Erie Summer Festival of the Arts has yet to announce any headliners, though we're fast approaching the end of June. We hear negotiations have taken place with the Zappa Plays Zappa tribute show however that's far from a sure thing. Rolling Stone just declared Zappa Plays Zappa the best tribute show in rock. The group includes Erie native Joe Travers on drums. ZPZ was set for the Warner last summer but was canceled due to slow advance sales. I think they'd draw a huge crowd at a free outdoor festival.