This Week

Charleston-bred jazz/lounge singer Leah Suarez has chiseled into something of rare form around the local music scene with her bossa nova style of jazz and soothing yet forceful voice. Flowing in a similar vein as Ella Fitzgerald, Suarez sings with a rare elegance and easing continuity that seems to rain down upon listeners over a trancelike musical landscape. A graduate of the College of Charleston's music performance program and student to opera singer Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis and jazz vocalist Deborah Brown, Suarez displays her textbook knowledge with vivid creativity. Suarez will perform free of charge at 2 p.m. Sunday at Kudu Coffeehouse, 4 Vanderhorst St.

98X show

The Map Room, 1650 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., will host radio station 98X's "Local X Crew Early-Belated Birthday Show-Palooza-Bash-Extravaganza-Extrodinaire-Spectacular" on Saturday. The event commemorates a year of the station's "Local X" segment, which airs 8-11 p.m. Sunday nights and plays music from local bands. The show will feature performances by area hard rock bands including Broadside, Near Fatal Fall, Moonless Moth and Blindsyght. The show is free of charge and is set to begin at 10 p.m. Visit www.themaproom.net for more information on the show and www.myspace.com/localx for more information on "Local X."

Zach Deputy

South Carolina native Zach Deputy spent several years honing his funk-laden, soul-spewing brand of reggae-rock. He began touring the country with various bands throughout his early 20s before landing in Savannah to embark on a solo career. What he found there was a natural talent for songwriting and his distinct baritone voice that oozes a soulful honesty. Deputy will perform at the Pour Hhouse, 1977 Maybank Highway, on Wednesday. Call 971-4343 for more information.

The Guilt Trips

In the spirit of Ben Folds, relative newcomers The Guilt Trips hope to reignite a smoldering piano-based indie-rock genre that hasn't seen much of a flame since the aforementioned Folds emerged more than a decade ago. The trio's upbeat, '60s-inspired rock is crowd pleasingly raucous, with breezy harmonies and heavy piano pounding. The Guilt Trips will perform at 10 p.m. Tuesday at Cumberland's, 301 King St.