HOT TICKETS

The sweet smoke of barbequed pork ribs cooking over a charcoal flame will waft over route 422 in Niles as the Mahoning Valley Rib Burn Off returns for its annual four-day run in Eastwood Mall parking lot. Doors open at 4 p.m. Thursday. The event, which features nine rib teams and lots of live music, runs until midnight through Sunday. National acts include Southern rockers Blackfoot, who will perform at 10 p.m. Friday, and country star John Michael Montgomery at 9 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $7 every day. Go to mahoningvalleyribburnoff.com.

Get wet and wacky at the annual Small Ships Revue, an anything-that-floats regatta on the mighty Shenango River in downtown Sharon, Pa. The festivities get underway at 6 p.m. at Quaker Steak & Lube.k

Stage Left Productions’ version of “Annie Get Your Gun” continues this weekend at Trinity Playhouse, 234 E. Lincoln Way, Lisbon. Curtain times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Call (330) 424-5093.

Boardman Park’s popular Family Night in the Park begins at 7 p.m. at Maag Amphitheater. The band Pipedreams will take the stage first, followed by the movie “Kung Fu Panda” at dusk. Also on hand will be Jocko the clown and a bounce-around, and there will be hayrides and food available. Bring a blanket. Check boardmanpark.com for more information.

The JiMiller Band — which is doing its part in the global effort to conserve consonants — will give a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lake Tavern’s amphitheater in Mecca. The Cleveland-based quartet, led by Jim Miller, blends blues, country, cajun, rock, jazz and bluegrass, and is best-known for its Grateful Dead-style improvisational jams. Miller is the former frontman for festival-favorite Oroboros. The Lake Tavern is located at 6071 state Route 46. Go to Laketavern.net for more information.

The short list of bands in the Cleveland-Youngstown-Pittsburgh markets who have a shot at breaking out is just that: short.

But Pittsburgh-based pop-punkers Punchline is definitely on that list. After 10 years and three albums with respected indie label Fueled By Ramen, Punchline self-released its latest CD, “Just Say Yes,” on which it took a more eclectic approach to songwriting. Steve Soboslai, the band’s singer and guitarist, called it Punchline’s best work yet. “We’ve finally conquered the struggle between man and guitar,” he said. Punchline headlines a 6:45 p.m. show at the Charleroi Italian Club, 514 Eighth St., Charleroi, Pa. (which is about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh). Tickets are $12 via Ticketmaster.

Youngstown’s own Gospel music stars, The Nevels Sisters, give their first hometown performance in a venue befitting their status. The quartet, who are riding a wave of fame from their current CD, “Beautiful,” will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown. Call (330) 259-0555.

Sunday is your last chance to see the Pittsburgh Public Theatre’s production of “Harry’s Friendly Service.” The play, written by Youngstown native Rob Zellers and set in 1977 Youngstown, revolves around a group of unlikely friends who use a downtown gas station as their home base. References to the city abound. The world-premiere run of “Harry’s” will close with a 2 p.m. show at the O’Reilly Theater, 261 Penn Ave., downtown Pittsburgh. Call (412) 316-1600.

The Trumbull County Fair returns Sunday for eight days of tractor pulls, demolition derby, amusement rides and more. It runs from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day at the fairgrounds, 899 Everett-Hull Road, Cortland. Go to trumbullcountyfair.com.