Ex-Memphian Mark Lemhouse  will also be appearing at the King Biscuit festival, performing with bassist Scott Bomar and drummer Paul Buchignani (Saturday, 1:45 p.m.) and again with local roustabouts The Bluff City Backsliders at 5:30 p.m. the same day. Lemhouse will be in town celebrating the release of his solo album, Yellow Dog Records' Big Lonesome Radio. The record, produced by Bomar at Easley-McCain Studios earlier this year, takes on rockabilly (Charlie Feathers' "One Hand Loose"), country blues (an exceptional take on Charley Patton's "Pony Blues"), modern eclecticism (Tom Waits' "No One Can Forgive Me but My Baby"), and tango (Lemhouse's own "Edwin's Lament").

The former Backslider shines on every track, wrangling heartfelt sentiment from his battered National Resonator guitar. While he easily shifts genres, Lemhouse seems most comfortable playing hill-country blues, particularly on the Fred McDowell tune "What's the Matter With Papa's Little Angel Child." Lemhouse glides effortlessly up and down the frets, evoking the style of his mentor, Robert Belfour, who, he explains, "taught me to use my thumb to maintain the bass. When I lived in Memphis, I really got to know [Belfour] and learn his style."

From his current home in Salem, Oregon, Lemhouse confesses that he misses performing with the Backsliders and his other band, the Handy 3. "Out here, it's so different," he says with a laugh. "These West Coast bands all play in a Chicago jump-blues style, and they get so bummed when I want to do songs that have just one or two chord changes. Last week, I played with a band that hated my single-chord style!"

Not able to catch Lemhouse in Helena? His CD-release party will be at the Hi-Tone Café Thursday, October 17th, with The Gabe & Amy Show opening.