As often seems to be the case when you’re trying to stay healthy, this week is all about going local. Sure, there are some decent acts making their way through town (honestly, Rob Zombie should put on a hell of a show at the Dome on April 29, even with the not-exactly-in-his-prime Alice Cooper sharing the bill), but some weeks, nothing compares with the down-home sounds of local favourites.

No one epitomizes the term “local favourite” quite like The Dudes, a Calgary party-rock institution that just seems to get more soulful with every album. Its set at The Gateway this Friday, April 23 is as close to a sure thing as you can get.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, though, Friday will also see Forest Tate, Friendo, the Moby Dicks, Hunter Gatherer and Sea of Is play a “FUNdraiser” for Roger’s Pass, an indie film with some strong Calgary connections. There’s also an art auction and probably some other fun stuff, too — judging from the creative capitalization in the event description.

A little bit less local, but equally rad: To make up for their non-appearance at Broken City’s New Year’s bash, DJs Demanda and Mistylicious — a.k.a. Spike and Caitlin from Degrassi High — are throwing a Spring Fling at the venue on Friday. OK, so ’80s nostalgia is all over the place these days, but if anyone has a claim to that decade, who better than the girls who helped define your adolescent angst?

Continuing with the weekend, Saturday has a pair of shouldn’t-be-too-hard-to-choose-between shows. If you’re in the mood for country, mosey over to the Palomino for Tim Buckley, The Sure Things and Karlo Farkas. If you’re feeling a little bit rock ’n’ roll, go for Heat-Ray, Nushi and Lions, Tigers & Bears at Local 522. If you’re not sure how you feel, toss a coin.

For a double-dose of Heat-Ray, swing by the Palomino on Thursday, April 22. Calgary’s premier shoegazers will be joining prog-rockers This City Defects for their tour launch. Your $7 will help spread the local goodness across Canada — always a sound investment. Or, if you’d rather indulge in some weirdo-rock, there’s always newcomer Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, the subject of last month’s 411 column, which mixes skuzzy rock with the most disgusting subject matter that comes to mind. They’re sharing a stage with instro-rockers Outlaws of Ravenhurst, sent from the past to blow your minds.