Besides big shows like The Raconteurs at Stubb’s and Atmosphere at Emo’s outside stage (both concerts are on Friday as well as Saturday) and tonight’s Tapes 'N Tapes and White Denim at Antone’s, there are a number of other stellar events of interest in our city this weekend. Soundcheck Magazine’s Spring Showcase takes place at Buffalo Billiards on Friday with two expert songwriters in the spotlight -- Brother Will (Brothers and Sisters) shall be accompanied by a variant set of musicians for this gig while Micah P. Hinson (Le Diamant Brut) also puts in a shift, fresh off his recent European jaunt. Swing on by to catch their performances and enjoy a game of darts or shuffleboard to boot. Toppie Haynes and Chris Brecht round off the bill.

On Saturday, The Mohawk hosts the Invisible Children Benefit Show with much needed proceeds going to underprivileged kids in Africa. A who’s who of local luminaries like The Lemurs, Golden Bear, and Built By Snow mark a stacked line-up. (Check out the full list of scheduled acts on the flyer after the jump.) DFW area transplants (or are they from another planet?) The Frontier Brothers will also beam down to present their space-pop concoctions including tracks from their upcoming album due on Earth in September. The band was interviewed by MTV during SXSW this year (check out the good times on their blog) and based on that, we can expect some interesting attire and humor along with the melodies.

Follow the jump for the best of the rest of this weekend’s action!

Other Friday selections include the The Ghost of the Russian Empire’s CD (read our review here) release show at Emo’s (Lounge) with She, Sir supporting, while Maneja Beto celebrate the release of their new album at The Mohawk and Johnny Hootrock’s 6.66 Gallons fer Twenty Bucks record release party takes place at Red 7.

Ready yourself for the massive Iron Maiden show in Selma on May 19th with a tribute by Drifter at Room 710. One can expect a choice sampling of Maiden classics in a set that should get wet your appetite for the legendary U.K. metal act’s Somewhere Back In Time tour stop in Tejas later this month. For a complete change of pace and sound, head over to Emo’s (Inside) for quieter moments of brilliance courtesy of Amy Annelle and Hello Lovers (yet another CD release!)

The Mercers at Ruta Maya, John Waite at Cactus Cafe, The Karaoke Apocalypse at Scoot Inn, and Lust Murder Box at Elysium offer further options.

Besides The Midgetmen’s (you guessed it!) new album release show at Emo’s Lounge on Saturday (read our preview here), Meat Beat Manifesto at Club de Ville, Foot Patrol at the Scoot Inn, The Pepperonis at The Parlor, Blackholicus at Trophy’s, and Pink Nasty at Emo’s (Inside) provide diverse choices for your evening's entertainment.

The Dirty Hearts and Low Line Caller are two of the many acts scheduled to play at the SIMS Foundation Benefit Show at Black & Tan/Orchid, also on Saturday -- check out our preview here.

Mash-up guru Car Stereo (Wars) brings the beats to Beauty Bar with live sets by When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth and Pataphysics also on the schedule. WDRTE will drop their Not Noiice album later this month (May 13th) on Chalk Circle, “another fucking Brooklyn record label” per the Chalk Circle MySpace page! Not Noiice is a thoroughly cacophonous ride with moments of noisy brilliance, a journey especially appropriate for those with a hankering for dissonance. The Austin act’s jarring sounds often play like the soundtrack to a disturbing movie and their brand of spastic math-rock should be particularly affecting, if not unnerving, in concert. The Music of Led Zeppelin: A Rock Symphony at the Long Center for the Performing Arts is an intriguing alternative. Graham Reynolds and Brannen Temple present their compositions in the Debra & Kevin Rollins Studio Theater at the same venue on Saturday as well; the latter show kicks off at 8 p.m. and is a part of Fuse Box 08.

And finally, the United States Art Authority is home to Luna Fest ATX (Midtown Arts & Music Festival) on Saturday -- music from Single Frame, Beta Valentine, Crash Gallery, and Fiction, among others, and plenty of general creativity on display should make for a riveting night. Have fun!