You might be tempted to say the live music aspects of Hygienic Art Weekend have become bigger than the gallery show itself. They're not; the sheer, weird wonderfulness of the exhibition couldn't be trumped if Pearl Jam set up on the corner of Bank and Golden Saturday night and serenaded the whole town.

Let's just say, rather, that the tangential tuneage is a nice and loud complement in the perfect spirit of the whole event.

The anchoring concert, of course, is the Hygienic Rock Fix, taking place Saturday in the Crocker House Ballroom.

This year's edition is a fine cross-section of styles and bands, and scheduled are New London groups The Hempsteadys, Suicide Dolls, Recur Occurrence and Daphne Lee Martin & Raise the Rent. Also on the bill are The 'Mericans from Providence and Mystic's Herff Jones. Oh, and look forward to a return-to-hometown set by The Can Kickers.

Traditionally, the weekend kicks off with the Friday Hootenanny in Muddy Waters. This year's motif is "For Grown-Ups Only" and features performances by Max Ebb, Nancy Parent & Hugh Birdsall, the Rivergods, Paul Brockett, Wilson Kane, Kevin Kane, Maggie's Guitar, and, in ritual finale, the Crew.

Several other musicians will appear in the downtown area over Hygienic weekend. Herewith is a schedule of the action.

- RICK KOSTER

FRIDAY

The Hootenanny with Max Ebb, Nancy Parent & Hugh Birdsall, the Rivergods, Paul Brockett, Wilson Kane, Kevin Kane, Maggie's Guitar and the Crew, 6-9:30 p.m. Friday, Muddy Waters, 42 Bank St., New London; donations accepted; (860) 444-2232.

The Hoolios, Hernando's Hide Away, Tsetse Gallery, 190 State St., New London; 7:30 p.m. Friday; donations accepted; (860) 447-2447.

Merrily & the Poison Orchard, 9:30 p.m. Friday, Hanafin's Pub, 312 State St., New London; $5;

Richard Zack, 8-10 p.m. Friday, the Bean & Leaf Cafe, 13 Washington St., New London; free; (860) 701-0000.

SATURDAY

Hygienic Rock Fix with The Hempsteadys, Suicide Dolls, Recur Occurrence, Daphne Lee Martin & Raise the Rent, The 'Mericans, Herff Jones,and The Can Kickers, 7 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Crocker House Ballroom, 35 Union St., New London; donations accepted; (860) 857-6337.

M13 Record Release Party with M13, Refuse/Resist, Olde York, the Black Noise Scam, Cry Havoc and Damn Broads, 8 p.m. Saturday, El 'n' Gee Club, 86 Golden, New London; $10; facebook.com/elngeeclub.

John Fries & the Heat, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, the Commoner, 36 Bank St., New London; tba; (860) 437-3350.

Out of the Fog, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Bank Street Cafe, 637 Bank St., New London; $5; (860) 444-1444.