Thurs. July 12

 How can you not be intrigued by a band called Emperor Norton's Stationery Marching Band? Yes, they're part of that new vaudeville craze that's out there and they play that kind of circus style music at the Lilypad Thursday July 12 with accompaniment by one of our favorite belly dancers, Samarra. Emperor Norton's band - which bills its members as "talented deadbeats and drifters" - has 12 players, including a fiddler, a clarinetist, accordionist, upright bassist and more. They promise to be raucous and rambunctious, musicians who will hok, wail, blow, beat, bounce, scream or serenade their way into your hearts. Add Samarra to that mix and you're looking at some kinda fun. Starts at 10 p.m. with a $10 cover.

1353 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-497-0576 www.lily-pad.net