David Menconi has the roundup on inaugural music.

At his always entertaining On the Beat blog, the N&O music critic says Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue has "a most impressive lineup" at her inaugural ball in January.

The festivities kick off Jan. 8 at the Lincoln Theatre with pop bands old and new, Dillon Fence and Pico vs. Island Trees. Then on Jan. 9, the formal ball at the Raleigh Convention Center will have musicians including Durham jazzman Branford Marsalis, Granite Falls-born country singer Eric Church and two of the Triangle's best alternative-country acts, Tres Chicas and Chatham County Line. 

A complete lineup and ticket information is here. 

It can be difficult to get folks to tune in to the race for lieutenant governor.

But Hampton Dellinger, one of four Democratic candidates for the post, has managed to get the attention of renowned jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis.

Marsalis has cut a radio ad endorsing Dellinger, a Durham attorney.

Marsalis, who lives in Durham, says in the ad that he has been impressed by Dellinger's willingness to talk about poverty and the need to create jobs in North Carolina.

"Now I'm not a political guy," Marsalis says in the ad. "But it's not often I hear somebody talking about what really matters."

Hampton Dellinger has more than a half million in cash on hand.

The Raleigh attorney and former legal counsel to Gov. Mike Easley reported that he has over $520,000 on hand for his bid for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, Rob Christensen reports.

He raised the money with the help of some high profile individuals including historian John Hope Franklin, author Frances Mayes, jazz musician Branford Marsalis, and defense attorney Wade Smith.

One of his chief rivals, state Sen. Walter Dalton, a Rutherfordton attorney, had earlier reported that he had $570,000 cash on hand at the end of the first six months of 2007. Dalton's backers include former Charlotte Mayor John Belk, former Democratic kingmaker Bert Bennett, and Frank Daniels, former publisher of The News and Observer.

Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse, another Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, reported having $101,600 on hand.

Barack Obama is coming to John Edwards' backyard.

On June 14, the Illinois senator will host a big-ticket fundraiser in Chapel Hill, home of the former North Carolina senator.

The event is being hosted by Steve Lerner, an investor who previously supported Virginia Gov. Mark Warner's presidential bid.

Lerner was one of three principals in FGI Marketing Communications, which was bought by Capital Strategies in 1999.

Other hosts of the reception include CapStrat CEO Ken Eudy, jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis and SAS co-founder John Sall.

Tickets are $1,000 for the general reception, and $2,300 for the host reception.

Correction: A previous version of this post misstated Lerner's occupation.