It rarely ever happens in Gainesville — three local artists releasing new CDs the same weekend.

But this weekend, there are many opportunities to hear fresh music, all from Northeast Georgia acts.

Acoustic musician Nate Currin is set for an event at local pub Rhythm & Brews, Taj Motel Trio will be pumping out ska beats at Locos and Wilder Embry’s Americana style can be heard at Tin Roof Cantina in Atlanta.

"I have the whole band performing with me," Currin said. "We’ll play most of the songs from the new album."

The five-piece local band includes drummer Andrew Ferguson, lead guitarist David Anderson, bass guitarist Simon Peek and keyboardist Adam Clark. Scheduled to guest perform is Rachel Stump who "performed on about half of the songs on the album," Currin said.

The new album’s title, "The Darkest Sea," is a line from one of the tracks, "Acarius."

"(That) is probably my favorite song on the album," Currin said. "It is a very mellow song and is kind of about life, faith, the people you love and giving up things, giving up one thing for another thing."

The self-written, 13-track album includes hints of folk, rock, blues, alternative and acoustic music, according to Currin.

"It’s really diverse ... Overall it is a pretty mellow album," he said.

This is the second album for Currin; the first was "Another Long September" and was released in January under the Nate Currin Band name.

Taj Motel Trio said they will kick off their CD release party with a little more noise, to say the least.

The six-piece band performs songs with a punk and ska feel, which includes trumpets, trombones, guitars, drums and lots of vocals.

The new album, "Part of the Problem," is their fourth release and follows their "Life of the Party" album from 2003.

The album was mixed by Don McCollister at Nickel and Dime Studios in Atlanta. McCollister is known for his mixing skills with artists such as the B-52’s, Sister Hazel and the Indigo Girls.

Band members include Kastner; guitarist and lead vocalist Ben Sanders; drummer Kevin Rose; bassist Josh Wow; Peter Williams, who plays trombone and adds background vocals; and trumpet player and background vocalist Zach Hill.

The band will be holding two CD release parties, one at 9:30 p.m. Friday at Locos in Gainesville and one at 6 p.m. Saturday at Swayze’s in Marietta.

The Marietta show will include punk/ska bands 50:50 Shot, The FAD, Stuck Lucky, The Carry Ons and Emotron. The all-ages show is $10.

Wilder Embry also will have a CD release party this weekend at the Tin Roof Cantina in Atlanta.

The Americana artist will be releasing his new album, "Squander." He will perform many of the new tracks including "Dyin’ 4 ya" and "Mommy."

"‘Dyin’ 4 ya’ is kind of one of those good jangly, rockin’ frustrated love tales," Embry said. "Another one people seem to be reacting to is ‘Mommy.’ It’s kind of like letting go of that security blanket and realizing you are out in the world now and you are floundering around for better or for worse."

Embry mentioned that two native Gainesville musicians are on the album, including John Lancaster, now in Nashville, Tenn.; and Ed Whalen, who now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

On "Squander," Embry took a break from his typical instrument, the bass, to a unique guitar.

"I play an upside-down tenor guitar, an instrument that my dad always played, but I was left handed," he said.

This is Embry’s second album; the first was "Your Sweet Heart" in 2005.

"Squander" is available at Recycled CDs in Gainesville, at the CD release party on Sunday and online at CD Baby or Wilder Embry's site.