JAZZ and FOLK

The big names are skirting Boston this weekend, but some of the finer local groups should make up for the loss-and at a much lower cost.

For folk music, the person to see this weekend is Molly Malone, playing at the Backroom at the Idler (123 Mt. Auburn St.) on Saturday. And if you don't like '30s and '40s cabaret and folk, you can just sit back and enjoy this old-style, pre-Pamplona coffeehouse, which features a limited bar.

On Sunday, you would be well to catch Guy Van Duser's act at the Springefield St. Salon (13 Springefield St.), a unique bar with, get this, an old-western motif.

Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee are at Passim this Saturday; we've never heard of them, but it's your money.

In jazz, the best acts over the weekend are probably at Lulu White (3 Appleton Rd., South End), a "jazz club and creole restaurant." Jeff Stoughten and Herb Pomeroy will play big band jazz on Friday and Saturday; Elequa, a fine latin jazz band, will play Sunday.

Bo Winniker will play big band jazz Saturday at 8 in the Boston Common; it's sponsored by 'Summerthing' and it's free.