The showroom at the MontBleu welcomes back Paul Oakenfold this Friday, but this time he comes with a mission other than providing a show filled with his sound-mixing expertise. He's coming to help save the rain forest of South America.

"The Concert for the Amazon" will see all ticket sales go to the Amazon Foundation. The organization produces events around the world to further its cause, which is purchasing and preserving large tracts of the Amazon rain forest in their natural state, therefore protecting essential ecological balance.

An email from the foundation's president, Klaus Moeller, expresses optimism: "The Brazilian government and the Brazilian people have begun to understand the value of the Amazon and that measurements are now being taken to protect large parts of the forests. Farming and the ever-increasing demand for soybeans and cattle grazing will continue to deforest fringe areas, and those are the ones that need protecting most. All said, though, things are looking a lot better than they did just a few years ago."

DJ Oakenfold has already donated his time to three events for the cause. The first sold out the Avalon Club in Los Angeles. The second is here, and the third will be next year at the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio. Oakenfold is probably best sampled through his 2007 "Greatest Hits & Remixes" top-selling album, with a track listing ranging from such original productions as "Starry Eyed Surprise" and "Ready Steady Go," to remixes of songs by Justin Timberlake, U2, Madonna and Radiohead, among others.

Oakenfold was the host of Spike TV's "The Club" and has DJ'd around the world, including at China's Great Wall, Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl and Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Also appearing will be Zen Freeman, the British DJ known for playing high- profile events such as Elton John's Oscar party, Paul Allen's Cannes Film Festival and St. Barts New Year's Eve parties. He has opened shows for artists such as Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. (10 p.m.; $30 general admission, $50 VIP "A" section, and $200 VIP booth/bottle service and meet-and-greet; Ticketmaster or 775-588-3515)

Around the Silver Circle

• A classic cabaret act returns to Harrah's Tahoe this Saturday, and it's about time. Paul Revere and the Raiders, one of America's answers to the British Invasion, were in area showrooms all the time in the 1970s and '80s, and then have been infrequently trotted out for Hot August Nights gigs. This is their first time here since 1995, and Revere's Edsel-fronted organ, those tri-cornered hats and rock silliness like "Indian Reservation" have been missed. It's sheer jolly fun. (7:30 p.m.; $37.50; 800-427-7247 or SouthShoreRoom.com)

• The Nugget goes all out for the holiday with Country Crossroads, a three-day celebration featuring Ricky Skaggs on Friday (9 p.m.; $45), Neal McCoy on Saturday (9 p.m.; $35), and Lonestar (filling in for the cancelled LeAnn Rimes) on Sunday (a dance party in the Rose Ballroom at 9 p.m.; $35 reserved, $28 single; 800-648-1177 or janugget. com). The weekend also features the John Dawson Band and Rustler's Heat in the Casino Cabaret each evening.

• The Silver Legacy goes classic rock Saturday with the Moody Blues, once called "the Sistine Chapel of popular music" by Rolling Stone. No reverence is required in the concert hall, however. The Moodies still put on a fun show packed with hits from their now-revered theme albums, "Days of Future Passed," "In Search of the Lost Chord" and "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour," among others. (8 p.m.; $60, $70, $80; 800-687-8733 or silverlegacy.com)

• "Blame It on Reno, ESPN Style" is a doubleheader televised boxing event scheduled Friday in the Reno Events Center, featuring heavyweight bouts between Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola and Kendrick "The Apostle" Releford. (Preliminary bouts begin at 5 p.m., televised bouts at 6 p.m.; $29.50, $59.50, $100; 800-745-3000 or Ticketmaster)

• Tahoe's North Shore hosts its annual "Opening Day at the Lake" Friday through Monday with festivities all over, including many seasonal openings, guided tours, and a seaplane splash-in. (Full details at 877-949-3296 or GoTahoeNorth.com)

• Finally, Reno's Knitting Factory isn't going to let the weekend go away without some major concerts, especially Flogging Molly on Friday (8 p.m.; $30 general admission standing, $70 reserved seating, all ages) and Rob Zombie on Saturday (8:30 p.m.; $36 general admission standing, $100 reserved seating, all ages; KnittingFactory.com).

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