The name Blair Crimmins & the Hookers will grab your attention, but so will their music. On Friday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m., the group will perform at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre on the Marietta Square as part of The Strand's first official music series.

Prepare yourself to be seduced by Crimmins' unique blend of gritty ragtime that will take you back to the '20s and '30s. Based in Cabbagetown, Crimmins says his music is "mostly" original early Dixieland and ragtime jazz. "We'll throw in a familiar tune like 'Sweet Georgia Brown' every now and then," said Crimmins.

Crimmins wears many hats as lead singer, songwriter, music arranger, manager and booking agent. While performing, he switches hats as well playing guitar, ukulele, piano, and tenor banjo, a four-string banjo common during the jazz era.

Crimmins will be joined at the Strand by band members Adam Hopkinson on drums, Norm Ficke on saxophone, Travis Cottle on trombone, Dustin Sargent on bass, James King on trumpet, and Nathan Greene on piano and accordion. Hopkinson is the only band member who has been with Crimmins since the band formed in 2009.

"It's (the band) always been a situation where I've picked up different people for different shows, not because of having been hired and fired. That's all I had in the beginning was just a bunch of songs, and I had to find people to play with me for each gig," said Crimmins.

"I didn't know who I was going to play with," he said, elaborating on why he chose the band's name.

"I actually had the band name and the songs written before I played a show or even rehearsed with anybody. I knew how the music was going to sound. I knew what the overall idea of the band was," Crimmins said.

"When I first started the band I didn't have any musicians, so I picked them all up for awhile. They were different musicians for every show," he added. "There's no monogamy for the gigging musician."

Though the musicians may change, one thing stays constant. Crimmins' New Orleans sounding jazz featuring diverse orchestrations of saxophones, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, accordion, banjo, drum kit and auxiliary percussion, is entertaining.

"It's (the music) fun. It's entertaining. I'm wondering how long people will stay sitting in their seats because it's a very danceable sound that we play," Crimmins said. "I write music that makes me and the people around me happy and energetic. I think (people will) enjoy it."

Though Crimmins says that musicians have to be "promiscuous" to play gigs with as many people as possible if they want to keep their job in the music business, those who hear his music are faithful to the sound.

Jeffrey Butzer opens for Blair Crimmins & The Hookers with his piano-driven songs that connect French folk tunes with Danny Elfman compositions. The show is open to all ages. Tickets are $12 and are on sale now.

The Strand is located at 117 North Park Square. Visit www.earlsmith strand.com or call (770) 293-0080 for more information. To learn more about the band, visit www.blair

crimminsandthehookers.com.