For the nicotine/caffeine addicts who rely on Smoke -N- Joes, 128 Locust Lane, to provide their naughty fixes, there will soon be yet another reason to keep coming back for more.

Starting Thursday, patrons will be able to enjoy live music four to five nights a week along with their cigarettes and coffee.

Since its opening in September of 2000, the café has become a big draw for smokers banned from lighting up in standard cafés in State College.

After months of renovating and redecorating, owner Josh Dillard has transformed the setting from basement to classy jazz hangout, and now he's ready to bring in the bands.

"What we're trying to do," Dillard said, "which I'm sure the university will appreciate, we're trying to create an alcohol alternative to the bar scene for the people who enjoy the social atmosphere but who like to avoid the mayhem of the bars."

Dillard said the venue will bring new music to the area.

"We're also trying to provide an outlet for jazz and blues, which there really isn't an outlet for in this town," he said.

Aaron Leese, a local folky-blues artist, will jump-start the café's role as a musician's forum. He will perform at Smoke-N-Joe's at 9:30 p.m Thursday, Dillard said.

Leese's musical background includes performances at the café last spring as well as venues in Colorado this past summer.

He is primarily a solo performer, but plans to have guests accompany him on a few songs.

Fridays will feature Gene Goldsmith, an old-school blues musician who covers sub-genres from Carolina to Texas.

Saturday performances at Smoke-N-Joe's will alternate between Something Else, an electric funk and jazz fusion band, and Blues³, a harmonica, vocals, and stand-up bass blues band, Dillard said.

Mondays and Tuesdays will be open-mic nights.

Three State College bands will take turns playing Wednesday nights at the coffee house, Dillard said. The list of slated perfomers includes the jazz band Suffrage, a blues cover and originals band that goes by the name of Third Degree, and one soon-to-be-confirmed act.

Third Degree played at the café last spring.

James McCarthy, a Garrison Keillor-style short story teller and pianist, will fill in sporadically for truant performers, Dillard said.

Dillard hopes to bring a jazz education series to Smoke-N-Joe's later in the semester.

The seminar will feature discussions on jazz sub-genres as well as live jazz musicians to demonstrate the various styles.

For more information on Smoke-N-Joes' calendar and inventory, check out the store's Web site at www.smokeandjoes.com.