DUCK HUNT...On Saturday, Sept. 29, Todd Conners, Bobby Blackwell, Peter Blackwell and Jim Light will shove Peter Kueppers off a San Francisco pier. This will come after they''ve strapped him into a feather-covered, plywood-and-Styrofoam contraption. We can only imagine that they''ll be shouting "Fly you fokker, fly!"

Kuepper''s inevitable drenching will be part of the first "Flugtag" in North America, sponsored by Red Bull (you know, "Red Bull Gives You Wings"). Red Bull has sponsored Flugtags--competitions in which amateur teams build human-powered flying (sort of) machines--since 1991, and The Mucky Duck is one of only 30 teams accepted into this competition which takes place at piers 30-32 in San Francisco.

Judging by the Flugtag Web site (www.flugtagsf.com), the device''s ability to actually fly is less important than devising something that''s interesting to look at. In fact, distance is only one of the judging criteria for the event, with creativity and showmanship being the other two. In short, making a big splash--which is ultimately Kuepper''s fate, regardless of whatever else goes down--is the goal.

According to Karen Blackwell-Conners>, team Mucky Duck''s entry will be called The Flying Fokker and will resemble a duck when finished. It''s being built, launched and piloted primarily by the pub''s owners and regular customers, and there''s still time to get in on the action for anyone who''s interested.

In a plaintive fax, Blackwell-Conners noted that the group is in dire need of feathers. If you notice any naked ducks in your neighborhood, you''ll know what happened.

Prizes for the event range from a pilot''s training course (or $7,500 cash) as grand prize to $1,500 for third place. The owners of the Mucky Duck promise to use any prize money to throw a lavish party.

The Flugtag Web site proclaims, "You need brains to build it. You need an entirely different body part to pilot one into the bay."

We''ll see who has what when The Flying Fokker takes the plunge.

IT''S A SMALL WORLD...Anyone traveling through Paso Robles in mid- November will feel right at home with the music scene. The first Paso Robles Inn Blues Festival takes place November 16-18 and headlining the event...local, Steve Vagnini-managed bands John "Broadway" Tucker and the Broadway Blues Band on Friday night, and Red Beans and Rice on Sunday morning. Sandwiched in between, on Saturday night, is Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers.

CATCH A RISING STAR...John Mooney and the Bluesiana Band get fourth billing on Saturday''s lineup at the Fat Fry Blues Festival--but don''t be fooled, he might be the hottest act on the ticket. With Dickey Betts (former guitarist with the Allman Brothers), Susan Tedeschi and Son Seals performing on the same day, that''s saying a lot.

Mooney''s Gone to Hell CD from last year delivers a powerful blend of rockin'' blues spiced with a little Cajun funk. Mix Mooney''s slide work on electric and acoustic guitar with his bourbon-vapor vocals and you''ve got a sound that''s pretty unique. (And the album is enhanced even further by Dr. John''s keyboard work on four cuts.) If you don''t get up to the Blues Festival this weekend, you might want to grab a copy of Gone to Hell. It''s available on Blind Pig Records.

--Chuck Thurman (chuck@coastweekly.com)