Urbanworld Film Fest; Hangdogs; Swim Shorts, Poolside; Country Teasers/Roger Sisters/White Hassle; Cyndi Freeman Kissed Dash Riprock!; Doc Watson/"Red Hot Rockabilly Party"; Vans Warped Tour; "Motown Junk."

They've long been hometown faves for New York's urban cowboys and cowgirls, hipster citybillies and anybody who likes rootsy American rock 'n' roll. Their Rodeo Bar gigs have probably paid half the joint's annual nut for years. And we've got a special place in our hearts for the Hangdogs around here, too. Since '95 they've proven themselves to be the best, most uplifting and most enduringly likeable country-flavored rock band in the city, with the kind of faithful fans any bar band would kill for. And after a string of fine CDs and lotsa touring, they've finally put out the inevitable live album, Something Left to Sell, packed with stage versions of fans' favorites, covers and previously unrecorded songs they played on the road 1995-2001. This Thurs., Aug. 8, they'll pack Rodeo once again for their record release party. Be there, hoss. 375 3rd Ave. (27th St.), 683-6500.

Confused about which of the many entries in the New York International Fringe Festival to go see? Us too! Gotta say, though, in this heat an alternative offering that seems most appealing is Swim Shorts, a series of 10 one-acts?two evenings, five plays a night?all set in and around the rooftop pool at the Holiday Inn. And get this?that's where they're being performed. Talk about art that's genuinely refreshing. Cough up an additional $10, moreover, and you can "relax poolside and swim under the stars" at the hotel-sponsored Oasis Club until midnight. Site-specific theater has never seemed so good. Thurs.-Sun., through Aug. 25, at 7:30. 440 W. 57th St. (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 917-509-7531.

The Country Teasers bring their sardonic, stripped-down garage rock to the Mercury Lounge this Fri., Aug. 9. Live, they tend to get insanely drunk, so lyrics like those of "O Nurse!" ("in your little blue skirt/you dropped your purse/why don't you bend over, pick it up, I won't look") come off sounding as endearing as Merle Haggard's "Bottle Let Me Down." Their latest, Science Hat Artistic Cube Moral Nosebleed Empire (In the Red Records), is jam-packed with 20 more bittersweet crooners. If "Anytime, Cowboy" doesn't illicit some grins, we're sure their rendition of Ice Cube's "We Had to Tear This Motherfucker Up" will. The Roger Sisters and White Hassle?New York Press illustrator Marcellus Hall's fine, darker-than-Johnny Cash country-rock outfit?kick things off. 217 E. Houston St. (betw. Ludlow & Essex Sts.), 260-4700.

Ostensibly about a fledgling actress' obsession with the titular Hollywood superstar, and the ensuing trials and travels (the show consists of four monologues, each set in a different city), Cyndi Freeman's newest comedy-performance piece, I Kissed Dash Riprock!, is really about...Cyndi Freeman. No surprise there?most one-person shows are about one person. But Freeman performs with such an endearing?and sexy?mixture of humor, brains and vulnerability that you find yourself actually caring, and rooting, for her. Part of the NY International Fringe Festival, Freeman performs seven shows beginning Sat., Aug., 10, 7:15 p.m., through Sat., Aug. 24 (for complete schedule, visit www.fringenyc.org), at the Red Room, 85 E. 4th St. (betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.), 777-6088.

The spillover from the surprising success of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack doesn't bother us a whit. We were delighted to see the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's magnum opus Will the Circle Be Unbroken reappear on CD this year. We're loving When the Sun Goes Down, RCA's multi-CD package of classic blues and Americana recordings. And Shaker, the new dark-rootsy CD from hometown hero David Johansen and the Harry Smiths. And American music doesn't get any realer, rootsier or classier than when Doc Watson shows the world how to pick a guitar. This Sat., Aug. 10, at 9 p.m., he headlines a Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors weekend of free performances. The music starts at 2 p.m. with bands like local bluegrassers James Ream & the Barnstormers, bluesman Little Pink Anderson (4 p.m.) and a reunion of the Greenbriar Boys (8 p.m.). The tunes continue Sun., Aug. 11, with a full bill including a "Red Hot Rockabilly Party" (5:45) with such greats as the Persuasions, Rocky Burnette, the legendary Narvel Felts and Rosie Flores. Damrosch Park Bandshell, Lincoln Center, W. 62nd St. (betw. B'way & Amsterdam Ave.), 875-5108, www.lincolncenter.org.

Remember the old days when the Vans Warped Tour featured local acts like the L.E.S. Stitches, Toilet Boys and Letch Patrol? Well, them days are gone, but not forgotten. By us, anyway. Nowadays those kids got their own punk rock, which is mostly from the Left Coast, and mostly sucks, but hey, you can't have a corporate rebellion without making some eggs. Anyway, Sat., Aug. 10, at Randalls Island, you can catch exciting bands like New Found Glory, No Use for a Name and punk heavyweights Bad Religion. Also check out Total Chaos and local faves the Casualties, who we hear take showers these days. And for some real excitement, check out Useless ID from Israel. The Eyeliners are playing as well, and for three chicks, they rock harder than anyone else on the entire bill. Even the Damned. But don't tell them we said that. The Captain might beat us up. Visit www.warpedtour.com for ticket and schedule info.

Tired of the same old DJs spinning the same old punk? Then check out "Motown Junk." Catch DJ Sammy from New York's legendary band the Kick, along with DJ Boyracer, as they play some of the coolest tunes to get topsy-turvy to on a Tuesday. It starts at 10 p.m. on Tues., Aug. 13, at Niagara, and continues until Sammy passes out or decides to go home and study like a good boy. Either way, it's the place to be, and the place to pick up hot-looking band dudes. (If you're into women, you can always tell them to turn over.) 112 Ave. A (7th St.), 420-9517.