Wednesday • 19
The Bad Tuxedo Book & Music Tour
MUSIC/LITERATURE
For one of the most unusual book tours of the fall, check out Unbridled Books author Timothy Schaffert’s event, the Bad Tuxedo Book & Music Tour. Named for the powder-blue tux worn by piano-lounge crooner Hud Smith (a character in Schaffert’s new novel, The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God), the Bad Tuxedo tour is an unusual twist on the average author meet-and-greet. Besides the usual fare, Schaffert will appear with musicians from each region he visits. When he gets here, American Mars’ Thomas Trimble and Dave Feeny will accompany as he reads from his “bluesy, sweet novel.” 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Borders Books and Music (612 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor; 734-668-7652); and 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20, at Borders Books and Music (34300 Woodward, Birmingham; 248-203-0005).
Wednesday-Saturday • 19-22
Edgefest
MUSIC
The sounds promise to range from sumptuous to searing, from the guy who makes the tuba shout in tongues to another who plucks a one-string guitar fashioned from a toothbrush. That’s Edgefest, the annual festival and concert series featuring musicians who straddle the outer boundaries where jazz and just about every other genre intersect. In its ninth edition, the festival includes veterans of the ’60s and ’70s cutting-edge scenes (bassist Henry Grimes and Billy Bang, respectively), two sets by Chicago flutist Nicole Mitchell (with a string trio and co-leading a group with saxophonist Edward Wilkerson), German tuba master Carl Ludwig Hübsch and Ken Butler, whose axes are artistically fashioned from toothbrushes, snow shovels, real axes, you name it. Eight concerts (at $10-$20 a pop, or all for $100), four free educational sessions in which fest artists critique student performances — it’s an improv-lover’s heaven. At two Ann Arbor locations: Kerrytown Concert House (415 N. Fourth Ave., 734-769-2999) and Firefly Club (207 S. Ashley, 734-665-9090); info at at kerrytownconcerthouse.com.
Thursday • 20
So Many Selves
LITERATURE
Marygrove College hosts the return of Detroit native and second-generation Arab-American poet Lawrence Joseph. As part of his So Many Selves tour, Joseph will present works from his latest collection of poems, Into It, which includes several poems written from the perspective of an Arab-American living in the post-9/11 United States. He’ll also read from his newly issued collection Codes, Precepts, Biases and Taboos: Poems 1973-1993, and various other works. 7:30 p.m., at Marygrove College’s Alumnae Hall, in the Madame Cadillac Building, 8425 W. McNichols, Detroit. Call Dr. Frank Rashid, 313-927-1448, or visit www.marygrove.edu, for more info.
Friday • 21
Casablanca at the Whitney
FUN FOR ALL
Nostalgia and movie-mania overlap at the Whitney this weekend. As part of a fund-raising murder-mystery dinner for the Autoimmune Diseases Association, the landmark downtown restaurant will be transformed into Rick’s American Café — the famed watering hole from the movie, Casablanca. Guests will be joined by a cast of characters, including Rick, Ilsa, Capt. Renault and Signor Ferrari, for 6 p.m. cocktails, 8 p.m. dinner and a silent auction. 1940s and Moroccan-style attire is optional (prizes will be awarded for best costume and character impersonations). Hosted by WDIV’s Chuck Gaidica and his wife, Susan. At the Whitney, 4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Call Patricia Barber, 586-776-3900, for tickets.
Friday • 21
Blueroot Dubmission Anniversary
MUSIC
Who knew Belgian feather bowling and Jamaican dub music would make such a winning combination? DJs Gimp and Icky have been spinning their weekly selection of roots, dub, reggae and ska for a year now at the East Side Belgian bar and restaurant, the Cadieux Café, and they’d like to celebrate. Join them for their one-year anniversary party, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Call ahead to reserve bowling lanes. At 4300 Cadieux, Detroit; 313-882-8560.
Saturday • 22
Buddy Budson Sextet
MUSIC
He’s best known for his long-running gig as musical accompanist to his wife, vocalist Ursula Walker, but pianist Buddy Budson keeps the focus on instrumental jazz as he leads a combo and celebrates the release of his CD, On With Their Heads. It’s spry, swinging music in the Thad Jones tradition, with the charmingly old-fashioned “Sweet Betsy from Pike” slid in among the originals. The group for the gig includes Kurt Krahnke on bass, Paul Finkbeiner on trumpet, Bob Harsen on drums and Donald Walden on sax. At Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, 20510 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-345-6300.
Saturday • 22
Keyshia Cole
MUSIC
Songstress Keyshia Cole has covered a lot of ground in her 21 short years. The booming soprano was recording with MC Hammer by age 12, and has gone on to work with some of the industry’s most powerful peeps. Tony Toni Tone’s Dwayne Higgins featured her on his sound track for the indie film Me & Mrs. Jones, and she recently appeared with Eve on the song “Never” from the Barbershop 2 sound track. Her debut album, The Way It Is, features “I Changed My Mind,” a collaboration with hip-hop wunderkind Kanye West. Cole will join West for a few songs at the Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-471-6611. Doors, 8 p.m.
Sunday • 23
Yellow Umbrella Tour
MUSIC
There’s more to raven-haired Duncan Sheik than squeaky-clean pop music. The singer-songwriter, who wrote the 1996 hit, “Barely Breathing,” comes to Detroit as part of the Yellow Umbrella Tour — a 20-city tour that aims to educate women on cervical cancer and prevention. Sheik will be joined by David Poe, Ben Folds, Sarah Bettend and Christine Baze at the Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-9700.
Ongoing
Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village
HOLIDAY
The streets of Greenfield Village become Sleepy Hollow this month. Join walking scarecrows and talking ghosts as they traipse through the paper lanterns and corn stalks that decorate Main Street. Characters will dress in costumes and participate in traditions of the early 1900s — it’s the ideal spot to get into the Halloween spirit. But watch your back; the Headless Horseman lurks. The Hallowe’en program runs every Thursday-Sunday, 6:30-9 p.m., until Oct. 30. Reservations required. 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; 313-271-1620.
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