TURN IT DOWN: A survey of Lansing's musical landscape

American roots music is often thought of as having a strictly traditional vibe. Sunday at Mac’s Bar, four acts will showcase examples of edgy, on-the-fringe roots music. Rachel Brooke will perform her old-time, acoustic country tunes, all by her lonesome. The show will get kicked up a notch with Cletus Got Shot, a Fayetteville, Ark., bluegrass/punk band that also mixes in touches of gospel, jazz and folk: It makes for an up-tempo blast of American music.

Also set to make some noise is Bob Wayne and the Outlaw (from Seattle, Wash.), who play amped up, Waylon Jennings-brand country. Carnies and Calamity Cubes will open the show.

Sunday, Nov. 14 @ Mac’s Bar 2700 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing $5, 18 and over, 9 p.m.

Spacey indie-rockers land at Mac’s

With a blend of airy psychedelic melodies and indie-rock ideals, the Lansing-based Elliot Street Lunatic has a truly unique sound. The band has been playing tons of shows over the past couple years and even shot a couple music videos (posted at www.myspace.com/elliotstreetlunaticmusic).

The band will play its tripped-out set Friday at an early, all-ages show at Mac’s Bar. Opening the show is Audrey, a Muskegon band promoting a new EP. Also taking the sage is indie-rockers Good Weather for Air Strikes (from Howell) and Joe Hertler, a singer/songwriter with a Frontier Ruckus vibe.

Friday, Nov. 12 @ Mac’s Bar 2700 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing $7 advance, $10 door, all ages, doors at 5:30 p.m.

Play me some mountain music

Old Sledge is a group of young musicians from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The band revamps old songs and instrumentals from the golden era of early country, hillbilly and blues music. Old Sledge delivers creative arrangements and dynamic performances while still holding true to the mountain aesthetic.

Also on the bill is Matt Brown, an innovative fiddler, an intricate banjo player, a propulsive guitar player and a moving singer. From square-dance tunes to traditional blues and haunting ballads, Brown mixes up each set with a variety of genres.

Friday, Nov. 12 @ Ten Pound Fiddle — Unitarian Universalist Church 855 Grove St., East Lansing www.tenpoundfiddle.org

All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets $15 public, $ 12 Fiddle members, $5 students.

A little bit bluegrass, a little bit rock ’n’ roll

Jeff & Vida, a.k.a. Jeff Burke and Vida Wakemen, is an acoustic duo that cut its teeth in the New Orleans roots scene. The pair, who play the Pump House Sunday, has been mixing bluegrass with honky tonk and a little rock ’n’ roll for nearly a decade. A recent New York Times article featured them alongside the likes of Old Crow Medicine Show.

Opening the show is Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys. Sunday, Nov. 14 @ Pump House

The trio Old Sledge performs Friday at a Ten Pound Fiddle show.

368 Orchard St, East Lansing Suggested donation $10, all money goes to artists, all ages, show at 7 p.m.

Lindsay Lou sings ‘A Different Tune’ on new CD

Lindsay Lou, a Lansing-based singer/songwriter, will release her debut album “A Different Tune” this Friday at (SCENE) Metrospace. Her new album features 11 songs spanning a melting pot of genres. Lindsay Lou, backed by The Flatbellys, dishes up a style of Americana with a powerful vocal style that recalls Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Also sharing the bill is Rachael Davis and Jen Sygit & Sam Corbin.

Friday, Nov. 12 @ (Scene) Metro Space 110 Charles Street, East Lansing $5, all ages, show at 8 p.m.

Legendary blues guitarist booked at Leroy’s

Leroy’s Classic Bar will feature live music each Friday and Saturday. The bar is kicking it off with a big performance by Detroit blues legend Eddie Kirkland on Friday, Nov. 19.

Born in 1923 in Jamaica, Kirkland moved to Detroit as a young man. While in the Motor City he befriended John Lee Hooker and then toured and recorded with him throughout the 1950s. Kirkland then moved on to lead Otis Redding’s band at Stax Records. However, his own blues guitar classics made him a legend in his own right. His rigorous tour regimen earned him the title “Gypsy of the Blues.”

Friday, Nov. 19 @ Leroy’s Classic Bar 1526 S. Cedar, Lansing $5, Show at 9:30 p.m., 21 and over. Cover charge to be announced.

www.leroysclassicbar.com

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