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Clear Soul Forces, Jahshua Smith at Mac's

Clear Soul Forces has been gaining serious momentum since the four Detroit rappers joined up in 2009. This Friday, the group performs at Mac’s Bar. The guys have been busy in Detroit’s underground scene while also hitting the road and performing shows all the way down to the SXSW Festival in Austin where they rocked a showcase with the likes of Just Blaze, Alchemist, Talib Kweli and Freeway. According to their bio, “ … these cats rap like genetically enhanced, socially conscious street poets from the ‘70s.” Opening the show at Mac’s is local hip-hop artists Green Skeem, Jahshua Smith (of Blat! Pack), L Soul and DJ Carmine.

Friday, Oct. 26 @ Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 18 and over. $8 advance, $10 door, 9:30 p.m.  

Folk star Cheryl Wheeler at the Fiddle

Since the mid-‘80s songwriter Cheryl Wheeler has been recording and touring with her sincere, and often humorous, brand of folk tunes. Friday she plays the Ten Pound Fiddle concert series. Wheeler’s songs have been recorded by the likes of Suzy Bogguss, Garth Brooks and Peter, Paul and Mary. This year Wheeler released a live concert album on Dias Records packed with fan favorites and a hefty amount of goofing around. For more information, go to tenpoundfiddle.org.

Friday, Oct. 26 @ Ten Pound Fiddle – Unitarian Universalist Church, 855 Grove St., East Lansing, all ages. Box office at 7 p.m., doors 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $18 public, $15 Fiddle members, $5 students. 

Detroit DJ Kyle Hall at L.E.A.K. show

Kyle Hall is quickly rising to the level of the Detroit greats he studied under, including the legendary Carl Craig. Hall, who spins strictly vinyl, is quickly becoming known as one of the most innovative DJs and producers in electronic music. His music has been praised by the likes of Spin, The New York Times and Pitchfork —while still a teenager, no less. Hall balances a world-spanning tour schedule, hitting places like Singapore, Israel and around Europe. He’s spun at massive festivals like Coachella, as well. On Saturday, Hall will be lugging some LPs upstairs to The Loft. Opening the show is a list of area DJs on the L.E.A.K. roster, including Robert Perry, Roque Ybarra and Andy Lynch.

Saturday, Oct. 27 @ The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 18 and over, $7 advance, $10 door, doors 10 p.m.

Flobots ride into Loft

“I can ride my bike with no handlebars” — remember that hook from the radio hit a few years ago? The song, “Handle Bars,” brought Flobots mainstream success. The rap-infused tune peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. This Saturday, the five-piece alternative hip-hop outfit plays an early all-ages show at The Loft in promotion of its latest album, “The Circle in the Square.” Since they formed in 2005, Flobots have opened shows for performers as disparate as Public Enemy and The Fray. At the Loft, Flobots will be joined by Florida-based alt-rapper Astronautalis and local rap-rockers Giraffe Attack!

Saturday, Oct. 27 @ The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, all ages, $13 advance, $15 door, doors 5:30 p.m.

Capital City Chaos Fall Brawl Halloween Bash

Some people really enjoy trick-or-treating with their children or siblings — others prefer to dress up in costume and bang their heads for a few hours. If you are the latter, Uli’s Haus of Rock may be the spot on Saturday. The Capital City Chaos Fall Brawl Halloween Bash includes All Ends Black, Hillside Barrier, Dozic, NME, Black Valley Mass, Century Serpent and Menophobia. This is also a Halloween costume show, so extra points go to those painted up like King Diamond. 

Saturday, Oct. 27 @ Uli’s Haus of Rock, 4519 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing, 18 and over, $8, doors at 7 p.m.

Maybach Music's Rockie Fresh stops in Lansing

Chicago rhymer Rockie Fresh has been steadily growing in the world of hip-hop. Over the summer, he was even signed onto the Maybach Music label by owner and fellow rapper Rick Ross of “Everday I’m Hustlin’” fame. Fresh, along with Philly rapper Tayyib Ali, plays Saturday at The Loft. Fresh is known for his alt-rock influenced style of hip hop, and has worked with Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy and Joel and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte. Opening the show at The Loft is The Specktators, a local rap duo who are promoting the release of their newest mix tape, “About That Life” (free download available at thespecktators.com). Lansing hip-hop group Up in the Sky will also take the stage. 

Saturday, Oct. 27 @ The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, all ages, $10 advance, doors 7:30 p.m.