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A survey of Lansing's musical landscape

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Ten Pound Fiddle hosts folk duos

A pair of Michigan-based duos share a twin bill at the Ten Pound Fiddle concert series Friday at the Unitarian Universalist Church. Taking the stage will be Jan Krist & Jim Bizer and Siusan O´Rourke & Zig Zeitler — both accomplished area folk outfits. Krist and Bizer recently released its first album as a duo, “Influence.” On it they pay homage to their Mitten State roots, lyrically reflecting on their hometowns. Meanwhile, Saginaw-based duo of O´Rourke and Zeitler play Irish-inspired folk tunes. This is the duo’s third trip to the Fiddle. This time around they plan to switch it up and play a set heavy with Americana. O´Rourke & Zeitler were one of the first acts on the roster at Michigan´s Smokin´ Sleddog Records, a locally operated boutique label.

Friday, Nov. 30 @ Ten Pound Fiddle – Unitarian Universalist Church, 855 Grove St., East Lansing, all ages. Box office opens at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $15 public, $12 Fiddle members, $5 students. tenpoundfiddle.org.


Kyle Brown goes solo at Avenue Cafe

After a couple of members of Fighting Unlucky, a local acoustic duo, went their respective ways, front man Kyle Brown decided to keep the ball rolling. Brown, who says he draws influence from Dave Matthews, Martin Sexton and Howie Day, releases his debut EP, "At Sunrise We Fly," at The Avenue Café on Friday. Brown uses his lyrics to draw you in with a rich storytelling style about life´s ups and downs. Also performing are Nathan Alan, Gary Cimmerer and Aaron Gase.

Friday, Nov. 30 @ The Avenue 2021 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing,  $3 all ages,  7:30 p.m.


Uli´s Haus of Blues

It’s true: Uli’s Haus of Rock has become known for booking hard rock and metal shows, but every once in a while the venue throws a curve ball. Saturday, it’s host to renowned blues guitarist Larry McCray. McCray is an Arkansas-born musician who moved to Saginaw back in 1972. By 1990 he dropped his debut album, “Ambition.” Fans of the “three Kings” (B.B., Freddie and Albert) may want to check out this show, or pick up his self-titled 2007 album. Opening the show is The Chris Canas Band.

Saturday, Dec. 1 @ Uli’s Haus of Rock, 4519 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing, 18 and over, $15, 8 p.m.


Welcome to electro-jam rock

The Cincinnati-based Skeetones play a distinct brand of electro-jam rock, thanks to the band’s utilization of synths, samplers and guitars. Saturday, the band plays Mac’s Bar along with opener Indigo Sun, a Chicago-based “psychedelic funktronica” band. The Skeetones, a five-piece band, also dabble in dubstep, electro, hip hop, jazz and experimental music. They have shared stages throughout the Midwest with bands such as Pnuma Trio and Umphrey´s McGee, which has helped them to earn a reputation for energetic, entrancing shows. In a 2011 review, High Times Magazine said The Skeetones continue "to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of entertaining the thinking mind and the dancing feet alike, leaving listeners reformulating their conception of live electronic music.”

Saturday, Dec. 1 @ Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 18 and over. $12 advance, $15 door, 9 p.m.


Universal Republic artists Youngblood Hawke at Loft

Named after the Herman Wouk novel of the same name, Youngblood Hawke has made a big impact in a short amount of time. The electro-pop band, which plays Sunday at The Loft, has been together for under a year, but has already managed to sign to Universal Republic, a major label, and also has warmed up shows for Passion Pit. Founding members Simon Katz and Sam Martin were in the band Iglu & Hartly, a Mercury Records pop band, but after a 2011 hiatus the pair reformed as Youngblood Hawke. The newly formed group gigged at SXSW in Texas and soon after dropped the single "We Come Running," which was featured on Rolling Stone Magazine’s website. Their new EP charted in Billboard´s Top 200 in September, hitting #3 on the Heatseekers Albums chart for the same week. Opening the Loft show are local indie bands Elliot Street Lunatic and Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers.

Sunday, Dec. 2 @ The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, all ages, $9.41 advance, $12 at door, doors 7 p.m.

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