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Chris Bathgate at the Avenue Cafe

Friday, Nov. 6 @ The Avenue Café, 2021 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. $10, 8 p.m.

Michigan roots-scene troubadour Chris Bathgate, along with fellow folkies Seth Bernard and Gifts or Creatures, perform Friday at the Avenue Café. Bathgate, 33, grew up in Iowa and Kentucky. In 2001, he enrolled at University of Michigan’s School of Art and Design and launched his solo music career. By 2006, Bathgate was a fixture in the Ann Arbor indie-folk circuit and Real Detroit Weekly named him “Best Solo Artist in Michigan.” The following year he released his acclaimed “A Cork Tale Wake” LP via Quite Scientific Records, which also released his most recent LP, 2011’s “Salt Year.” Bathgate’s forthcoming EP, “Old Factory,” is slotted for an early 2016 release. Meanwhile, Gifts or Creatures features the Lansing-based husband/ wife songwriting duo of Brandon and Bethany Foote. The Americana twosome blends Midwestern folklore and old world history with lush soundscapes and tender harmonies.

Madcat's Midnight Blues Journey at AMP

Friday, Nov. 6 @ Ten Pound Fiddle – Allen Market Place, 1629 E. Kalamazoo St., Lansing. $15, 7:30 p.m.

The Ten Pound Fiddle and LCC Radio 89.7 hosts Madcat’s Midnight Blues Journey, a Michigan-based all-star blues band, Friday at the Allen Market Place. Lead by Grammy Award winning harmonica prodigy Peter “Madcat” Ruth, the improvisational outfit plays standard and obscure blues numbers while also mixing in folk, jazz and original tunes. The rest of the band comprises guitarist Drew “Captain Midnight” Howard, bassist Mark Schrock and drummer Michael Shimmin. As for the band’s leader, Ruth has toured the world and was hailed as “a harmonica virtuoso who is rapidly approaching legend status” by Performance Magazine. Meanwhile, Howard has been a guitar-slinging fixture on the Michigan roots music scene for more than 30 years. He’s best known for his expert-level skills on the six string, pedal and lap-steel guitar and dobro. Food will be available, and Allan Market Place’s Sleepwalker Spirits and Ale will sell its brews at the event.

Chris Webby at Mac's Bar

Tuesday, Nov. 10 @ Mac’s Bar, 2600 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. All ages, $20, $18 adv., 7 p.m.

Christian Webster, aka Chris Webby, has worked with a long roster of A-list rappers, including Method Man, Bun B, Mac Miller, B-Real and Talib Kweli. Tuesday, the Connecticut-based emcee headlines Mac’s Bar. Opening the all-ages show are Cato, Nate Millyunz and Knowledge Da MC. Webster debuted in 2009 with a pair of selfreleased mixtapes, “The White Noise LP” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Rapper.” In 2013, after a string of buzzworthy independent releases on his Homegrown Music imprint, Webster signed with Entertainment One Music (formerly known as Koch Records). His proper debut LP on the label, 2014’s “Chemically Imbalanced,” features guest spots from Dizzy Wright and Tech N9ne, among others. All Music Guide praised the glossy, pop-fueled rap album, calling the disc a “hook-filled, clever, and cocksure party.” Fans of Yelawolf or Asher Roth might want to check him out.