TURN IT DOWN

Tuesday, Sept. 26 @ The Avenue Café, 2021 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. FREE, 7 p.m.

Maintaining a business on the Michigan State University stretch of Grand River Avenue is no easy feat. Couple the high student turnover rate with the disappearance of more than half of the population every summer, and you've got yourself a goliath of a challenge. Yet despite all odds, local vinyl shop Flat Black & Circular has remained in the game for over 40 years. To commemorate the vinyl haven's long-lived stint on the street, the businesses will host a free birthday party at the Avenue Cafe with two local outfits: Jonestown Crows and Atomic Boogaloo. The event isn't just for listening to music however, the event is meant to be a way for the shopowners to connect with the many fans and longtime customers that they've acumulated over their 40 years of existence. One of the co-founders, Dick Rosement is even flying in from retirement in New Mexico to see the show.

Friday, Sept. 15. Mac's Bar, 2700 E.

Michigan Ave., Lansing. $10. 8 p.m.

If you haven't heard of Tim Darcy, chances are you've heard of the Montreal-based post-punk trio Ought. The group has produced two albums together and toured extensively on an international scale, but Darcy felt that the timing was right for a solo record. Released just earlier this year, Darcy's "Saturday Night" is an ironic play on the traditionally highenergy day of relaxation. Listen to the Velvet Undergroundsounding tune and you'll feel a far greater introspection that you might expect from a track named after that day of the week. However, the title track of the album doesn't color the sound of the entire record; many tracks include poppy, upbeat-sounding tunes. Within this mix of the melancholy and happy, Darcy manages to weave expertly-written lyrics. Darcy is now on a 10-stop tour, hitting Lansing's Mac's Bar for the first time in his nearly decade-long career as a touring artist.

Sunday, Sept. 24. Old Town General Store, 408 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing. FREE/ Donations. Noon.

Local Lansing folk artist and MSU student Monte Pride has been making waves . His most recent LP "Hawthorne Morning Sound" has shown a deeply matured sound, miles away from his first releases. He now also brings a new festival to the Lansing Area. At the Old Town General Store, attendees of the Songs for Sustainability Festival can expect a environmentally focused set list, focused on community building. The new festival's goal is to "continue building Lansing's awareness of the importance of living sustainably," by "creatinging a unique atmosphere for likeminded folks to engage with each other," writes Pride. The event will feature five different acts, Sea Bridson, the Stump Brothers, the Rupple Brothers & Company, the Dangling Participles and Jim Jersey "Folk and More." Local vendors will make an appearance too, with Oh Mi Organics, Rust Belt Roastery, Mystical Makings and more.