Fri 10/28 & Sat 10/29 Dead Again Halloween Bash @ The Magic Bag Your favorite Grateful Dead cover band will be doing two nights of greatest hits for all of you deadheads to consume. The show will feature an array of Winterland-era and Halloween-related Dead hits sure to please fans. In fact, it was fans who pushed for a second night to be added to the bash, which has traditionally been a single night event. It’s highly anticipated and it is going to be a party for everyone who loved Jerry and the gang’s work. Doors open at 8 p.m.; 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; themagicbag.com; Tickets are $12 per night.
Friday, 10/28 Oddities Expo @ North Main Tattoo Studio For the second year in a row, Painted Lady Trashions will supply all things haunting and weird to North Main Tattoo Studio for the Oddities Expo. The event will feature a bunch of spooky stuff like taxidermied animals, scary photographs, those creepy dolls that everyone loves so much, and some good ‘ole slimy things. Everything featured will also be for sale, so if you’re looking for some last-minute, quality Halloween decorations, or you’re just into having horrifying decor, this is the place for you! Starts at 9 p.m.; 418 North Main St., Plymouth; northmaintattoos.com.
Friday, 10/28 Shades, Skin Lies @ Kelly’s Bar We love how diverse and low-key the shows at Kelly’s are, and this night of cosmic weirdness is no exception. Tonight each of the four acts are worth attention from your ear holes. Shades makes purely space-age music for space. Skin Lies (aka former Ann Arborite Dustin Krcatovich) makes highly repetitive and pulsing slow jams that shove your brain into a sweet zone. Jimbo Easter is a creative dynamo, and his performance art is always fun. Finally, Bunny Fluff finds Pete Steffy and Raphael Brim messing around with old-school synths, drum machines, tapes, and patch bays. Doors at 9 p.m.; 2403 Holbrook St., Hamtramck; 313-872-0387; $7.
Friday, 10/28 Helado Negro @ The Majestic Cafe Roberto Carlos Lange, the son of Ecuadorian immigrants, fuses together English and Spanish, kraut rock, and classic electronica, to create his limitless, genre-defining sound. Lange is a nonstop artist. He’s constantly collaborating with the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Mikael Jorgenson (Wilco), Mouse on Mars, and the sculptor David Ellis. He has a degree in computer art and animation, and is always experimenting with new ways to create. He has worked with sculpture, video, performance and sound. Yet, he is never satisfied enough to stop. He has the itch to keep doing, to keep making. His art is serious and introspective, and since his 2010 album Pasajero, he has drawn listeners into his creative world. Raised in the never-ending heat and volatile weather of hurricane-prone Southern Florida, Lange grew up in a hotbed of Latin American culture, which has played a huge role in his artistic development. His September single, “It’s My Brown Skin,” touches on accepting diversity and is especially poignant in today’s political climate. This renaissance man is a must-see for fans and for anyone looking to broaden their musical horizons. Show starts at 8 p.m.; 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit; majesticdetroit.com; Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
Saturday, 10/29 Timmy’s Organism, K-9 Sniffies @ UFO Factory This event, officially called “Urinal Cake Records Presents: Saturday the 29th,” combines two of your favorite things: Halloween and loud music. Four of our finest local bands — Timmy’s Organism, K9 Sniffies, the Craig Brown Band, and Double Winter — will all be in costume, and you better be too. Or have an excellent conceptual lie handy for how your T-shirt and jeans are really the costume of a disaffected 30-something with crippling student debt and a minor pizza addiction, blah blah blah. Timmy’s is forever violently fun, K9 Sniffies play disaffected art-rock for all of the people, Craig Brown is about to become Detroit’s biggest breakout export, and Double Winter continues to grown and surprise and sound awesome. Definitely show up to this one, and just stop whining and get yourself into a costume first and have some fun, you big baby. Doors at 9 p.m.; 2110 Trumbull St., Detroit; ufofactory.com; $10.
Saturday, 10/29 La Sera @ El Club As we all surely know by now, La Sera is the project of Katy Goodman (ex-Vivian Girls) and Todd Wisenbaker (who’s worked with Ryan Adams on his best recent music). Of late, the duo’s finely tuned pop-punk has taken a turn toward an even poppier and occasionally organ-driven bent. It’s almost like an LA take on the sorely missed Quasi at times, but La Sera manages to not sound like anyone else. Each song has the ability to stick in your head and stay there for weeks. Doors at 9 p.m.; 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; elcubdetroit.com; $12 in advance, $14 at the door.
Saturday, 10/29 Appleseed Collective @ The Ark “Michigan’s Progressive String/Swing Band,” The Appleseed Collective, is a mixture of bluegrass, ragtime, and soul sure to please any music lover. Their songs are down-to-earth, hipster-folk treasures that have been garnering worldwide attention since their 2014 performance at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival. They’ve toured the Midwest, and they’re getting more and more popular each show they play. Be sure to see them as they swing home for a show before continuing on to promote their latest EP, Tour Tapes. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; 316 Main St., Ann Arbor; theark.org; Tickets are $15.
Saturday, 10/29 Grouplove @ Royal Oak Music Theatre Indie darlings since 2009, Grouplove experienced massive success on the alternative charts in 2012 with their single, “Tongue Tied,” which reached the No. 2 spot. This year, the highly anticipated Spreading Rumors was released Sept. 17, and has only been garnering more success since then. Currently, the album’s lead single “Ways to Go” sits at the No. 12 spot on the alternative charts. They’ll be stopping at Austin City Limits on this tour, so you know that they’re doing well for themselves. If you’re a big 93.9 The River fan, you’re going to need to be at this show. Doors open at 7 p.m.; 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; royaloakmusictheatre.com; Tickets are $29.50 in advance and $35 the day of.
Saturday, 10/29 Music & Arts Guild Halloween Fundraiser @ Dreamland Theater The Music & Arts Guild’s Halloween Fundraiser is going to be scarily fun. There will be a variety of entertainers to delight adults and kids alike including the Dreamland Puppeteers, Aimee Adams, Haunted Head, the Gruesome Twosome, Dear Darkness, and the Potions. So, put on your best costume and get ready to dance! All ages are welcome with IDs, and beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages will be available for sale. The event starts at 6:30 p.m.; 26 N. Washington St., Ypsilanti; facebook.com/musicandartsguild/; There will be a $10 cover charge.
Saturday, 10/29 Gender Blender @ Circa 1800 Saloon One of the biggest bashes of the year for Detroit’s LGBTQ communities is just around the corner. DJ Black Mamba will be cranking out great music and there will be prizes given out for best couple/group costume, funniest costume, and scariest costume. The grand prize will be a $50 Visa gift card. The event is free to attend, but if you pay $3 you can get into the back room for drinking games and various debauchery. Starts at 10 p.m.; 5474 Cass Ave., Detroit; facebook.com/FtMDetroit.
Saturday, 10/29 The Color Run Night @ Belle Isle Park Just when the Color Run couldn’t get any cooler, there’s the Color Run Night. The run will feature “glowtastic color zones, illuminating bubbles, and neon color throws.” Bring your own glow sticks, grab some friends for the run, and make sure to hit the awesome after-party! Just pick your kit (there are different ones with varying levels of cool stuff for the run included), and get ready to race. Race starts at 7 p.m.; 1 Pleasure Dr., Detroit; thecolorrun.com; Registration Kits start at $40.
Saturday, 10/29 Belle Isle Harvest Festival @ Belle Isle A truckload of fun is in store for Detroiters who can make their way to Belle Isle’s White House lawn for the activities in store. There will be face painting, hayrides, a bounce house, a bonfire with a marshmallow roast, candy, popcorn, hot apple cider, doughnuts, and the chance for kids to meet Smokey the Bear. The Detroit Institute of Arts will also have a mobile exhibit set up that you’re going to want to check out. There’s no better way to get into the autumnal spirit than to stop by. Festival starts at 11 a.m.; 2 Inselruhe Ave., Detroit; facebook.com/MiBelleIsle.
Saturday, 10/29 DOG Halloween Costume Contest @ Stormy Records Bring your well-behaved pup dressed up in their Halloween best, get a goodie bag for your pooch, and get the chance to win a Pet Supplies Plus gift certificate. Monetary donations for the local animal shelter will be accepted, as well as gently used dog toys, towels, blankets, and newspapers. To add to the fun, a 50/50 raffle will be held, with the proceeds going to the Friends for Metro Detroit Animals. Starts at 4 p.m.; 13306 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; stormyrecords.com
Saturday-Sunday, 10/29-30 Penny Dreadful: Under the Yellow Sign @ Slipstream Theatre Art and madness sometimes seem to go hand in hand. The Slipstream Theatre Initiative has figured out a common link: the color yellow. This year’s immersive, multi-room, escape-scenario, Halloween spectacular will feature new adaptations of The Yellow Wallpaper, The King in Yellow, and Metamorphosis. The thread binding everything together is the evil, ancient yellow sign driving the various young artists to madness and destruction. It’s going to be a highly entertaining and emotional experience and will definitely get you in the Halloween spirit! Shows start at 7 p.m.; 460 Hilton Rd., Ferndale; slipstreamti.com; Tickets start at $12.60.
Sunday, 10/30 Anthony Bourdain @ Fox Theatre You’ll have No Reservations about checking out author, television host, and culinary whiz Anthony Bourdain when he stops in Detroit as part of “The Hunger” tour. Bourdain will promote his first cookbook in a decade, Appetites, which features the same dry wit and tough entertainment that fans have come to expect from the more than well-traveled New York chef. The show starts at 7 p.m.; 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; ticketmaster.com; Tickets are $55-$75.
Sunday, 10/30 Kayak to Table @ Detroit River Sports Nothing could be better than a night that includes paddling through Detroit’s historic canals and a fresh meal from Coriander Kitchen & Farms, which will be served right on the water’s edge. The tour, presented by Detroit River Sports will take guests on an exclusive journey around Harbor Island, Klenk Island, Fox Creek, Grayhaven, and the historic Fisher Mansion. You’ll get to see the sunset on the water, and the meal will feature savory roasted pumpkin, grilled sausages, and some pickled grub served around a roaring bonfire. You can get just the dinner, bring your own kayak, rent a single, or rent a tandem. It’s going to be a great night! Event begins at 4 p.m.; 14601 Riverside Blvd., Detroit; detroitriversports.com; Tickets start at $50.
Tuesday, 11/1 The Book of Mormon @ The Fisher Theatre Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s piece of Broadway excellence is coming to delight Detroit fans with “Hello” and “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream.” The satirical musical tells the tale of two young Mormon missionaries being sent on their first mission — to Uganda. From there the show chronicles the trials and tribulations of the two young fellas navigating their way through being robbed at gunpoint, AIDS, famine, and warlord General Butt-Fucking Naked. Needless to say, it’s a good time. Shows start between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. depending on the date; 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com; Tickets are $35 – $135.

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