10 concerts happening in metro Detroit this week

Friday, 3/25 - Kirk Franklin @ Fox Theatre - A choir leader at his local church by the age of 12 and founder of his own 17-person choir, the Family, at age 21, one could say gospel mega-star Kirk Franklin has the divine gift when it comes to making some seriously spiritually uplifting tunes. Franklin revisits the landmarks of his career, which include 11 albums, nine Grammy Awards, and numerous other accolades with the 20 Years in One Night Tour, a retrospective not to be missed. Starts at 7:30 p.m.; 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-471-3200; olympiaentertainment.com/fox-theatre; tickets are $25, $35, $50, and $75; all ages.

Friday, 3/25 - Ragbirds Album Release Party @ Magic Bag - Bohemian groove band the Ragbirds celebrate the release of their fifth studio album, The Threshhold & the Hearth, in an all-out bash with special guests the Appleseed Collective and other surprises. The five-piece folk-rock band got their start busking on the cold, hard streets of Ann Arbor, offering whimsical Celtic and gypsy fiddling to the accompaniment of tambourine, doumbek, and tabla. These days, they’re a little less “Kumbaya” and a lot more rock ‘n’ roll, but the lively folk and world influences still remain. Starts at 8 p.m.; 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-544-1991; themagicbag.com; tickets are $15; 18 and up.

Friday, 3/25 - Yung Lean @ Populux - Our favorite Arizona-swilling, bucket hat-wearing Swedish rapper is coming to town, this time on the worldwide Warlord Tour in promotion of his second studio album of the same title. Yes, the Sad Boys crew have come a long way from the days of viral video hits on YouTube, trading their Pokemon cards for more innovative production techniques and more serious content. That being said, I think we’ll always have a special place in our hearts for the moon-faced 16-year-old in the endearingly absurd “Ginseng Strip” music video in 2002. Starts at 8 p.m.; 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-603-5343; populuxdetroit.com; tickets are $18; all ages.

Saturday, 3/26 - Steve Leaf & the Ex Pats @ New Way Bar - Steve and his Ex Pats like to let the hurt linger on their latest release, Three Circles and a Speaker, a searing break-up album that opts for the slow burn rather than the “rip the Band-Aid off” technique. Taking cues from indie balladeers like Buckley, Malkmus, and Tweedy, Leaf warbles on so earnestly to his fuzzed-out guitar that you can’t help but wish the poor guy some closure. With special guests Joe and These Curious Thoughts. Starts at 8 p.m.; 23130 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-541-9879; newwaybar.tumblr.com; tickets are $5; 21 and older.

Saturday, 3/26 - Eugene Chadbourne @ Trinosophes - Psychedelic improviser and multi-instrumentalist Eugene Chadbourne fuses free jazz, bluegrass, noise, and folk into avant-garde performances that are simultaneously political, irreverent, and dementedly tinged with LSD. If you’re into the likes of Coltrane, Braxton, Hendrix, Zappa, and Americana in general, check out this legendary eccentric. Starts at 9 p.m.; 1464 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-737-6606; trinosophes.com; $10 to $20 suggested donation; all ages.

Saturday, 3/26 - Panic in Detroit! @ Northern Lights - This star-studded event bills itself as a “night of glam rock featuring an acoustic tribute to David Bowie.” DJs will spin Bowie and glam greats, while some of your favorite locals cover Bowie tunes unplugged. Among the covers we’re most excited about is Margaret Doll Rod taking on “Moonage Daydream,” Audra Kubat and Tamara Finley tackling “Space Oddity,” David Shettler doing “Warszawa,” Matthew Smith covering “Boys Keep Swinging,” Jarrett Koral and Johnny Chan doing “Five Years,” Willa Rae covering “Life on Mars,” and then there’s Emily Rose’s take on “Man Who Sold the World.” This just might be awesome. Doors at 9 p.m.; 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; 313-873-1739; $5.

Saturday, 3/26 - Mama @ UFO Factory - Gritty power-pop quartet Mama usher in the springtime sunshine with a heavy dose of ferociously gleeful tunes that make you feel wistful, hopeful, and hedonistic all at the same time. The Chicago-based group released their Speed Trap EP off underground rock ‘n’ roll label Hozac. Check out the single “Speed Trap,” which rolls the Dictators, Thin Lizzy, and the Ramones all into one undeniable hit, no matter which side of the power-pop line you land on. Starts at 9 p.m.; 2110 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; ufofactory.com; tickets are $7; 21 and older.

Saturday, 3/26 - Prism Quartet @ Northside Community Church - The critically acclaimed Prism Quartet, one of the greatest contemporary saxophone chamber ensembles of the moment, is performing a benefit concert for six schools in greater Detroit in which proceeds will fund 28 programs serving more than 3,400 students. A great cause made even greater by the additional accompaniment of jazz saxophone legends Diego Rivera and Andrew Bishop, who will perform for part of the program, which features works ranging from John Coltrane to Robert Schumann. Starts at 8 p.m.; 929 Barton Dr., Ann Arbor; 800-838-3006; prismquartet.com; tickets are $22 GA and $17 for students advance purchase only, $3 more at the door; all ages.

Tuesday, 3/29 - She Is We @ Crofoot - She Is We is the new band of He Is We’s Rachel Taylor, who describes the project as a sort of “He Is We 2.0,” but with a new lineup, and help from five-time Grammy Award winner Chris Lord-Alge and big-time pop songwriter Mike Elizondo. So, in other words, a far cry from the original indie pop band from Tacoma. Nevertheless, Taylor is still just as sweet and upbeat, and her infectious vocals shine through as never before on the debut album, War. With special guests We the Kings, Elena Coats, and Brothers James. Starts at 6 p.m.; 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac; 248-858-9333; thecrofoot.com; tickets are $25; all ages.

Wednesday, 3/30 - Metal Church @ Token Lounge - 1980s West Coast thrash metal legends Metal Church have reunited under ’90s era vocalist Mike Howe, best known for being the face of classic music videos “Date With Poverty” and “Badlands,” as well as pushing the band to riff more and dig deeper lyrically. Their 11th studio album XI doesn’t disappoint, delivering the tight musicianship and piercing vocals fans remember them for — but the real treat is seeing these guys shredding harder than ever on stage. Doors at 6 p.m.; 28949 Joy Rd, Westland; 734-513-5030; tokenlounge.com; tickets are $20; 18 and older.