Shes a Detroiter. Shes Mrs. Frizzle. Shes Deborah Fiderer. Shes Frankie Bergstein. But tonight, shes herself. Lily Tomlin will bring out her most beloved stand-up characters like Madame Lupe, Edith Ann, and Trudy, the bag lady with all of the alien stories. For fans of her award-winning work of any age, this night is sure to be a riot. Tomlin, a feminist and gay rights icon, is definitely in the running for Queen of Comedy. Shes been in this business since 1965, and everything she does is still just as original and hilarious as when she got started. Dont miss out on your chance. If you do, youre just as bad as Lucille the Rubber Freak. Thursday, 10/13; An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin @ Royal Oak Music Theatre; The show starts at 6:30 p.m.; 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; royaloakmusictheatre.com; tickets start at $102.
Loreena McKennit, a pianist, composer, accordionist, harpist, and all-around extraordinaire who has been active in World Music since the mid-1980s will be in Ann Arbor performing Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. The accomplished Canadian musician will be playing pieces from her nine studio albums, and you can probably count on hearing her most popular hits Snow and Ancient Pines. Wednesday, 10/12; Loreena McKennit @ The Michigan Theater; Doors at 7 p.m.; 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; michtheater.org; tickets are $35-$89.50.
Here is a show of experimental noise music that is bound to be fun and diverse. Ortmann, who runs the Nihilist Records label and has a show on WFMU called The Eternal Now, has made eclectic electronic experimental music since 1990. Hogg is a Chicago-based duo whose music is crude and unintelligible and awesome. Tarpit is everyones favorite doomy, slurred, weirdly poppy, tape-addled noise dude. And Little Princess is Davin Brainard in disguise. So, show up early, and dont be on a downer trip, or we wont be able to hang with you.
Doors at 9 p.m.; 2110 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; ufofactory.com; $7.
Thursday, 10/13; Andy Ortmann, Hogg, Tarpit, Little Princess @ UFO Factory
Michigans fashion industry conference, which is now in its third year, will feature five 70-minute workshops focused on helping those trying to break into the fashion business. These include Get Your Foot in the Door: Developing Relationships with Larger Companies, Determine and Develop Your Best Product, Tradeshow 101, and How to Elevate Your Brand. In addition to these workshops, guests will also get to hear from keynote speaker Jeffrey Aronsson, the founder and CEO of Aronsson Group. He is a former CEO of Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Emanuel Ungaro, and Ralph Ricci. His Detroit ties reach back to the University of Michigan, where he got his bachelors degree, and Wayne State where he got his Juris Doctor. He went to New York Universitys School of Law for his masters degree, and made a name for himself there. If youre just starting out, hes definitely someone you want to hear from. Thursday, 10/13; Fashion Speak @ One Woodward; The conference begins at 10 a.m.; 1 Woodward Ave., Detroit; detroitgarmentgroup.org; tickets are $49.
Spooky Halloween exhibit Scary Monsters and Super Creeps will feature pieces from artists Kara Meister, Tim Vulgar, David Dunbar Buick, Sarah Stawski, Kyle Akey, Davin Brainard, Dalia Reyes, Erin Norris, and more. Right after the show, which will have monster snacks and haunted musik, there will a pretty sweet Behemoth Killer concert to check out. Friday, 10/14; Scary Monsters and Super Creeps Art Show @ UFO Factory; The show begins at 6 p.m.; 2110 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; ufofactory.com; entry is free.
1980s dance quartet Book of Love has regrouped for a 30th anniversary tour. Hits like I Touch Roses, which reached No. 1 on the dance charts in 1985, and the socially aware Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls will surely be played, along with the infectious Tubular Bells, as well as previously unrecorded tracks. The group, which got its start opening for Depeche Mode, is going to be a must-see for any former new wavers. Friday, 10/14; Book of Love @ The Magic Bag; Doors open at 8 p.m.; 22920 Michigan Ave., Ferndale; themagicbag.com; tickets are $20.
Sat, 10/15-Sun 10/16
Oddmall: Emporium of the Weird Hallowondrous Edition
@ Seagate Convention Center
Weird art, collectors, entertainers, cosplayers, and more. Oddmalls Halloween show is sure to be as strange as ever (and were talking pretty strange). Oddmall has pretty much anything you can imagine, honestly. Anything thats just a little different, youll probably run into there, and youll be surrounded by people who are just as geeky as you. There will, of course, be a Halloween contest and a variety of quirky activities in addition to the plethora of vendors, and there will be a Kids Cave set up for the munchkins to enjoy themselves too. Sat, 10/15-Sun 10/16; Oddmall: Emporium of the Weird Hallowondrous Edition @ Seagate Convention Center; The event starts at 10 a.m. both days; 401 Jefferson Ave., Toledo; hallowondrous.oddmall.info; entry is free, but a $5 donation is suggested.
Newly invigorated Okkervil River comes to town on the heels on an album called Away. Singer-songwriter Will Sheff remains at the core; the backing musicians are completely different. Sheff packed up and left Austin for Brooklyn, N.Y., and rebuilt the group from the band up. The sound is still rootsy-folky, but it veers toward visionary territory. Sheff is a smart dude his bands name comes from a story by Tatyana Tolstaya that he read in a 20th century Russian literature class. His music is a bit deeper these days, and darker, still. This is truly real and good shit; its no longer simply NPR/coffee shop good its damn-some-kid-gonna-find-this-in-a-used-bin-20-years-from-now-and-start-a-band good. Saturday, 10/15; Okkervil River @ The Magic Bag; Doors at 8 p.m.; 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; themagicbag.com; tickets are $18.
Saturday, 10/15
Melting Map Pot(luck)
@ Arab American National Museum
In conjunction with Peace Meal Kitchen, more FoodLab Detroit businesses, and the Detroit Atlas Collaboration, the Arab American National Museum has a night of food, fun, and culture planned out. Guests will be able to create their own food and memory maps, while bringing in a dish to explain what that aspect of their culture means to them. Guests will learn printmaking skills, as well as more about the ever-growing diversity of Detroit.
Saturday, 10/15; Melting Map Pot(luck) @ Arab American National Museum; The event starts at 5 p.m.; 13624 Michigan Ave., Detroit; arabamericanmuseum.org; tickets are $10 if you wish to just bring a dish and develop a food map; tickets are $20 if you want to bring a dish and participate in the drawing stations, letterpress, printmaking, and map creation.
If youre looking to freak yourself out, the New Boston Historical Society invites you to join author Debi Chestnut (Ghosts of Anchor Bay) on a tour of Oakwood Cemetery, which many consider, along with the Hathaway House and the Morris House to be among the creepiest places in New Baltimore. Youll definitely be spooked as they tell you all about the roaming spirits under that nights full moon. Paranormal investigators are pretty certain this place has some considerable activity, so go if you dare. Saturday, 10/15; Ghost Stories of New Baltimore @ Oakwood Cemetery The tour starts at 7 p.m.; 35900 24 Mile Rd., New Baltimore; newbaltimorehistorical.org; admittance is $5.