1. David Byrne

8 p.m., Oct. 25, $42.50 - 52.50, Clowes Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave., (317) 940-6444.

David Byrne's career has included both recognizable, pop hits and envelope-pushing music. On this tour, the artist specifically explores the music from his collaborations with fellow eclectic artist Brian Eno. The duo has created two albums together. Eno also produced three records with Byrne's legendary band Talking Heads. Byrne is joined by seven musicians and three dancers who have choreographed seven songs for this tour.

2. Broad Ripple Music Festival

1 p.m., Oct. 25, 15 venues, cover varies

The Broad Ripple Music Festival takes the idea of a big, one-day music festival a step further. Proceeds from the festival benefit 15 local not-for-profit agencies. Currently 93 bands are scheduled to perform on 16 stages in 15 venues in and around Broad Ripple. The event also includes six all-ages stages and five no cover venues. Visit broadripplebuzz.com for details on artists, set times, venues, cover, and benefiting agencies.

3. Broad Ripple Music Fest Kick-Off Party

8 p.m., Oct. 24, $7, The Vogue, 6259 N College Ave., (317) 259-7029.

If you can't wait until Saturday to start taking in some of the top musical acts in Indy at the Broad Ripple Music Fest, this kick-off event offers the chance to see six great acts on Friday. Jazz/jam band Twin Cats, Vaudevillian band Born Again Floozies and "jungle folk" act Grampall Jookabox join indie rockers Everthus the Deadbeats, Mardelay, and Jorma and the Movie Bear to get the 2nd BRMF off to a flying start.

4. The Dwarves w/ The Uprising, The Dockers, Thunders!

8 p.m., Oct. 28, $15, The Vogue, 6259 N College Ave., (317) 259-7029.

Simply put, The Dwarves are not a band for the faint of heart. Their catalog of hardcore punk covers lyrical themes like blood, sex, and drugs. Their legacy includes countless on-stage fights, a hoax that one of their members had been stabbed to death, and a guitarist who wears little more than a wrestling mask on stage. You've been warned. The Uprising, The Dockers, and Thunders share opening duties.

5. GWAR w/ Kingdom of Sorrow, Toxic Holocaust, Ensiferum

8 p.m., Oct. 23, $22, The Vogue, 6259 N College Ave., (317) 259-7029.

Attention cleaning crews: you might be getting a call from The Vogue on Friday morning. GWAR returns to the venue and brings with them their long-running shtick of soaking their audiences in fake blood. As always, the stage show trumps the actual punk/metal music in the GWAR universe. Expect a thorough skewering (literally) of the world of politics at this concert, part of GWAR's "Electile Dysfunction '08" tour.

6. Creepin' Charley & the Boneyard Orchestra, Mandy Marie & the Cool Hand Lukes, God Made Robots

10 p.m., Oct. 24, $5, Melody Inn, 3826 N Illinois St., (317) 923-4707.

Friday night at the Melody Inn offers a wide range of sounds from the local scene. Mandy Marie & the Cool Hand Lukes bring revved-up country/rockabilly. Relative newcomers God Made Robots create a pop/rock sound that's reminiscent of 80's new wave rock acts. Creepin' Charley & the Boneyard Orchestra fit somewhere in the middle, offering rootsy rock that ranges from Tom Waits-styled dirges to Led Zeppelin-esque romps.

7. Wax Fang w/ Apollo Sunshine

8 p.m., Oct. 26, $8, Birdy's Bar & Grill, 2131 E. 71st St., (317) 254-8971.

Wax Fang started out as a solo project for Louisville-based guitarist Scott Carney. The group has since evolved into a proper three-piece band that includes a drummer and bassist augmenting Carney's multi-layered guitars. The group's David Bowie-influenced rock can be heard on their latest release, "La La Land." Apollo Sunshine, a band once named as a "Band to Watch" by Rolling Stone magazine, shares the bill.

8. Pete Francis of Dispatch w/ Keaton Simons

9 p.m., Oct. 24, $10, Radio Radio, 1119 E. Prospect. St., (317) 955-0995.

As a member of the group Dispatch, Pete Francis accomplished more than most independent or unsigned bands. The group won over a cult of fans for their roots/reggae inspired music thanks to Internet file swapping and word of mouth. Their debut record sold over three million copies and their farewell show drew over 100,000 attendees. Francis is now pursuing a solo career. His most recent album, "Iron Sea and the Cavalry," came out in March 2008.

9. The Relatives & The Playboy Psychonauts

9 p.m., Oct. 24, Locals Only, 2449 E. 56th St., (317) 255-4013.

Back at the start of this decade when local battles of the bands seemed like a quaint, unique idea, The Relatives were a surprise winner of an event that featured better known acts. Since then the devil-may-care punk rock band has been MIA on the local scene. The group reunites for one night on Friday. They're joined by The Playboy Psychonauts, the groovy lounge act that turns pop and rock classics into sitar driven go-go music.

10. Dan Tyminski Band

8 p.m., Oct. 24, $28, Music Mill, 3720 E 82nd St (317) 841-1850

Dan Tyminski might be best-known for his voice. The bluegrass musician provided the singing voice for George Clooney in the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou." In the process, he scored a surprise hit with the film's update of the song "Man of Constant Sorrow." He's also a member of Union Station, the bluegrass band headed by Alison Krauss. With that band on hiatus for 2008, Tyminski released his own album and is touring in support of it.