Basia Bulat w/ Eli Mardock from Eagle Seagull & David Matysiak from Coyote Bones

If you’re the type that cringes when you hear “Canadian female singer-songwriter,” I urge you to give Basia Bulat a chance. Her debut album, Oh, My Darling is full of breezy yet sincere pop songs that get better with more play. Bulat keeps it catchy while utilizing quirky instrumentation like ukelele, handclaps, and autoharp. The most striking instrument, however, is her unique and warm voice. She sings out with confidence, wrapping you up in her words. Solo sets from the singer-songwriters of talented local bands Eagle Seagull and Coyote Bones will open the show.

The Black Lips, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Brimstone Howl

The Black Lips have gained quite a reputation for their raucous and rowdy live act. While it remains to be seen how debauched their onstage antics will get in Omaha, they’ll no doubt put on a rocking good show. Underneath their messy, raw sound lies a pop sensibility, especially notable on their latest release, Good Bad Not Evil on the (aptly named) Vice Records. Opening for the anarchic foursome from Atlanta are Quintron and Miss Pussycat, an eccentric duo whose live show includes an organ, puppets, homemade costumes and the self-invented beat-maker Drum Buddy. Local blues/punk/rock act Brimstone Howl also supports. Come and find out for yourself if the Black Lips’ live show lives up to the hype.

CUPCAKE: The Resurgence by Carlos Guerrero

Lux artist-in-residence Carlos Guerrero uses the symbol and format of a cupcake as a jumping off point for this mixed-media exhibition. Guerrero utilizes organic materials such as wood, clay, dirt and wax in his creations that examine the inorganic practices of mass consumption and consumerism, creating a thought-provoking dichotomy. Guerrero also incorporates paint and found objects into his pieces that range from installation sculpture to pictorial images.

Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s w/ Cameron McGill

Like Wes Anderson, the creator of the band’s namesake Margot from The Royal Tenenbaums, songwriter Richard Edwards creates hermetically sealed worlds that leak emotion through tiny cracks in their veneer. The difference is that Edwards tells his stories littered with quirky characters through songs rather than moving images. The band’s debut album, The Dust of Retreat, released over a year ago, was an impressive collection of layered, folk-inspired pop/rock. The Indianapolis octet is finishing up a new album, so this show is a chance to get a sneak peek at their follow-up.

The Von Bondies w/ Die! Die! Die! and Stolen Kisses

Yes, this is the band fronted by Jason Stollsteimer, better known as the guy who was beaten and bruised by Jack White’s fists. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we can talk music. Their debut album, produced by White, was gritty, bluesy garage rock served raw. The influence of their Detroit brethren The Stooges and MC5 peeked through their punk flavored, guitar-heavy sound. Former Modern Lover and Talking Head Jerry Harrison grabbed the producing reins after White, and has helped mold their hook-laden, slightly poppier, but no less hard-hitting, brand of rock. After three years and lineup changes (Stollsteimer and drummer Don Blum are the only original members left), the band returns with the currently available four-track EP We Are Kamikazes Aiming Straight At Your Heart and their third full-length, the upcoming Love, Hate and Then There’s You.

Zappa Plays Zappa

Dweezil Zappa pays homage to his late father Frank’s music with this tour, carrying the torch of his legacy into the present. Zappa’s music is visceral and electrifying, perfectly ripe for the stage. It’s meant to be experienced, not just heard. It’s no background music. No one understands this more than his son, who has taken on the task of learning a good amount of the Zappa catalogue, which is an impressive feat in itself. The show offers a rare opportunity for those hardcore Zappa fans to re-visit some classics as well as a chance for new listeners to get a taste of Zappa’s innovative music.

Endless Summer: Cinema Zero

Cinema Zero’s site-specific video, music and performance series embodies the same mixing of mediums and cross-disciplinary experimentation that the Bemis has encouraged and presented in their “exhibition-in-motion,” Endless Summer. Cinema Zero was founded in New York in 2004 by a group of five artists including Whitney Biennial participant and experimental filmmaker Amy Granat. They’re a well-traveled bunch, having recently performed in Switzerland, Paris, and Beijing. They will soon add Omaha to that esteemed list. And while I’m unsure of what exactly will go down, I think it’s safe to say the event will offer the thrill of defying easy classification. So I urge you to find out for yourselves.