Next Week Today is a selection of our picks from the upcoming week’s events, published every Sunday at 11 a.m. We’ll give you juuuuuust enough detail to whet your whistle, and then let you do the digging. In other words, these are the events we recommend giving a second, perhaps even third glance as you wend your way along the path to entertainment.

We’re getting close enough to Halloween that things are starting to get a little bit spoooooky, but just a touch, we haven’t been overrun by ghouls and goblins just yet. Probably time to start thinking about those costume choices, though.

MONDAYOctober 10

The Head and The Heart w/ Shakey Graves (Avondale Brewing Company, 6:30 p.m.) — Like many current releases, indie folk act The Head and the Heart’s 2022 album Every Shade of Blue is one of transformation, of having metamorphosed through the catalyst of difficult times into some new thing, still beating the moisture from their wings and hoping that whatever new form they now take, it is a beautiful one. It meanders a little, only coalescing into a few memorable stand-outs, but those are worth the journey. Joining the party is Shakey Graves, whose deft and sweet Americana folk tunes would be worth the ticket all by themselves.

TUESDAYOctober 11

Sick Thoughts / The Lousy / Me & My Knife / DOGG / B.O.R.N. (The Firehouse Community Arts Center, 7 p.m.) —Sick Thoughts (aka Drew Owens) brings you punk from New Orleans by way of Baltimore, and The Lousy dragged their sludgy crust all the way from Boston. These hard-traveling mofos will be backed by a strong bunch of Birmingham bands, including a rare set by local legends Me & My Knife.

WEDNESDAYOctober 12

Ghostbusters + Scream (Avondale Brewing Company, 6 p.m.) — Bring a chair and a blanket for this double-header featuring two spooky/funny halloween flicks, 1984’s absolute classic Ghostbusters and Wes Craven’s 1995 slasher satire Scream. Hold on, what was that? Did you guys hear anything? I’ll be right back….

Southern Circuit – Stay Prayed Up (Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema, 7 p.m.) — Next up in the the Southern Circuit film series, documentary Stay Prayed Up follows 82-year-old Lena Mae Perry, bandleader of the legendary North Carolina gospel singers The Branchettes as they get ready to record their first live record.

THURSDAYOctober 13

Tuba Skinny (Workplay, 8 p.m.) — Head on down to Wordplay to catch New Orleans band Tuby Skinny, a whole host of folks making music just dripping in old-timey goodness. We’re talking ’20s and ’30s era ragtime and jazz here, music to trip the light fantastic to.

FRIDAYOctober 14

Norman Westberg (of Swans) w/ Matt Bryant (Seasick Records, 7 p.m.) — Better known for his guitar work in the confrontational no wave band Swans, Westberg’s solo work consists of brooding ambient soundscapes. Ticket sales from this show benefit The Firehouse Community Art Center.

SATURDAYOctober 15

Little Red’s Most Unusual Day (Avondale Park, 10:30 a.m. & 12 p.m.) — Opera Birmingham is bringing their retelling of the classic fairytale to amphitheater at Avondale Park. Written and sung in English, this children’s opera features the music of J. Offenbach and G. Rossini.

Tall Bike Joust X (Cahaba Brewing Company, 6 p.m.) — This event, hosted by Redemptive Cycles, is a little bit ridiculous, and all kinds of awesome. If the idea of watching riders on double-high two-wheelers try to knock each other down with padded sticks sounds like a good time to you, then you’re in luck! We live in a world where that is a thing you can actually go see for yourself, and since the whole thing benefits those facing homelessness in our community, it’s a no-brainer.

SUNDAYOctober 16

Birmingham Punk Rock Flea Market (Cahaba Brewing Company, 1 p.m.) — The Punk Rock Flea Market is back at Cahaba, bringing over 50 vendors with an array of vintage gear, music, art, oddities and bits and bobs. There will be live music from Nowhere Squares, Ranger, DOGG and Sqquat, as well as appearances from drag performers Angel Face and Saliva Godiva. If you still feel like partying after things are winding down, make sure to check out the 6 p.m. official after party at Mom’s Basement, featuring sets by Seriously, B.O.R.N. and Mood Room.