What better way to launch a tour than with a Tour Kickoff Party full of fans and friends? Local band Sixpin is hitting the road in support of their first self-released record, Made to Bleed, and are starting off on the right foot with a kickoff party/show at the Buffalo Icon on Friday (Feb. 2). Described as “rugged and raw” and “charismatic and fun,” Sixpin will also unveil a new light show and merch line, as well as give away a lot of free goodies to partygoers. Doors open at the Icon at 7:30pm and tickets are $10

On Saturday (Feb. 8), Claude Coleman Jr will be performing with his group Amandla. Coleman has already toured the world as the drummer for the influential rock band Ween, and on this current tour he has shown his talent as lead guitarist for Amandla. As a guitarist, Coleman shines with a passionate and soulful side that may have been overlooked previously. Amandla has a sound that is hard not to like—pushing folk, soul and psychedelic rock to create a sound of its own. Amandla performs with local bands Beamer, The Czech Mates, and Little Dirty Goat at Broadway Joe’s. Doors open at 8pm; $8/over 21 and $12/under 21

By leading bands such as Jawbox, Burning Airlines and Channels, J Robbins has been responsible for some of the most influential underground rock of the past two decades. Robbins has also become a producer for many indie rock bands including Buffalo’s Exit Strategy, who recorded a brilliant second record with him this past August. Sadly, Robbins’ one year old son, Cal (pictured here), was recently diagnosed with type 1 spinal muscular atrophy- a disease for which there is no known cure. The Robbins family is without medical insurance so, like many people across the country who have worked with Robbins in the past, the Exit Strategy have oraganized a benefit to help with hospital bills. The benefit includes various local musicians including the Sleeping Kings Of Iona, Knife Crazy, The Missing Planes, The Audience, Mark Norris, Tracy Morrow & the Magi Chippie, Matt Smith, Joseph Mulhollen and, of course, the Exit Strategy. Show starts at 6pm Saturday (Feb. 3) at Mohawk Place.

In an age where stars shamelessly chase fame like their lives depend on it, few performers are as intentionally enigmatic as Leon Redbone. Ever since his earliest widespread exposure in 1974, when he clouded his identity with claims that he was the love child of Paganini and Jenny Lind, Redbone’s vaudevillian persona became as recognizable as his eerily spot-on interpretations of early 20th century jazz and blues songs like “Up a Lazy River.” Schtick or no, it landed him several appearances on Saturday Night Live, and by the 80s Anheuser-Busch tapped him for a memorable jingle: “This Bud’s for You.” Now that Redbone is into his third decade of performing songs from the early 1900s, the sense of nostalgia he’ll be bringing to the Tralf on Thursday (Feb. 8) is sure to feel one way for baby boomers and another way for their kids—who may be hearing this cool stuff for the first time

Next Thursday (Feb. 8) at 7:30pm, Theatre Plus will premiere Air Heart at the Alleyway Theatre, a solo aerial theatre performance written and performed by Buffalo native Mara Neimanis. The one-woman aerial theatre performance combines circus arts with drama to explore the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of Amelia Earhart during her 1937 flight. Mara has created dazzling aerial plays since 1997 that include the use of trapeze, floating sculptures and incongruous large objects. One of these marvelous floating sculptures is a 12-foot tall steel plane that was created by Laura Shults and Tim Scofield. This show promises to be an exciting and innovative step in women’s theater. It will run through Feb 17, with shows Thursday-Friday at 7:30pm, and at 2pm & 8pm on Saturdays