Concert

Lower Dens

Fresh off a summer tour, Baltimore-based Lower Dens makes a stop at the Contemporary Arts Museum for a free show. Touting new tracks from its pop-friendly Escape From Evil album, the band is led by singer Jana Hunter, who also lectures on gender visibility in music at the CAMH on Thursday.

Aug 7. 7:30. Free. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose Blvd. 832-863-6688. camh.org 

Reading

Sara Paretsky 

Cozy murder-mystery novelist Paretsky reads from and signs copies of her latest novel, Brush Back. The political thriller follows a Chicago native as she retraces her steps in solving a decades-old crime.

Aug 7. 6:30. Free. Murder by the Book, 2342 Bissonnet. 713-524-8597. murderbooks.com

Theater

Passing Strange

In this jazz- and rock-filled musical, a young man named Youth travels to Europe in search of the meaning of life. Along the way, Youth makes stops in Berlin and Amsterdam and is introduced to the good, bad and ugly of sex, drugs, race and love.

Aug 7-8. 7. $15. Frenetic Theater, 5102 Navigation Blvd. 713-560-9790. bayoutheatrecompany.org

Family

Summer of Shakespeare: Scenes For Kids 

Shakespeare, Shakespeare and more Shakespeare. The summer of the bard continues as Brazos Bookstore hosts a reading of A Midsummer Night's Dream, heavily abridged for kids aged 12 and under. 

Aug 8. 2. Free. Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet. 713-523-0701. brazosbookstore.com

Event

Cutthroat Eastside Pop-Up Market

The men's grooming haven's recently opened East End location hosts a housewarming event with live music by DJ favorite Fat Tony, craft beer and local vendors. Neighboring book and music store Wired Up will be on-hand to offer vintage vinyl offerings. 

Aug 9. Noon. Free. Cutthroat Eastside, 1318 Telephone Rd. 713-808-9801. cutthroatbarbers.com