Charles Bradley never gave up his dream.: Kisha Bari/handout

There have been several heartening stories over the past decade or so about obscure soul singers who cut singles decades ago only to toil in obscurity for years before giving up on a career in music. Several of them have enjoyed greater contemporary acclaim and sales than they had in their youth. Charles Bradley, 64, did not quite take that same path. The Florida native never really gave the music biz a go back in his youth. He was working a thankless gig in a James Brown tribute act until recently when the classic soul-friendly Daptone label signed him and released the striking “No Time for Dreaming” last year. Bradley can howl with the best singers in that storied genre. It took him a while to get heard, but it was worth the wait. He’s backed by his aptly named Extraordinaires, and fittingly, he’ll share a bill with Houston’s Fistful of Soul DJ team, which has impeccable taste in old 45s.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday

Where: Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak

Tickets: $15; 713-862-3838

Guy Forsyth has cycled in and out of town for four years behind his last album, “Calico Girl,” but this time through, he has a new set of songs to plug. The Austin guitarist and one-time Asylum Street Spanker serves up blues along with some stirring singer-songwriter fare. He does particularly well with gospel touches on the new “The Freedom to Fail,” a lovely and hopeful set of songs, especially on the ground-shaking “Sink ’Em Low (The Holler).” The new stuff will be a welcome mix into his already wide-ranging songbook.

When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk

Tickets: $20-$22; 713-528-5999

String wizard David Bromberg had a hand as a session player and/or producer on some big recordings, including Bob Dylan’s (terribly unappreciated) “New Morning,” Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Mr. Bojangles” and “Driftin’ Way of Life,” Willie Nelson’s “Shotgun Willie” and John Hartford’s “Aereo-Plain,” as well as works by Ringo Starr, Carly Simon, Tom Rush, Link Wray and numerous others. Then he suffered burnout and quit making music in order to study and collect violins. A few years ago, he gave music another go and has been recording and touring ever since.

When: 8:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Dosey Doe, 25911 I-45 North, The Woodlands

Tickets: $78-$118; 281-367-3774

In the next few days, there will be fewer album covers staring out at motorists as they head north on Shepherd just north of U.S. 59. After 14 years, Cliff Dotterer is moving his Black Dog Records store to a new location at 4900 Bissonnet (Suite 102), a location that used to be home to Don’s Records, which closed the same day in 1998 that Dotterer opened Black Dog — a peculiar coincidence, to say the least. There will be a reopening party with live music on Oct. 20. More on that as the date draws nearer.

Thursday 9.27

Musical

Another Disney classic hits the Hobby Center.: Handout

Beauty and the Beast: The family favorite returns with the national tour playing through Sunday at Hobby Center. Disney Theatrical’s long-running stage version of the popular animated fairy tale retains the film’s Oscar-winning score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, with additional songs by Menken and Tim Rice.

When: 7:30 Thuursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: Hobby Center, 800 Bagby

Tickets: $45-$115;800-982-2787.

Food and art

Tasteful Art:Celebrating the Lawndale Artist Studio Program’s 20th year, the event, which benefits Lawndale programs, features the “art” of chefs David Buehrer (Greenway Coffee), German Moquera (Roots Urban Bistro), Randy Rucker (formerly of Bootsie’s and Rainbow Lodge), Erin Smith (formerly of Plonk) and Jody Stevens (Jodycakes), as well as nonedible works by past and current Lawndale artists Nancy Douthey, Seth Mittag, David Politzer, Teresa O’Connor, Patrick Turk and David Waddell.

When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Hofheinze House, 3900 Milam

Tickets: $125

Friday 9.28

Concert

Yelawolf (left) has a collaboration coming out with Travis Barker.: Taylor Hill/Getty

Yelawolf: Southern rapper Yelawolf built a formidable underground following before a bumpy road with a major label. He went back the independent route for a bit, but returned to the bigs with “Trunk Muzik 0-60,” which cemented his status as a formidable hip-hop player. Full-length “Love Story” is due next year.

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak

Tickets: $25; 713-862-3838

Concert

Lecrae: Christian rapper Lecrae, who grew up in Houston, broke through in a big way this month with sixth studio album “Gravity.” It topped the hip-hop charts and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, effectively springing him out of the Christian genre doldrums. It posted the biggest first-weeks sales ever (72,000 units) for a Christian rap artist. But his mission remains the same: to “kill the hypocrisy between the purists of gospel and hip-hop music.” His tunes have also earned public endorsements from Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin.

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel

Tickets: $25; 713-225-5483

Concert

Hola Fest: A trio of stellar local Latin acts — ChangoMan, Espantapajaros and La Sien — highlight Hola Fest, showcasing everything from psychedelic rock to cumbia. Also on the bill is Kansas City band Making Movies.

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Dan Electro’s, 1031 E. 24th

Tickets: $7; 713-862-8707.

Party

Steel Party: A weekend full of high-energy events and circuit DJs highlight the Steel Party, which takes over several local dance floors. Friday’s official 9 p.m. kickoff features DJ Roland Belmares, who grew up in Austin; Saturday boasts local favorite Joe Ross spinning for the Soak at Roak Pool Party (noon-7 p.m); Saturday’s main event features Grammy nominated DJ duo Rosabel at Warehouse Live (9 p.m.-3 a.m.); and Sunday’s closing party (7 p.m.) happens at the Dungeon, inside Kryptonite. Tickets: $30; 713-225-5483 or steelhtx.com.

Concert

Mango Punch: The Latin-pop act has been making music in Houston for more than two decades — no small feat. They’ll celebrate 21 years and preview music from a new CD at this show. (Mango Punch’s last disc was 2009’s “Una Casita Blanca.”) A DJ takes the reins after the show, which means you can steal a dance from charismatic bandleader Walter Suhr.

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Talento Bilingue de Houston, 333 S. Jensen

Tickets: $20-$30; 713-222-1213

Saturday 9.29

Performance

An Evening with Joel Grey: ” Oscar- and Tony- winner Grey opens the season for Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House Friday with his concert show. The versatile entertainer is renowned for his roles as the Master of Ceremonies in “Cabaret,” George M. Cohan in “George M!,” Amos (“Mr. Cellophane”) Hart in “Chicago,” the Wizard in “Wicked” and, most recently, as comical gangster Moonface Martin in the Tony-winning 2011 revival of “Anything Goes.”

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice Galveston

Tickets: $21-$75; 409-765-1894.

Performance

“Rising Stars of Houston:” The program showcases fresh talent in musical and spoken-word performances.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Ensemble Theatre Black Box, 3535 Main

Tickets: $15-$20; 832-577-9715.

Concert

Florence + the Machine will play The Woodlands.: Chris Pizzello/AP

Florence + the Machine: For a band with no Billboard top 10 hits (as of yet), Florence + the Machine gets around. The band’s soaring pop songs — particularly “Dog Days are Over” and “Shake it Out” — have been employed in an endless string of movie trailers, commercials and singing competitions. “Glee” has covered both tunes, and they’ve also popped up in “Smash,” “Degrassi” and “The Voice.” But no one takes either song to the heights of Florence Welch, who cites Grace Slick as her hero.

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: The Woodlands Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive.

Tickets: $35-$69.50; 281-363-3300 o

Festival

!Yes Indeed! Music Fest: Local acts and venues share the wealth during the !Yes Indeed! Music Fest. Both Notsuoh (314 Main) and Dean’s (316 Main) have lined up bands both well-known and obscure, including Recovery Room, the Fox Derby, Alkari, the Gold Sounds, Immigrant Punk, dUNETX and Screwtape.

When: 4 p.m. Saturday

Tickets: $8; 713-227-3326

Sunday 9.30

Festival

Houston Tropical Fest: This family-friendly Latin music festival is highlighted, of course, by music wafting amid the vendors and food. Puerto Rican salsa star Paquito Guzman headlines, and the lineup also includes DJ Geraldo, Orquesta Salmerum, Telwin Cruz and Samba Soul.

When: 3 p.m. Sunday

Where: Jones Plaza, 601 Louisiana

Tickets: $15

Tuesday 10.2

Concert
Vicci Martinez: The raspy-voiced singer was a finalist during the inaugural season of “The Voice,” where she tore through pop songs from Florence + the Machine, Dolly Parton and Pat Benatar with alarming intensity. The show afforded her a major-label debut album, released in June and featuring her “Voice” mentor Cee Lo Green on first single “Come Along.”

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak

Tickets: $12; 713-862-3838