Folks wondered about the fate of Sonic Youth after spouses Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore split this time last year. Guitarist Lee Ranaldo sort of answered the question last November saying the group was “ending for a while.” Which doesn’t mean the members aren’t busy. Ranaldo — who in addition to music also writes and does visual art — released a fine solo album called “Between the Times and the Tides” in March.

Sonic Youth is on "pause" right now.: handout

That recording featured fellow experimental guitarist/composer Alan Licht, who will join Ranaldo along with Ulrich Krieger on saxophone and electronics and Tim Barnes on drums for “The Text of Light,” a project where they put music to Stan Brakhage’s abstract film montage of light reflected through an ashtray. This will not be a “three-chords-and-the-truth” type performance.

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex, 2201 Preston.

Tickets: $15 or $10 for members of Nameless Sound or Aurora Picture Show; younger than 18 free

The inaugural Boogie Blues & Brews festival looks to make good on its name. Sponsors of the three-day event include some of the state’s biggest beer-makers. As for the boogie and blues (along with some rock, rockabilly and zydeco), it will be provided en masse by Los Lonely Boys, Texas Johnny Brown and the Quality Blues Band, Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-A-Whirl Band (with Lou Ann Barton), Marcia Ball, Grady Gaines and the Texas Upsetters, Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws, the Octanes, Nick Gaitan and the Umbrella Man and Luther and the Healers. The family-friendly event is free all weekend to seniors and children younger than 12.

When: 6 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday and noon Sunday

Where: Walter Hall Park, 807 Texas 3 North, League City

Tickets: $10-$50 (packages include a weekend pass)

David Berkeley creates bright, melodic and folky pop songs with the casual pace of a backpacker in no great hurry, which makes a certain amount of sense since he’s a committed traveler. (His latest, “Some Kind of Cure,” was largely informed by time spent in Corsica.) He also found some renown singing at weddings following a humorous appearance on “This American Life” in which he recounted being hired by a guy to serenade the girlfriend who was about to dump him.

Note: The Guided by Voices reunion show that was set for Monday at Warehouse Live has been canceled.

Thursday 9.20

Concert

Podimouth Live: Homer Martinez started the Podimouth podcast three years ago as an outlet for local bands and entertainment news. It’s equal parts gossip show, pop-culture commentary and radio station. This second event features a live broadcast and acoustic performances by Sheila Swift, right, and Weston Brown. Only 120 tickets are available. The event will be streamed live via the Podimouth site.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday

Where: ComedySportz Houston, 901 Town & Country Blvd.

Tickets: $7; 713-868-1444 or podimouth.com

Friday 9.21

Concert

Fiona Apple: It’s hard to believe Fiona Apple has only scored one entry on the Billboard Hot 100 — “Criminal,” which peaked at No. 21. But her music has never been much for radio play and sing-alongs. Her fourth studio album “The Idler Wheel ...,” revels in a sort of beautiful misery, floating through jazzy riffs and searing vocal deliveries. Onstage, she’s always been inconsistent, and it somehow adds to her mystique.

When: 8:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Bayou Music Center, 520 Texas

Tickets: $37.50-$75; 713-230-1600

Concert
Eric Church: The newbie country singer has broken out of the gate with third album “Chief,” which has netted him the chart-toppers “Drink In My Hand” and “Springsteen.” He racked up five nods for the upcoming Country Music Association Awards, including male vocalist, single, song, album and video of the year.

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Toyota Center, 1510 Polk

Tickets: $37.50-$47.50; 866-446-8849

Party

MFAH Mixed Media: The resurrected monthly parties continue with Drop the Lime, an electronic DJ and producer from New York City, whose singles “Bandit Blues” and “Hot as Hell” are raucous fun. Also on the bill are Ceeplus Bad Knives, Damon Allen and the Reverberation DJs.

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet

Tickets: $12; 713-639-7771 or mfah.org/mixedmedia

Anniversary
MECA Anniversary Gala: Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA) celebrates 35 years of commitment to “underserved youth and adults through arts and cultural programming, academic excellence, support services and community building.” The gala includes performance by Rodolfo Morales, Elio Villafranca, Gwendolyn Zepeda and Tania Rivas; along with Mariachi MECA and MECA Ballet Folklorico.

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: MECA Dow Elementary School and Auditorium, 1900 Kane

Tickets: $96; 713-802-9370

Burlesque

Ruby Revue Burlesque: The Dallas-based troupe features Ginger Valentine, crowned the New Orleans Burlesque Festival’s 2011 Queen of Burlesque. She was also voted one of the top 50 burlesque figures by 21st Century Burlesque magazine. We’re talking serious striptease, folks. This fall show features bellydancing and a “Showgirl Showdown,” which requires audience participation.

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: House of Blues, Bronze Peacock Room, 1204 Caroline

Tickets: $20; 832-667-7732 or livenation.com.

Saturday 9.22

Houston rapper Nosaprise is rapping for a good cause.: Jordan Graber/ For the Chronicle

Fundraiser

We Give A Jam: Houston rapper Nosaprise spearheads this annual event, now in its seventh year. The draw is a series of b-boy dance battles and music from T.H.E.M and Free Radicals. Kids are welcome, and there will be face-painting, games, moonwalks and giveaways. Supplies are donated to low-income schools in Houston. The want list includes lined paper, notebooks, binders, pencils, pens, kid scissors, rulers, glue and backpacks.

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Break Free Community Center, 9191 Winkler Houston

Tickets: $10 in school supplies; wegiveajamtx@gmail.com.

Conversation

'Golden Girls' star Betty White is coming to town.: Matt Sayless/AP

Betty White: We love Betty White. We love her on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Golden Girls” and “Hot in Cleveland.” (We may take a pass, however, on “Golden Palace.”) Her late career renaissance has been as much fun for us as it is for her. She’ll likely talk about it all during this appearance at the Brilliant Lecture Series. And, yes, it should sell out.

When: 2:30 and 7 p.m.

Where: Wortham Center, Cullen Theater, 500 Texas

Tickets: $35-$200; 713-974-1335

Reopening
The Blaffer Art Museum at the University of Houston’s central campus recently had a $2.5 million renovation, and they’re ready to show it off. The grand reopening party includes live music from local band A Fistful of Soul, cocktails in the Internum Lounge and a Glasstire photo booth. Time to get fancy.

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: University of Houston, 120 Fine Arts Building

Tickets: $50; 713-743-9521

Listening party

The Manichean: Houston prog-rock band the Manichean unveils the second single from its upcoming “Lovers” album via this intimate listening party. Attendees get a copy of the single “Innocence,” and the band will be serving up its own beer, handcrafted by guitarist and home brewer Sean Spiller. Only 50 tickets will be sold.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Forma Revivo Gallery, 2500 Crockett

Tickets: $5; 713-936-0762

Festival

Puerto Rican and Cuban Festival: Music and food anchor this daylong celebration of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Headliners include Tito Nieves, Issac Delgado and Mala Fé; along with locals Angelucho y su Copa Cabana, Mi Rumba, Grupo Ka-Che and more. Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican restaurants will also be on hand, along with exhibits and vendors.

When: 10 a.m. Saturday

Where: City Hally and Tranquility Park, 902 Bagby;

Tickets: $9-$60; 713-446-1027

Birthday

Menil 25: The acclaimed art space celebrates a quarter-century of preserving and promoting local and international treasures with this free event, which includes a performance by the legendary Kashmere Reunion Stage Band, immortalized in the “Thunder Soul” documentary; and the Texas Southern University Jazz Ensemble. Dancing, a kids’ scavenger hunt and birthday cake are also on the schedule. When: 3 p.m. Saturday; Where: The Menil Collection, 1533 Sul Ross; Tickets: Free; 713-525-9400 or menil.org.

Sunday 9.23

Concert

Pretty Lights has given out almost 3 million free downloads.: Handout

Pretty Lights: Derek Vincent Smith waves the banner for the recent upswing in electronic dance music (and records as Pretty Lights). His closing set during June’s Free Press Summerfest was a high-energy blast of funk and soul, with nods to hip-hop and disco. He’s given away almost 3 million free album downloads via his official site, and a new collection is due soon.

When: 8 p.m. Sunday

Where: Bayou Music Center, 520 Texas

Tickets: $32; 713-230-1600 or livenation.com