Bailey comes home Looking to celebrate Black History Month to the tune of something besides "We Shall Overcome?" Spoken-word artist and Tru Ruts label proprietor E.G. Bailey might have what you're looking for in the form of his first full-length CD, "American Afrikan," a thought-provoking collection that also provokes some cool grooves out of Bailey's flowing poetry.

Inspired by Bailey's trips to Africa, the disc laces field recordings and traditional African verses with modern digital beats and live drums. In "Liberia," for instance, he expounds on a "nation waiting to be reborn" over the rhythmic clanging of hammers from field workers. In the title track, he trades verses with African poets over a steady treadmill-like beat and soulful backup vocals by Atmosphere touring member Mankwe Ndosi. Themes of identity, reclamation and rebirth permeate the album and should make for an equally evocative stage show. The release party is Saturday at the West Bank's Bedlam Theatre with guests Guante, Sha Cage and more (9:30 p.m., $5).

Second Ripple's a charm After three decades of entangling himself in local music -- first as musician, then as journalist, then as musician again -- Jim Walsh has met a lot of wild and interesting characters. A street parade of them show up in the lyrics and one more (Stook!) as co-producer on "Her Tattoos Could Sail Ships," Walsh's second album under his Hootenanny-hosting moniker the Mad Ripple.

The disc opens with "Ballad of the Tin Star Sisters," a tribute to the quirky and sorely missed 331 Club regulars. It goes on to commemorate Banjo Lisa (the one with the tattoos), the Death Bed Bride and "the man who didn't return" before paying homage to Joe Regular in the sweet closer "It Takes a No One to Know One." Jayhawk Marc Perlman and brother Terry Walsh (Belfast Cowboys) play on the album, and Walsh recruited angelic-voiced gal pals Ashleigh Still, Eliza Blue and Brianna Lane to add Kirsty MacColl-like grace to his Shane MacGowan-rough vocals. He will have a full lineup with him for his release party Wednesday at Sauce Spirits & Soundbar (8:30 p.m., free).

Random mix Eagle Street Grille, the St. Paul bar where Dave Grohl once jammed after a Foo Fighters show across the street at Xcel Center, will host a cool benefit Saturday for Regions Hospital's "Complementary Care" alternative-therapies program with three of the best young rootsy/twangy rock acts around: Romantica, the Pines and Roe Family Singers (7 p.m., $20). ... Local folk and acoustic blues players Tim Brown, Curtis & Loretta, Lonnie Knight, Michael Monroe, Will Hale and Amy & Adams (not to be confused with Amy Adams) are banding together for the "Hands & Hearts for Haiti" concert Sunday at the Triune Masonic Lodge, 1898 Iglehart Av., St. Paul (3 p.m., $10 suggested). ...

After touring with Why? last fall, "chamber-folk" sextet Dark Dark Dark headed up to Sacred Heart Studio in Duluth (also where the new Retribution Gospel Choir album was recorded) and finished off a six-song EP that will be out next month, "Bright Bright Bright." You can catch a live preview of it Saturday at the Hexagon Bar (10 p.m., free). The group has since been recording in Minneapolis at the Music Box Theatre for a full-length album due in the fall. ...

Beatboxing one-man-band Heatbox returns to the Cabooze Friday (9:30 p.m., $8) after touring with another solitary performer, That 1 Guy. His new CD features something that lonely guys everywhere enjoy: a video game. Physical copies of "System," his sophomore disc, include a game that Mr. Heatbox himself created called "Ninja Strike," playable on any PC along with the music. ... Next Friday at the Triple Rock (Feb. 26), Kanser will tout its latest CD, "Two for One," which is really two EPs with seven songs apiece by rappers Unicus and Big Zach. Kind of like the indie-rap version of the Kiss solo albums.

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER