Weekend Riff: Frost Fest Features Alternative Rock Darling and More

-Friday: Cheap Girls writes catchy, pop punk songs that are instantly accessible.On tape, the songs are upbeat, lively and animated. Live, they’re all that, times ten. The band — Adam Aymor (guitar), Ian Graham (bass/vocals) his brother Ben (drums) — release their Rise Records debut, “Giant Orange,” Friday at Mac’s in Lansing. Read a full interview with Graham in this week's Lansing State Journal What's On.

-Saturday: The third annual Frost Fest rules downtown Lansing Saturday, bringing Chicago-based alternative indie band Company of Thieves. Downtown Lansing, Fusion Shows and 94.1-FM the Edge present the show, which kicks off 6 p.m. Saturday and runs until midnight. Mike Mains & the Branches and Redbird will also perform.

Hear it: Check out Company of Thieves’ tracks on the band’s official website.

-Saturday: Lansing-based folk group Doug Mains & the City Folk are set to drop their debut full-length, “The Mountain's King,” Saturday at (Scene) Metrospace in East Lansing.

Frontman Doug Mains has always been drawn to folk, and he believes in Michigan’s lively folk community. “Michigan has a very exciting local folk scene, and about everyone involved is incredible,” he said. “We've loved being a part of it.”

Read a full interview with Mains, here.