Originally known for sponsoring two challenging music festivals in Union Park, Intonation has shifted its focus in recent years toward the Intonation Music Workshop, an after-school program serving at-risk children ages 6 to 18 who have limited access to musical instruments and few opportunities for musical education. The organization is holding a benefit starting at 10 p.m. Friday at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, featuring Horse in the Sea and David Singer & the Sweet Science, two groups that count IMW teachers among their members. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door; for more information, visit www.hideoutchicago.com.

Though the band employs a startling array of instruments including hurdy gurdy, tabla, sitar, vacuum pipes, banjo and tympani, the otherworldly Japanese combo Ghost probably is best known for the extraordinary guitar of Michio Kurihara, who's also loaned his talents to bands ranging from Damon and Naomi to Boris. The nomadic group is making a rare U.S. appearance on Tuesday, May 5, at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, after openers and Drag City labelmates Baby Dee at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $12; call (773) 276-3600 or visit www.emptybottle.com.

A six-year-long labor of love, Brian Peterson's Burning Fight: The Nineties Hardcore Revolution in Ethics, Politics, Spirit, and Sound finally has arrived in bookstores, providing the definitive look at the resurgent hardcore-punk underground of the '90s. The author is celebrating its publication this weekend with two shows at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., providing the perfect soundtrack for the scene he's chronicled. Starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 2, the lineup includes Disembodied, Trial, Killing Time, 108, Underdog, Guilt, Ringworm, Betrayed, Damnation Ad, Soul Control, Convicted and Thought Crusade. Starting at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 3, the performers include Unbroken, Converge, Bane, Reach the Sky, Split Lip, Threadbare, Have Heart, Blacklisted, the Killer and Harms Way. Both shows are sold-out, but visit www.burningfightbook.com/blog/ for more info about the book.