Midwestern author Stuart Dybek will be keynote speaker at the second annual Voices of the Middle West event Saturday, celebrating writers and independent presses.

Dybek, a lifelong Midwesterner and author of “The Coast of Chicago,” “Childhood and Other Neighborhoods” and “Paper Lantern,” will give a keynote address at 5 p.m. A public reception and book signing will follow.

The free festival begins at 10 a.m. Panel discussions on fables in Midwestern literature, gender parity in publishing, and other literary discussions will feature outstanding regional authors Laura Kasischke, CJ Hribal, Caitlin Horrocks, Anne Valente and more. More information is at midwestgothic.com/voices.

UMMA After Hours returns

Live music, art exhibits and exploration are the focus as UMMA After Hours returns, from 7-10 p.m. Friday at the U-M Museum of Art.

Discover permanent collections and new exhibits including photographs exploring male identity in “HE: The Hergott Shepard Photography Collection.” Enjoy live music by Lauren Scales and the Big Blue. This Detroit-based vocalist blends jazz, soul, and R&B.

Curators’ conversations and light refreshments round out the event, sponsored by Fidelity Investments.