The big concerts: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week
Thursday May 12
Fresh off the release of their raucous new album “Water Valley High,” Twin Cities rockers Eleganza will perform the Stones’ “Exile on Main Street” in its entirety to mark its 50th anniversary with additional musicians (8 p.m., Turf Club , $15 ); the suave ’90s soul singer returns with the Brian McKnight Four (7 p.m. and 9 p.m., also Friday, Dakota, $50-$85); Australian dance-op stalwarts Cut Copy (8 p.m., First Avenue, $30); up-and-coming Belgian fuzz-pop group Slow Crush (8 p.m., 7th St. Entry, $15); hazy Minneapolis rockers Sleeping Jesus premiere their long-awaited debut album (8 p.m., Icehouse, $15); Dan Newton’s Cafe Accordio Orchestra goes “South of the Border” (7 p.m., Crooners Outside, $25).
Friday May 13
Earth, Air and Fire: The great soul group still has three original, er, members – Verdine White brings the adrenaline, Philip Bailey the celestial falsetto and Ralph Johnson the authenticity. Various musicians and singers complete the lineup to deliver “Shining Star”, “September” and “Boogie Wonderland” with style, flash and fire. (8 p.m. Fri. Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, $66-$160, ticketmaster.com)
Julianna Barwick: Like a Radiohead-inspired Enya, this Louisiana singer and multi-instrumentalist creates lush, soothing yet innovative music filled with loops that has earned her praise from The New York Times and Pitchfork. His most acclaimed album, “Healing Is a Miracle,” came out at the start of the pandemic with guest vocals from Sigur singer Ros Jonsi and much-loved calming power. She is finally starting to promote it and performing here as part of the Liquid Music series. French ambient musician Malibu opens. (8 p.m., Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls., $25-$50, theparkwaytheater.com)
As well: Steve Martin and Martin Short bring their comedy number with lots of music thanks to the Stone Canyon Rangers and pianist Jeff Babko (8 p.m. State, $79-$199); Tribute to Stevie Wonder with Twin Cities stars Ray Covington, Kathleen Johnson and others (9 p.m., also Saturday, Bunkers, $17.50-$25); New Pornographers alum Dan Bejar returns with his 13th album as Destroyer, “Labrynths” (9 p.m. Amsterdam Bar & Hall, $25-$30).
Saturday May 14
Roger McGuinn: He pioneered the jingle-jangle sound with the Byrds, early providers of what became known as country-rock. Songs like “Eight Miles High” and “You Want To Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” inducted the Byrds into the Rock Hall of Fame. But McGuinn has been connected to other big names along the way, including Bobby Darin, Simon & Garfunkel and, of course, Bob Dylan, touring with his mid-’70s Rolling Thunder Revue. He even recorded with the Twin Cities Jayhawks. McGuinn tells tantalizing stories and produces goosebumps with his Rickenbacker guitar on “Turn Turn Turn” and “Mr. Tambourine Man.” (8 p.m. Saturday Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins, $25-$35, hopkinsartscenter.com)
Cacti flowers: Officially the new album by sibling-led country harmony band Twin Cities, “One day,” were released in February when they finally hit the road again, but vinyl copies were delayed until recently. So why not call their first hometown gig since the annual Turf Club residency in January the release party? The record is slow and more laid-back than the previous two, but those harmonies shine through like never before, as does the romance (of all kinds!) in their lyrics. Lilly Hiatt, great second-generation American songwriter, opens. (8 p.m., First Avenue, 701 1st Ave. N., Mpls., $20-$25, axs.com)
Jorja Fleezanis and her friends: When one of America’s top classical music writers, Michael Steinberg, died in 2009, a commission fund for new compositions was started by his widow, violinist and longtime Minnesota Orchestra violinist, Fleezanis . She will premiere “Where You Love From”, composed by Jessica Meyer with text from Rumi’s poetry, and will also play a Brahms quintet with the help of former Minnesota Orchestra colleagues, cellist Anthony Ross and the percussionist Brian Mount, as well as pianist Lydia Artymiw and actor Stephen Yoakam. (4 p.m. Saturday, Westminster Hall, 1200 Marquette Ave. S., Mpls., $10-$25, steinbergfleezanisfund.org)
Nathalie Fideler: Sometimes with a mischievous smile and sometimes with gnashing teeth, this rising lyrical rocker from the Twin Cities parodies and castigates homophobia, hatred, hypocrites and sometimes her own eccentricities on her self-produced second album, “Three Man Army”, which she directed with the help of the Music Forward Foundation’s LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award. “I’ve kissed more boys than you / But somehow I think I’m more of a man than you,” she sings in the opening folk tune “Kisses,” a sweet start to this which turns into a stormy affair of equal parts between Alanis and Paramore. (8 p.m. Sat., 7and Entrance street, 701 1st One VN, MPs, $12-$15, axs.com)
As well: The Minnesota Orchestra performs “Tchaikovsky, Nielsen and Chen” with guest conductor Xian Zhang and flautist Adam Kuenzel (8 p.m., also Saturday, Orchestra Hall, $30-$99); the Grrrl Scout Team is hosting their May Queer Dance Party (9:30 p.m. Hook & Ladder, $10-$20); Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche promotes his new album “Avatars of Love” (8 p.m., Parkway Theatre, $25); 21-year-old jazz singer with an old soul Emmaline makes her Twin Cities debut (7 p.m. Dakota, $30-$40); Swedish indie-folk Jens Lekman (8 p.m. Cedar Cultural Center, $25); The TikTok-backed Dallas emo-rocker JDXN of “Comatose” fame (8 p.m. The Fillmore, $30, all ages); Jeremy Messersmith hits the Red Wing (7 p.m., Sheldon Theater, $25); the Brass Messengers with the Colonel Mustard Brass Band (6 p.m., Palmer’s Bar terrace, $20).
Sunday May 15
The Temptations: Sixty years is a very long time and founding baritone Otis Williams has been with these Motown legends from the start. Last year, the latest incarnation of Time celebrated its 60th anniversary with the record “Temptations 60”. Expect new material as well as those timeless Motown classics, including “My Girl” and “Just My Imagination.” (8 p.m. Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, $35-$59, ticketmaster.com)
As well: Shawn Colvin performs solo to mark the 30th anniversary of his Grammy-winning debut album “Steady On,” two years late (8 p.m., Parkway Theater, $49-$99); Los Angeles pop/punk darlings the Regrettes tout their new album “Further Joy” (7 p.m., Varsity Theater, $25); northern Minnesota blues rocker Corey Medina with Courtney Yasmineh (8 p.m., 7th St. admission, $15); fresh off his 95th birthday, Cornbread Harris returns to his weekly gig (5-7 p.m. at Palmer’s Bar, free); American folk Mother Banjo plays for brunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Icehouse, $15/table).
Monday May 16
Dijon: Influenced by Frank Ocean and Miguel, the experimental alt-soul man from Los Angeles dropped his first solo album, “Absolutely,” last year. He’s a deeply personal vocalist who can be incredibly minimalist, kaleidoscopically American, or improvisational stoner. Musically, it sounds disjointed, but its lyrics focus on longing. Dijon is an acquired taste but a major curiosity. (7 p.m. Mon. First Avenue, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., $20-$22, first-avenue.com)
As well: Between tour dates as Bon Iver’s drummer, S. Carey promotes another album of his own ethereal, pristine folk-rock tunes, “Break Me Open,” this one plagued by personal turmoil. (8 p.m., Fine Line, $20); the jazz wiz LA Buckner’s weekly series features Jacob Dodd’s Black Artist Cypher for guests (8 p.m. Icehouse, $10); bluegrassy pickers the Roe Family Singers (8 p.m. 331 Club, free).
tuesday may 17
Jacob Collier: When it was nominated for the Grammy for Best Album in 2021, the industry asked, “Who is this?” His “Djesse Vol. 3” hadn’t landed on the Billboard charts, but the British prodigy ended up with four Grammys for the arrangement. Known for experimenting with vocal harmonies and sound layers, he has worked with Take 6, Coldplay, Pentatonix, SZA, T-Pain, Tori Kelly, Daniel Caesar, Ty Dolla Sign and many more. Led by Quincy Jones, Collier is clearly connected. (6 p.m. Tue. Fillmore, 525 N. 5th St., Mpls., $30 and up, ticketmaster.com)
As well: MTV pop-punk favorites Sum 41 with fellow Canadian folks Simple Plan (8 p.m., Myth in Maplewood, $20-$640); Katy Vernon joins Ben Cook-Feltz’s May Conspiracy series (9:30 p.m. 331 Club, free).
Wednesday May 18
Old Farka Touré: After two years of tour delays due to COVID, Mali’s second-generation desert blues guitar hero happens to be heading to town just before the release of his latest album, “Les Racines.” The first single, “Gabou Ni Tie”, alludes to the nuances of more traditional West African music with its fresh, modern groove and the unmistakable guitar skills learned from his legendary father, Ali Farka Touré. (7 p.m. The Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $30-$40, dakotacooks.com)
As well: Stylish New York singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane Nonesuch’s new version “Magnificent Bird” features Andrew Bird and Chris Chile as backers; locally, he’ll be joined by SPCO violinist Julie Albers (8 p.m. Parkway Theatre, $22-$29); Dan Bruzza of Greensky Bluegrass (7:30 p.m. Turf Club, $20).