Celebrating Music Across Genres and Venues
When she arrived at the Dakota last August, the veteran Texas singer-songwriter’s “Mileage” album was days ahead of the release, her first album for Sun Records. Now she returns having collected her first Grammy for best contemporary blues album for “Mileage,” which features the acoustic Delta blues “Done” with Larkin Poe and a remake of “That’s All Right,” the Arthur Crudup tune that Elvis Presley turned into one of his first hits in 1954, done to a swampy blues groove with gospel harmonies. Foster is back at the Dakota for two nights of her special mix of soul, gospel, blues, jazz, folk — oh, let’s just call it Americana.
What started in 2021 as a set of summer house concerts in Duluth is now an intimate gathering of outstanding musicians from around the country. For the festival’s closing concert, string players from the San Francisco Symphony, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Calidore String Quartet, the New England Conservatory of Music and elsewhere will join forces to breathe life into the small-scale creations of Domenico Scarlatti, Pablo de Sarasate, Jennifer Higdon, Franz Schubert and Johannes Brahms.
Also: mgk, formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly, is doing a surprise pop-up concert to promote his new rootsy album “Lost Americana.” The event is free with sign-up and takes place at the Electric Fetus.
We’ve seen a lot of both these veteran alt-rock bands in the Twin Cities in recent years, but take their frequent tours as a sign they’re in fine form and having fun. Wayne Coyne and his Oklahoman acid-punk-pioneering Lips always seem to be having a good time with their many inflatables and stage gimmicks and singalongs from classic albums like “The Soft Bulletin” and “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.” Isaac Brock’s nervy Washington State unit of “Float On” fame didn’t seem to be having fun for many years but put on a spirited and playful set at Surly last summer with the Pixies. Buzzing Chicago duo Friko is scheduled to open.
Even though fans have been tantalized by the reissue of “Buckingham Nicks,” they’ve been bummed about Stevie Nicks’ concert postponement next week at Xcel Energy Center because of a shoulder injury. She promises to return on Nov. 12. Meanwhile, get a Fleetwood Mac fix with one of the Twin Cities’ best tribute bands doing a free outdoor show in one of the metro’s loveliest parks. Pamela McNeill, Mary Jane Alm and Jeff Engholm are the featured vocalists in this nine-piece band covering everything from “Rhiannon” to “Go Your Own Way.”
OK, we’ll admit it. We weren’t too excited to see these somewhat slapstick ‘90s punk rockers on the lineup for last year’s Minnesota Yacht Club festival, but like a discernibly large part of the crowd, we had fun singing/shouting along to their many radio and MTV hits, including “Come Out and Play” and “Self Esteem.” The Orange County vets are getting radio play again with “Make It All Right,” from their new album, “Supercharged.” Whether their fan base is charged enough to fill an arena is questionable, but openers Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory should help fill seats.
Also: Dustin Lynch, who has scored nine No. 1 country hits including “Chevrolet” featuring Jelly Roll, becomes the latest star to sing after a Twins game. After several years of charming local audiences with their jazzy and western-swinging guitar/sax/bass retro grooves, Jake Hanson, Nelson Devereaux and Ted Olsen are finally celebrating the release of the Riffin’ Trio’s first EP with Aby Wolf, Beemer and other surprise guests.
Those Medley Kids, an all-star group of Twin Cities players featuring vocalist Bill Pyle III, will visit the prog-rock sounds of Rush, King Crimson, Yes and Genesis’ “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.” The countdown to closing time at Palmer’s Bar continues with a rocking patio lineup featuring the Scarlett Goodbye, Faith Boblett and the Heavy Sixers.
It looks as if this is the last concert of the season — or maybe for a long time — at this utilitarian amphitheater serving the greater Twin Cities area. Who knows what shows Somerset will attract after the state-of-the-art Shakopee Amphitheater opens in 2026 since both are operated by Live Nation? To close things out in Somerset, it’s the duality dude known simply as Hardy, who has scored a string of country hits mentioning trucks and beer, as well as making noise in hard-rock circles. After appearing at country fests this summer in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, Hardy headlines his own gig. With three openers including Koe Wetzel of “High Road” success, it’s like a mini-fest.
Also: Jane Monheit, the technically superb New York jazz vocalist, is back at the Dakota. “How to Save a Life” hitmakers the Fray return. Seven local mainstay acts that usually play original tunes are cutting loose with tribute-band sets for a great local cause at the third annual We Got You Covered concert, featuring the de’Lindas, Doug Collins and the Receptionists, the Mighty Mofos, the New Brunettes, RuDeGirl, the Wandering Sons and the Belfast Cowboys, benefitting Foothold Twin Cities. Robert Wilkinson and his influential Twin Cities combo Flamin’ Ohs are heading up another benefit for the Parkinson’s Foundation with Annie & the Bang Bang.
As if there hasn’t been much for him to march and rage against in the interim, Trent Reznor finally saw fit to return to the road this year with his angst-fueled, piggies-lambasting techno-metal band for their first Minnesota gig in 12 years. No surprise the pent-up demand put a hurt on the box office, with only very limited seats remaining at face value. Shows so far on the Peel It Back Tour have focused on classic NIN cuts rather than new music from the upcoming “Tron: Ares” soundtrack. But it features some new twists to the old stuff, including help from German producer/opener Boys Noize and some clever staging.
Bluesmen from different generations but the same northern part of Louisiana, Shephard and Rush came together in a big and beautiful way on a new collaborative album, “Young Fashioned Ways.” The 91-year-old Rush told the Star Tribune that he and his fellow Louisiana native “were only going to record two songs together, but we just kept recording we were having so much fun.” The fun continues on a joint tour that gives the elder singer/guitarist a chance to lean on the younger guitar slinger and his sturdy band. They have two Minnesota stops on their trek.
Also: After her would-be tourmates the 29:11 South Africa Ensemble were denied U.S. visas for their series of Midwest performances, the Twin Cities’ hopeful hip-hop hero Dessa is going ahead with her hometown show and hoping to capture the spirit of the transatlantic collaboration. WDGY, the now-oldies radio station that was one of two Twin Cities Top 40 outlets in the 1960s, will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Beatles’ Aug. 21 performance at the old Met Stadium on the same site, which is now Mall of America. A Hard Day’s Night, a tribute band, will recreate the set list from that historic concert. Last call is nearing for piano legend Cornbread Harris’ Church of Cornbread evening shows at Palmer’s Bar.
Long before there were TV talent competitions for a cappella ensembles, this New York septet was building a reputation for sounding like a full band with just voices. Now in their 26th year, Naturally 7 still boasts four original members, including founding brothers Roger and Warren Thomas. Last year, the septet dropped “Naturally 7 @theMovies, Volume One,” featuring their inventive interpretations of such tunes as “Stayin’ Alive,” “Sound of Silence” and “Lose Yourself.”
Also: John Rzeznik and Goo Goo Dolls are back for what seems like their annual Minnesota visit to reprise “Iris” and “Slide,” with Dashboard Confessional opening. Canada’s contribution to the Blink-182-led pop-punk movement for millennials, Simple Plan, is out celebrating its 25th anniversary with a mini-fest like opening entourage featuring Bowling for Soup, 3OH!3 and Lolo. Colorado’s dramatic, cult-loved folk-rocker Gregory Alan Isakov is taking on Surly Brewing Festival Field with Canadian roots duo Ocie Elliott opening.
His hotly hyped new record landed with a thud, and he has a bad rep with Twin Cities fans after thrice canceling on them in the 2010s. So tickets to Weezy’s first local arena show since before COVID haven’t exactly flown off the shelf. The New Orleans rap king has a lot of incentive to come and reprove himself, though, and to maybe finally convince fans to check out “Tha Carter VI.” Set lists have included a handful of tunes off the new record along with more than 30 better-known hits going back 20 years. Tyga and Belly Gang Kushington will open.
Also: Lettuce, the jazz-funk band that got its start at the Berklee College of Music in the 1990s, adds some hip-hop seasoning on their latest, “Cook.” Minnesota jazz mainstays Steve Kenny Quintet celebrate the new album “Blue Chunks.” Power belter Claudio Sanchez and his enduring metal band Coheed and Cambria are back with Taking Back Sunday. Cleveland’s pop-rocker/comedian Dave Hill was last seen in town opening for actor Michael Shannon’s R.E.M. tribute tour. Outlaw countryman Cole Diamond hosts the last installment of his Whiskey Wednesdays shows at Palmer’s.
