Buffy Sainte-Marie: The 75-year-old Cree singer from Canada continues her socially conscious ways on "Power in the Blood," her stylistically diverse 2015 album that won the Canadian Polaris Music Prize. She reimagines some older material including 1964's "It's My Way" and 1972's "Not the Loving Kind" and, of course, gets political, notably on UB40's "Sing Our Own Song" and "The Uranium War," which has been called a prequel to her famous "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee." (7:30 p.m. Fri. Dakota, $45-$50.)

Charlie Wilson: The veteran R&B singer was honored with a lifetime achievement award by BET in 2013. That's because he's been the voice of many R&B hits, dating back to the Gap Band's "Shake" in 1979. The band of brothers scored other triumphs including "Burn Rubber on Me" and "You Dropped a Bomb on Me." Uncle Charlie, as Snoop Dogg dubbed him, has enjoyed solo stardom, peaking with 2009's "There Goes My Baby." Opening is former "American Idol" champ Fantasia, the vocal powerhouse who dropped her fifth album in July. (7:30 p.m. Fri. State Fair grandstand, $40-$55.)

Malamanya: The old-school sounds of one of Minnesota's most esteemed Latin/Caribbean acts gets a fresh spin on the group's new self-titled album, which was recorded live in a studio to capture the energy of their popular local gigs. New powerhouse singer Zusel Balbin, from Havana, Cuba, fits right into the mix like the label around a tightly wrapped cigar. The release party also features former Illuminous 3 rapper Tufawon, fresh off an artist-exchange program in Cuba and the release of his own strong new EP, "Homecoming." (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center, all ages, $12-$15, TheCedar.org.)

The Muffs: The L.A. power-pop group of the mid-'90s has carried on after frontwoman Kim Shattuck's short stint in the Pixies and a potent reunion set at the Girls Got Rhythm Fest in St. Paul in 2012. Teenage Moods and the Magnolias open. (9 p.m. Fri., Turf Club, $12-$15.)

Marty Stuart: One of the great minor figures in country music, he's a scholar, historian, curator, archivist, singer, songwriter and a hot picker on guitar and mandolin. He used to be Johnny Cash's son-in-law and now is married to fellow Grand Ole Opry star Connie Smith. Stuart and his aptly named band, the Fabulous Superlatives (featuring guitar ace Kenny Vaughan), cover bluegrass, gospel, hillbilly rock and all kinds of classic country with style and authority. (8:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun. State Fair Bandshell Tonight, free.)

Jake Jones: A twangy Minneapolis singer/songwriter who could fit in on either the alternative 89.3 the Current or more mainstream 106.1 BOB FM airwaves, he's issuing his second album, "From Time to Time," full of some Dawes/Eagles-like strummers and at least one rowdy whiskey song. (9 p.m. Sat., Turf Club, $10-$12.)

Happy Together Tour: The irrepressible Flo & Eddie, the main men behind the Turtles, have assembled another edition of their Happy Together Tour. They still have their voices, humor and hits, including "She'd Rather Be with Me" and "Happy Together." They're bringing Three Dog Night's Chuck Negron, who can still hit the high notes of "One"; high-kicking Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere & the Raiders; Hibbing native Gary Puckett of "Young Girl" fame, as well as members of the Cowsills and Spencer Davis Group. (8 p.m. Mon. State Fair grandstand, $21.)

Danny Barnes: Ahead of today's wave of recent bluegrassy alt-twang bands as the leader of the Bad Livers the '90s, the Seattle-area picker has re-recorded his well-received but out-of-print 2006 solo album "Get Myself Together." Duluth favorites Superior Siren open. (8:30 p.m. Tue., Turf Club, $12-$15.)

G-Eazy: Like Macklemore in 2013, this clean-cut, 26-year-old Bay Area rapper is a safe, vanilla choice to finally bring hip-hop back to the State Fair grandstand. He came up through the indie-rap ranks, including Soundset and First Avenue gigs locally. He then crossed over to the Top 40 realm last year crafting poppy songs with hooks sung by the likes of Chris Brown and Bebe Rexha, such as "Drifting" and "Me, Myself & I." (7:30 p.m. Tue., Minnesota State Fair grandstand, $33-$41, eTix.com.)

Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas: She overcame addiction and mental illness. He overcame the stigma of being in a boy band. Disney Channel alums Lovato and Jonas have thriving separate pop careers, and now the 23-year-olds are teaming up on tour, even literally sharing the stage. She's got plenty of hits, including "Cool for the Summer," and he made a solo splash with "Jealous." Opening is Mike Posner, who made a comeback this year with the popular single "I Took a Pill in Ibiza." (7 p.m. Wed. State Fair grandstand, $40-$56.)

Guided by Voices: In its third decade of gigs at Minnesota's equally storied rock club, Ohio's ever-elastic indie-rock institution has undergone another lineup transformation following the recent reunion run by its mid-'90s lineup. High-kicking, Lite-drinking frontman Robert Pollard's latest GBV roster includes a new rhythm section and cult-loved singer/songwriter Bobby Bare, Jr., on guitar, with whom he cranked out the decent new album, "Please Be Honest." Doug Gillard from the band's "Isolation Drills" era has since rejoined on tour as the second guitarist. They're playing the usual marathon-like set list, including Ricked Wicky and Pollard solo cuts. (8:30 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, $25-$30.)

Alabama: Reunited since 2011, country's biggest band of all time is returning to the grandstand for its record 19th performance. Does it really matter that last fall the trio released "Southern Drawl," its first studio album in 14 years? Naw, fans just want to hear "Mountain Music," "Dixieland Delight" and "If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band).: Alabama last performed at the fair in 2001. (7:30 p.m. Thu. State Fair grandstand, $40-$50.)

The Revolution: Prince's band from his "Purple Rain" heyday reunites to grieve and pay tribute to their fallen leader at the club that made them famous. Expect guitarist Wendy Melvoin on most of the lead vocals, with guest stars Andre Cymone and Dez Dickerson, earlier Prince sidemen. Look for an interview with all five Revolution members in Sunday's Variety. (9 p.m. Thu.-Sept. 3, First Avenue, sold out.)