So much burlesque, so little time If you're looking to get a year's worth of burlesque into one weekend, the fourth annual Best of Midwest Burlesk Festival should fill all your tassel-twirling needs. Put on by Lili's Burlesque Revue at the Ritz Theater, the three-day set of shows (which started Thursday) will feature more than 75 acts from the Twin Cities and beyond. Look for aerialists, live music, comedy, drag, boylesque and the acrobatic headliners (and onetime "America's Got Talent" castoffs), Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey.

7 and 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 345 13th Av. NE., Mpls. $25-30. 612-436-1129. www.ritzdolls.com.

Get 'Amplified' Downtown St. Paul is getting a much-needed dose of hip-hop this Sunday with the Amplified Life showcase. The lineup at the Artists' Quarter is a who's who of Twin Cities hip-hop and spoken-word artists, including Maria Isa, Bao Phi, Muja Messiah, Guante the Palabristas and almost a dozen more. Amplified Life is the artist/activist consulting firm of hip-hop busybody Larry Lucio, who's put together a show you won't want to miss.

7 p.m. Sun. 408 St. Peter St., St. Paul. $5. 651-292-1359. www.artistsquarter.com.

Myth to reopen In case you missed the news earlier this week: The suburban club scene is about to get a whole lot bigger -- again. Myth, the shuttered Maplewood superclub, has a new operator. On Monday, the Maplewood City Council approved a liquor license for Mike Miranowski, who has taken over the lease at the 40,000-square-foot space. The club closed in August 2009 after a financial spat between founder Michael Ogren and investor Steven Sadowski. Miranowski was tight-lipped on specifics, saying it was too early to talk about a reopening date or who would be booking the bands. "The intentions are to have live music and club nights and corporate events, and that's about all I can comment on now," he said. Stay tuned.

TOM HORGEN

Star Tribune, Star Tribune
The Burlesk Festival is back.