HOLIDAY Trying to explain the success of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is like trying to explain the triumph of Ryan Seacrest. In other words, it doesn't make sense. TSO is a collision of Christmas and classical music played by longhaired heavy-metal rockers in tuxedos, accompanied by a string section and a small choir. The repertoire draws heavily from TSO's three Christmas CDs and usually includes a bit of "Carmina Burana" and "Proud Mary." Joy to the world, indeed. (3 & 8 p.m. Sat., Target Center, $37-$47.) (J.B.)
Back in 2006, the globe-trotting Boston Brass retooled and re-recorded cult classics from Stan Kenton's 1960s gem "A Merry Christmas." This may be the closest you'll get to a Kenton Christmas in the flesh -- Santa, please leave a mellophonium under our tree. (8 p.m. Sat., Orchestra Hall. $24-$39.) (T.S.)
Like the Steeles, the Roches have been doing their family Christmas show for a long time, mostly in their home of New York City. Of course, the "Roches With a Holiday Twist" means the trio will offer their idiosyncratic sisterly harmonies on yule original and seasonal favorites (Handel's "Hallelujah" is always a highlight) -- as well as some of their quirky pop pieces such as "The Hammond Song." Always an offbeat treat. (8 p.m. Sun., Fitzgerald Theater, $32 & $42.) (J.B.)
After 15 years of touring with Lorie Line's holiday extravaganza, Twin Cities vocalist extraordinaire Robert Robinson is offering his own Christmas presentation this weekend in two formats -- the full production with a choir (7:30 p.m. today Paramount Theater, St. Cloud, $23, 320-259-5463, and 3 and 8 p.m. Sat. Benson Great Hall, Bethel University, St. Paul, $25, 651-638-6333) and an intimate but potent club show. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sun., Dakota Jazz Club, $15 & $20.) (J.B.)
Michael McDonald, he of the distinctive gravelly voice and Santa-white beard, will mix holiday favorites with his pop hits from the Doobie Brothers, his solo career and his popular Motown album. (7 p.m. Sun., Mystic Lake Casino, $44 & $58.) (J.B.)
For the second consecutive year, Neal and Leandra have sold out their holiday show at the Cedar. Fans have fallen for Leandra Peak's husky, lustrous voice and Neal Hagberg's inspired yule originals. Maybe it's time for the husband-and-wife duo to take their seasonal show back to the Guthrie. (7:30 p.m. Sun. Cedar Cultural Center, sold out.) (J.B.)
With no Moore by Four Christmas concerts this year, Ginger Commodore has joined the cast of Penumbra Theater's "Black Nativity." On her night off from that popular perennial, she will present her own holiday show, with her distinctive mix of jazz, R&B and gospel. (7 p.m. Tue., Dakota, $5.) (J.B.)
For each of his four holiday tours, Clay Aiken, "American Idol's" most successful runner-up, has come up with a special wrinkle. This year, he invited fans to write letters about their Christmas celebrations, and four have been chosen to read their words as the Minnesota Orchestra plays behind them. Read an interview with him in Sunday's Arts section. (7:30 p.m. Wed.-Thu., Orchestra Hall, $35-$77.) (J.B.)
POP/ROCK For her latest reading from her punk-rock memoir "Petal Pusher," Zuzu's Petals frontwoman-turned-author Laurie Lindeen will have a backup band, Retrofit, playing a period-appropriate soundtrack. Retrofit's Randy Casey and John Eller are human jukeboxes, so this could be more fun than a Zuzu's reunion. (9 p.m. today, 7th Street Entry, $7.) (J.B.)
Texas stoner-metal band the Sword is back on tour, prepping the follow-up to last year's "Age of Winters" album -- probably the best Black Sabbath-ian record since Sabbath's own "Vol. 4." No kidding, these young guys are recreating the power of the old stuff. Spinal Tap-like revivalist Valient Thorr opens. (9 p.m. Sat., Triple Rock. $12.) (C.R.)
A Texas hard-rock band of a different order, Fair to Midland was one of the first acts signed to System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian's new Universal-backed label Serjical Strike. The arty headbangers -- from Dallas, not Midland (a big difference) -- have gotten some MTV2 and 93X radio play with their Tool-gone-emo sound. Resident Hero and Daybreak open. (6 p.m. Sun., Station 4. All ages. $10-$12.) (C.R.)
The night before Van the Man himself returns in concert, local Van Morrison tribute band the Belfast Cowboys will give fans the nostalgic deluge that the Irish singer usually avoids: They'll be playing the "Moondance" album in its entirety, plus blowing through other old favorites. Lead Cowboy Terry Walsh may not have Van's pipes, but he does have the right idea. Romantica and Stook open. (9 p.m. Wed., First Avenue. 18 & older. $6-$8.) (C.R.)
n concert, the great and mercurial Van Morrison either rewards or frustrates. He was a workman-like lounge singer in a disappointing 2004 Northrop performance, but last year at Target Center he was a smiling, talkative gypsy-soul wonder. He's touring behind "At the Top," another hits collection. Set lists from recent shows in the United Kingdom suggest a few classic oldies ("Moondance," "Brown Eyed Girl") but mostly material from the past decade or so. He has booked only seven shows in the States in the next five months. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Northrop Auditorium, $86-$211. ) (J.B.)
R&B Still awaiting trial on child-porn charges from 2002, R&B superstar R. Kelly has taken to the road with a predictably R-rated, soft-core show, which reportedly runs more than two hours. A consistent hitmaker for 17 years (as both artist and producer), he will celebrate sex, seducing with "Bump and Grind," "Ignition," strippers, fireworks, his sweet voice and entertaining antics. Opening are J. Holiday, the high-voiced crooner who has taken "Bed" to the top of the R&B charts, and Keyshia Cole, whose "Let It Go" just earned her a Grammy nomination. (7 p.m. Thu., Target Center, $49-$79.) (J.B.)
FOLK Hobbled by a bad ticker, folk-singing great U. Utah Phillips is the subject of a gala fundraiser featuring the cream of the Twin Cities acoustic music community, including Bill Hinkley & Judy Larson, Dakota Dave Hull, Charlie Parr (at 6 p.m.), Papa John Kolstad, Peter Lang, Pop Wagner, Maureen McElderry, Phil Heywood, et al. (6 p.m. Sat., Minneapolis Eagles Club, 2507 E. 25th St. $10) (T.S.)
JAZZ It's a rare two-night stand for hard-bop drum great George Avaloz, who takes occasional turns at the mic as a Billy Eckstine-inspired ballad singer. Avaloz worked many years with Eckstine, and recorded back in the day with Clifford Jordan, among others. His current quartet includes fine sax man Jim Marentic. (9 p.m. today-Sat., Artists' Quarter. $10.) (T.S.)
Once a standing-room-only fixture in Twin Cities jazz clubs, ace percussionist and sultry singer Estaire Godinez now makes it to town about once a year, spending most of her time in her native California leading a quintet heavy on Brazilian rhythms and bossa-and-beyond favorites, occasionally hitting the road as a sidewoman to the stars (George Benson, Prince) or jamming with her musician brothers in Hawaii. If you like "Bésame Mucho" and gems by Jobim, this is your little drummer girl. (8 p.m. today-Sat., Dakota Jazz Club. $10.) (T.S.) Contributors: Staff critics Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider and freelancer Tom Surowicz.

HIP-HOP On the same weekend Wu-Tang Clan returns to First Ave, our own local hip-hop clan, Doomtree, offers its third annual Blowout. Many of its nine members still live under the same roof but haven't been onstage together since last year's year-end bash. P.O.S., who spent 2007 touring with the likes of Gym Class Heroes, is still the star of the indie-rap family. But fellow rapper Sims was also out on the road a lot, and the rest of the crew has been stepping out more locally, especially the MCs Mictlan, Dessa and Cecil Otter. Producer/DJ Paper Tiger is issuing his debut CD at the event, and there also will be a new limited-edition disc featuring all nine Doomtreers -- a preview to the long-awaited full-blown Doomtree all-star album due next year. (9 p.m. today, First Avenue. 18 & older. $12.) (C.R.)
Whether or not the eight surviving members of Wu-Tang Clan have revitalized their dark, pulp-fictional magic on the long-delayed new album "8 Diagrams" (released Tuesday), at least they can still bring da ruckus onstage. The Wu warriors have lately been more prominent in movies (RZA did the excellent "Kill Bill" soundtracks) and TV (Method Man's back on HBO's "The Wire"). Ghostface Killah is the only one consistently making killer solo albums, a streak that continues with his latest, "The Big Doe Rehab." But the Clan are on the same page, paying tribute to their late cohort Ol' Dirty Bastard, who's honored in one of the new songs and usually still gets a couple of his songs played at the shows. (9 p.m. Sun., First Avenue. 18 & older. $35.) (C.R.)
Excuse the Steeles if they haven't reinvented their Christmas show from last year. It was their acoustic approach, something new in what is now 23 years of holiday shows in the Twin Cities. No matter the format, siblings J.D., Fred, Jearlyn, Jevetta and Billy Steele always have the perfect mix of spirit and spiritual for a holiday show. (8 p.m. today-Sat., Fitzgerald Theater, $30.50-$40.50.) (J.B.)
Chicago's whistling/violin-bowing cult favorite Andrew Bird had a busy year that saw an applaudable variety of Twin Cities gigs, including his opening set with Wilco in October. He and his locally reared bandmates, Martin Dosh and Jeremy Ylvisaker, cap 2007 with three shows, two of them at a venue as innovatively crafted and intimately styled as Bird's '07 album, "Armchair Apocrypha," his best yet. (7:30 p.m. today & Sat., Guthrie Theater Proscenium Stage. Sold out. Additional show 2 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center, $27, ticketweb.com.) (C.R.)
Contributors: Staff critics Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider and freelancer Tom Surowicz.