The Head and the Heart's 2009 debut album earned them lots of love in the Twin Cities, on the impetus of "Lost in My Mind" that was beloved by both 89.3 the Current and Cities 97. The coed folk-rock ensemble from Seattle — fiddler/singer Charity Rose Thielen spent time in the Twin Cities and her parents still live here — were organic and charming live. The group's sophomore CD, "Let's Be Still," released last week, seems stuck in the '70s, with shades of the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills & Nash without the big-budget production. More modern vibes are experienced on the Mumford-ish but gorgeous "Gone" and the Coldplay-gone-acoustic "Fire/Fear." Thao & the Get Down Stay Down and the Quiet Life open. (9 p.m. Sat & 8 p.m. Sun. First Avenue, sold-out.) Bream

POP/ROCK

After a downward spiral that Twin Cities fans saw firsthand at a slurred Turf Club gig, Jason Isbell sobered up, got remarried and made the best album of his career — and one of the best of 2013, period. "Southeastern" finds the former Drive-by Trucker chronicling some of his bleariest nights with open eyes, from the graceful folk gem "Traveling Alone" to the literally deadly throwdown "Super 8," but the redemption he finds is also crystal clear in other heart-tugging would-be classics. After a "Wits" appearance and solo gig earlier this year, the Alabama country rocker is finally coming around with his sturdy 400 Unit, including his new wife, fiddler/singer Amanda Shires. (8 p.m. Fri., Varsity Theater, sold out.) Chris Riemenschneider

Regulars at the intimate Dakota Jazz Club, Lizz Wright and Raul Midon will team up in a plush theater. The radiant Wright is a gloriously soulful, deep-voiced Georgian who will take you to church without a minister, Bible or any rituals. Soulful singer/guitarist Midon, from New Mexico, comes across like a modern-day Bill Withers. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Ordway, $16-$36.) Jon Bream

Soul Coughing is still beloved in the Twin Cities (its No. 1 market back in the day), but the hard-walloping '90s jazz-rock-rap band is not so fondly remembered by frontman Mike Doughty, who likened it to a "dark marriage." After revisiting that era in his 2012 autobiography "The Book of Drugs," the gravelly voiced, wryly humored New Yorker opted to "reimagine" his old tunes rather than reunite his old group. He re-recorded many of their biggest songs, including "Super Bon Bon" and "Circles," for a folkier and rawer new collection, which is how he and a new band are playing them on the so-called "Mike Doughty (used to be in) Soul Coughing" tour. Sons of Hippies open. (8 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $25.) Riemenschneider

An Illinois-bred folkie, Suzy Bogguss made a splash in country in the 1990s with such hits as "Outbound Plane" and "Aces." Blessed with one of the prettiest voices in Nashville, she has sung jazz standards on 2003's "Swing" and folk chestnuts on 2011's "American Folk Songbook." But she has never been better than on 2007's "Sweet Danger," which showed her to be a smart songwriter and gifted interpreter who is too artful and adult for today's country scene. Headlining are the revamped SteelDrivers, a bluegrassy folk group now featuring Gary Nichols on vocals and Tammy Rogers on fiddle. (8 p.m. Sat., Hopkins Center for the Arts, $34.) Bream

On his fifth solo album, "Tape Deck Heart," Frank Turner comes across as Craig Finn's British cousin. A former punk rocker with Million Dead who once drew comparisons to Billy Bragg, Turner is a passionate storyteller, whether it's the rowdy rocker "We Shall Not Overcome" (about his non-mainstream tastes) or the acoustic ballad "Wherefore Art Thou Gene Simmons" (about a mom's admonishment on rock musicians' lifestyles). (6:30 p.m. Mon., Varsity, $20.) Bream

As he's done throughout a decade-plus career equally defined by head-banging and head-scratching, Hank III — grandson of Hank Williams and son of "Bocephus," Hank Jr. — shows off both a Misfits-like thrash-punk side as well as a traditional country side on his new double-LP collection, "A Fiendish Threat/Brothers of the 4 X 4." Expect to hear both sides and probably lots more in concert opposite "Monday Night Football," whose controversial canning of his dad was coolly greeted with a shrug by "3." (8 p.m. Mon., Mill City Nights, $25.) Riemenschneider

The Cowboy Junkies' return to the Dakota is well-timed. The Toronto minimalists are supporting "The Wilderness," the fourth and final album in their so-called "Nomad Series." It's very wintry, filled with darkness, solitariness and snow. It's typical Cowboy Junkies — even the outlier rock blast "F---, I Hate the Cold." (7 & 9 p.m. Tue.-Wed., Dakota, $40-$45.) Bream

Due in town the night after they're scheduled to be spotlighted on public radio's "World Café Next," Texas' whimsical coed folk-pop strummers Wild Child have a few other distinctions to their name. Fellow Austinite Ben Kweller produced their second album, "The Runaround," and MTV Hive praised their stomach-testing video for "Crazy Birds" over Miley Cyrus' "We Can't Stop" as "craziest on the block." You really have to see it to believe it. (9:30 p.m. Tue., Icehouse, $10.) Riemenschneider

So much for a bigger Soundgarden outing. After playing a massively rocking but undersized gig with his old band at the Orpheum in February — leaving many fans praying for a second go-around — Chris Cornell is back out on a solo tour. And this one truly is solo. One of rock's mightiest howlers, he's playing stripped-down acoustic versions of Soundgarden, Audioslave and even Temple of the Dog tunes alongside his soundtrack contributions — including "Seasons" from "Man of Steel" — and other random offerings. (8 p.m. Wed., O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, St. Catherine's University, $40-$46.) Riemenschneider

No longer in Lily Allen's shadow, U.K. pop star Kate Nash threw a curveball with her crowd-funded third album, this year's "Girl Talk." After debuting as a 20-year-old folk-popster, she leaned toward neo-soul on her sophomore effort and now has gone indie-rock with a garage-rock vibe. Part Courtney Love and part Avril Lavigne, it's an inconsistent but liberating record. Nash is touring with an all-female band. (8 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, $15.) Bream

America was introduced to Cyndi Lauper with her aptly named "She's So Unusual" album in 1983. With four Top 5 hits and a Grammy for best new artist, that LP helped launch a career that has included pro wrestling manager, gay rights activist, Emmy-winning actress and, most recently, Tony-winning Broadway composer ("Kinky Boots"). But Lauper is saluting where it all started by playing "She's So Unusual" in its entirety, with stories about the making of the album plus some post-"Unusual" songs. (9 p.m. Wed., Mill City Nights, $39.50-$79.50.) Bream

HALLOWEEN CONCERTS

WookieFoot shows are already kaleidoscopic, costumed affairs on any given night, so no wonder the cosmic rap/rock/acid-funk band's Halloween parties have turned into annual affairs. This year's masquerade balls coincide with the group's 15th anniversary and a new album, "Ready or Not." Heatbox and the Limns open on Halloween, and That 1 Guy plays the second night (8 p.m. Thu. & next Fri., Cabooze, $14, or $25 for both.) Riemenschneider

Slayer, Dio, Guns N' Roses, the Sex Pistols and Glenn Danzig were already booked this Halloween — what, you think the late Ronnie James Dio is not singing "Heaven and Hell" for some party in either locale? — so the Triple Rock booked local acts to play tribute sets instead. Death-metal band Daigaro is heading up the Slayer set, while Romantica/Kruddler bassist Tony Zaccardi's Appetite for Zaccardi returns to handle GNR. (9 p.m. Thu., Triple Rock, $8 with costume, $10 without.) Riemenschneider

Harriet Brewing, which co-hosts the summertime Roots, Rock and Deep Blues Fest, is bringing in one of the deepest young blues acts around to head up its brewery bash: Kent Burnside & New Generation, the Mississippi-reared "Hill Country"-style quintet led by RL Burnside's grandson. Jon Manners opens. (7 p.m. Thu., Harriet Brewing, 3036 Minnehaha Av. S., Mpls., $7.) Riemenschneider

COUNTRY

When "Don't Ya" came on the radio, Brett Eldredge's voice jumped out with its gravelly soulfulness. The song went to No. 1, landed the Illinois native a slot on Taylor Swift's recent tour and a nomination for best new artist at next month's Country Music Association Awards. His debut disc, "Bring You Back," walks the line between Kenny Chesney and Blake Shelton, which means Eldredge fits nicely in contemporary Nashville. Catch him in a club before he returns in January to open for Keith Urban at Xcel Energy Center. (9 p.m. Wed., Toby Keith's, $10.) Bream

WORLD

The 1960s Irish band Skara Brae achieved legendary status on the Emerald Isle, with its members going on to more high-profile groups including the Bothy Band, Altan, Trian and Nightnoise. After triumphant reunions in 1997 and 2005, influential singer/guitarist Mícheál Ó Domhnaill died seven years ago in a fall. Now the surviving trio of Dáithí Sproule and sisters Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill has reassembled for a first-ever brief American tour. (7 p.m. Sun., Celtic Junction, 836 N. Prior Av., St. Paul, $18-$20. 651-330-4685.) Surowicz

Veterans of three impressive CDs, desert blues band Terakaft brings the slinky, soulful sounds of Mali's nomadic Tuareg people to the world. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar Cultural Center, $25-$28.) Surowicz

JAZZ

For decades Eric Kamau Gravatt has been a big presence on the Twin Cities jazz scene, known worldwide thanks to his membership in Weather Report, a long alliance with McCoy Tyner and his dynamic, exhilarating talent. Yet the master drummer only plays one local club with any regularity. And that venue is soon to be shuttered. So old fans and the curious would be well-advised to check out the latest edition of Gravatt's band Source Code. (9 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Artists' Quarter, $12.) Surowicz

It's been about two years since the Thomson Quartet last graced a stage. Led by saxophonist and composer Chris Thomson, the somewhat unusual lineup features versatile accordionist Patrick Harison along with bassist James Buckley and drummer Sean Carey. A new trio with Buckley, saxman Brandon Wozniak and drummer Cory Healy opens. (9:30 p.m. Mon., Icehouse, $8.) Surowicz

CHORAL

Born out of the old Dale Warland Singers, the Singers celebrate their 10th anniversary with "This Shining Night," an innovative program that includes "Nocturnes" by Morten Lauridsen, a composer the Singers have championed; "So I'll Sing With My Voice," a spiritual setting by Dominick Argento, plus works by Benjamin Britten and Ralph Vaughan Williams as well as close harmony arrangements from the Great American Songbook. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Nativity Catholic Church, 1900 Wellesley Av., St. Paul; 7:30 p.m. Sat., Wayzata Community Church, 125 Wayzata Blvd. E., Wayzata, $20-$30, 651-917-1948, www.singersmca.org) William Randall Beard

VocalEssence opens its 45th season with the U.S. premiere of "There Was a Child," an oratorio by major British composer Jonathan Dove. The Vocal­Es­sence Chorus and Ensemble Singers are joined by soprano Maria Jette, tenor Dan Dressen, St. Olaf Choir, Northfield Youth Choir and a full orchestra. Dove uses poetry by Langston Hughes, Whitman, Wordsworth, Keats and Emily Dickinson to create a celebration of life in the piece, commissioned by a colleague as a memorial for his young son. The ensembles also will perform works by Jean Berger, Sergei Rachmaninoff and F. Melius Christiansen. (4 p.m. Sun., Central Lutheran Church, 333 S. 12th St., Mpls., $10-$40, 612-371-5656, www.vocalessence.org) Beard