One of the co-organizers of this weekend's Stone Arch Festival -- who shall go nameless, except to say she's a staunch supporter of the music scene -- seemed equally miffed and proud when the subject came up: It's one helluva weekend for local music.

Seriously, this might be the busiest, bustlingest weekend ever for Minnesota music gigs. Or at least it's this summer's biggest. The number of people who wind up watching a Minnesota musician perform in town between June 18-20 will probably rival the number who take in mega-stars Sting and Tom Petty over two nights at Xcel Energy Center next week. They won't get to see Sting's lute, but they also won't drop anywhere near the same amount of loot (although those Gear Daddies' prices do sting a bit).

If you're a festival organizer hoping to attract as many music lovers as possible to your homegrown, lovingly fostered, scenically laid-out event, all this competition might hurt. Too bad the Stone Arch Fest wasn't held the same weekend Bret Michaels was the biggest thing in town. If you're a lover of local music, though, you have to stop and marvel at the hyperactive schedule this weekend. Here are the big gigs:

Larry Graham/Mint Condition (7:30 p.m. June 18, Minnesota Zoo, $42) -- He hasn't been lying as low as old bandmate Sly Stone, but Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bassist Graham hasn't played a headlining show in his adopted hometown yet this millennium. His Graham Central Station albums remain some of funk's most unsung classics. Mint Condition's St. Paulite members also keep their local gigs to a minimum. Together, these local giants should bring out the best (and funkiest) in each other. Oddsmakers are betting they'll bring out their Purple Pal, too.

Lookbook's first First Ave headline gig (9 p.m. June 18, First Avenue, $8-$10) -- The co-ed synth-pop duo is no stranger to the First Ave stage, having been there for the Best New Bands showcase, the Current's fifth anniversary, last year's Replacements tribute and Solid Gold's first sell-out gig. Singer Maggie Morrison also dazzled in last month's Gayngs melee. She and Grant Cutler have never filled the place on their own, though. The timing seems right. They broke out locally last year with their dramatic, cheeseless '80s-styled debut album, "Wild at Heart." Then they hit the road this spring and again last month, hitting the West Coast, stopping off at the Daytrotter.com studios in Illinois and even squeezing in a camping trip in Montana before finishing at home in grand fashion.

Twin Cities Jazz Fest (4-10 p.m. Fri, noon-10 p.m. Sat., Mears Park/Lowertown, St. Paul, free) -- The big touring names like John Scofield and Joe Lovano bring the heat and the crowds, but it's easy to imagine this revitalized event doing well with just the local talent on board this year. It's also easy to spot the local scene's diversity in the Mears Park lineup. Highlights include the innovative Pete Whitman X-tet on Friday, and the Parisota Hot Club with Connie Evingson and Latin kings Salsa del Soul on Saturday. The locals take over in neighboring venues, too, including the Atlantis Quartet at the Hat Trick Lounge and the Fantastic Merlins with Kid Dakota at the Black Dog Cafe on Friday, plus the Jack Brass Band and Cory Wong at the Hat Trick on Saturday. Full schedule at www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com.

Stone Arch Festival (11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. June 19, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., St. Anthony Main district, free) -- From Saturday's opening acts the James Buckley Trio (playing original jazz) and Dustin Thomas (hippie folkie) to Sunday's closers Jennifer Markey (alt-country) and Belfast Cowboys (Van Morrison tribute), this two-day, three-stage, 50-artist music-and-food fest spotlights a wide range of local musicians -- especially female talent -- while also showing off the St. Anthony Main riverfront scenery. In-between highlights include an almost-twilight set by Matt Wilson's and John Munson's Twilight Hours on Saturday (7 p.m.), preceded by soulful hip-hop/rock favorites Black Blondie (3:45 p.m.), banjo songbird Eliza Blue (4:15 p.m.) and buzzing indie-rock trio Zoo Animal (5 p.m.). Sunday also features Afrobeat poetry duo Madiba (3:15 p.m.), funk-rocker Mayda (4:15 p.m.), bluesy revivalists A Night in the Box (5 p.m.) and more great songwriters. Full schedule at www.stonearchfestival.com.

Retribution Gospel Choir at Rock the Garden (4 p.m. June 20, Walker Art Center, sold out) -- How big is the locally picked opening slot at the Current's and Walker's perennially sold-out garden party? Last summer it arguably sealed the deal for Solid Gold as its buzz reached a peak. Of course, RGC frontman Alan Sparhawk needs less of an introduction to local-music lovers, but even some of the staunchest fans of his older trio Low have been jolted by the harrowing songwriting and blowout power of his newer and far noisier band, which issued its second album on Sub Pop in January.

Jayhawks reunion (8:30 p.m. Sat., Sun. and Mon., First Avenue, $25) -- "We've had a lot of fun playing together and always planned on doing more." So said Gary Louris when these three shows were announced, their first since the Basilica Block Party last summer -- which was their first gig here with co-founding singer/guitarist Mark Olson in 14 years. Louris and Olson will once again lead the mid-'90s lineup of the pioneering alt-country band through favorites from the "Hollywood Town Hall" and "Tomorrow the Green Grass" albums (which are in line to be reissued), plus maybe throw in a few from their 1986 debut "The Bunkhouse Album" (reissued last month).

Gear Daddies reunion (7:30 p.m., Minnesota Zoo, $49) -- "It shocks me too," Martin Zellar said earlier this year of his old band's continued popularity. He and the rest of the members of the twangy Mid-America rock quartet make a point of only reuniting a couple times a year and not overdoing it, a point somewhat necessitated by Zellar's continued residency in Mexico. While he'd clearly like to see more Daddies fans show up for his solo gigs now that he's performing more often, the singer said of these reunions: "It's not like it's torture. I love hanging out with those guys. We always have fun."

Twins swing local hits While they could still work on localizing the beer selection, Twins/Target Field staffers have made a solid commitment to playing Minnesota music in the new ballpark. And I'm not just talking about that G.B. Leighton song that a lot of music hipsters have been bad-mouthing. (Come on, folks, it's not like Leighton got rich off the tune; nor would the Twins have ever hired, say, Gay Witch Abortion instead.) Twins music director Kevin Dutcher -- whose job I've already openly petitioned for -- just kicked off a new "Local Music Spotlight" that will crank up about 25 minutes before every game and feature the artists' names on the scoreboard. Dan Israel already heard his music played once at the stadium and was the "Spotlight" act Wednesday. "I'm sure the players don't care," he said, "but it's cool to think that Delmon Young and Jason Kubel and all of them are warming up while my tunes are playing."

Dutcher urged bands to hit him up for the spotlight via kevindutcher@twinsbaseball.com. That means you, too, Gay Witch Abortion.

Random mix Members of Free Energy will bounce between their second of two 400 Bar gigs with Mates of State on Thursday to spin DJ sets at the Turf Club along with members of Solid Gold for the ridiculously named Rockers for Knockers breast cancer benefit (9 p.m., $10). The show will also feature Sean Na Na (Har Mar Superstar's anti-alter-ego), Martin Devaney and Puppies & Trains (ex-Superhopper guys). ...

Kaiser Cartel is staying in town following Thursday's Cedar Cultural Center show to open for the first of the three Jayhawks reunion shows at First Ave on Saturday. The other nights' openers are the Strangelights (Sunday) and Romantica (Monday). ... Tickets to the Jayhawks' in-store at the Electric Fetus were all given out with purchases of the "Bunkhouse" reissue, but the Minneapolis store will also welcome Delta Spirit on Friday for a 7 p.m. performance. ...

A band that clearly has serious intentions, piano-driven pop/rock band Star Again plays the Fine Line on Friday, celebrating its debut CD release, an ambitious two-disc set titled "Warn the Wise" that is described in its press kit as "a chronicle of the breakdown of humanity." Geez, no wonder it's a double CD. Singer/songwriter Chris Eden leads the band with Christian undertones and a Five for Fighting ballad-prone style. ...

While it will be hard to rival the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, downtown Minneapolis is getting its own free urban jazz fete on July 17 in the form of the Dakota Street Festival outside the Dakota Jazz Club on Nicollet Mall. It's being held in conjunction with the club's 25th anniversary. Acts are TBA. Sounds like a great idea, but I still wish city leaders and the Minnesota Orchestra would figure out a way to bring back the sorely missed Day of Music to that same neighborhood. That used to be the best weekend for local music.

chrisr@startribune.com • 612-673-4658