G. Love and Rebirth Brass Band: After reiterating his funky, fun-loving broad appeal at the Minnesota State Fair bandshell last summer, Philadelphia-bred blues-rocker Love of "Cold Beverage" fame will heat things up even more this time around with New Orleans' mighty Rebirth crew in tow as openers. Rebirth has gotten great support at the Dakota in recent years, but fans will finally have room to groove here. (8 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, Mpls., $25, eTix.com.)

Mary Bue: After relocating from Duluth to Minneapolis last year, the hauntingly poetic, warmly voiced rocker is headed out on another adventure. She won a grant to become an artist-in-residence through April at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, N.M. A few musical friends, including Molly Maher and Low's Alan Sparhawk, will join her in this send-off party. (10:30 p.m. Sat., Icehouse, Mpls., $8-$10, IcehouseMpls.com.)

Kris Kristofferson: He doesn't have Alzheimer's, as was feared. He's been fighting Lyme disease. Maybe that's why he's had to use lyric sheets and seemed sometimes disoriented in recent concerts. At 80, the plain-voiced singer remains a compelling presence and a songwriting legend, the poetic, poignant force behind "Me and Bobby McGee," "For the Good Times," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" and "Help Me Make It Through the Night," among other classics. (8 p.m. Sat. Pantages, $53.50-$63.50.)

Jonatha Brooke: After living in Boston, Los Angeles and New York, the acclaimed singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke has moved to Minneapolis, her husband/manager's hometown. And she arrived last fall along with a splendid new album, "Midnight. Hallelujah." The pop-country title track prays for love as "a 2 a.m. amen," "Put the Gun Down" consoles a person in trouble, and "Really Really Love" celebrates the joy of romance. (7 p.m. Tue. Dakota, Mpls., $30-$35, dakotacooks.com)

Lukas Graham: For their appearance in the KDWB Jingle Ball last month, this Danish piano-pop band toed an uneasy line between their serious power-ballad "7 Years" and the goofy bro mentality of the striptease lament "Strip No More" and "Drunk in the Morning." The crowd, however, ate up their lively blend of Maroon 5-meets-Jamiroquai light-funk grooves, so chances are good this one will be a packed show. Read an interview with the band in Tuesday's Variety. (7 p.m. Wed., Myth, Maplewood, $24.95, Ticketmaster.com)

Best New Bands of 2016: First Ave's annual in-house roundup of last year's young buzzmakers is always a blast, and this year's lineup looks to be especially playful and energetic. It includes: whirring electro-pop duo Fraea, whose ice-melting single "Criminal" is already in steady rotation at 89.3 the Current; spacey hip-hop/R&B innovator Lady Midnight; lively boom-bappy rap duo Nazeem and Spencer Joles, reverb-soaked Winona band Sleeping Jesus; spazz-blasting all-woman quartet Tony Peachka; harmonious psychedelic rockers Tabah and the Replacements-echoing brother band Colin Campbell & the Shackletons. (8 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, Mpls., $7-$10, eTix.com.)

Roy Hargrove: The jazz trumpet adventurer has recorded with soul man D'Angelo, world-music dynamo Angelique Kidjo and rock hero John Mayer. Hargrove usually tours with one of his four groups — the funky RH Factor; the Afro-Cuban Cristol; his hard-bop jazz quintet, or big band. No word yet on what musicians he's bringing to the Dakota this week but he is featuring a fine singer, Roberta Gambarini. She and Hargrove worked together in the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band. (7 & 9 p.m. Wed.-Thu. Dakota Jazz Club, Mpls., $25-$45, dakotacooks.com)

The Lumineers & Andrew Bird: Denver's "Ho, Hey"-hollering folk-stomp trio the Lumineers got past one-hit wonder status with last year's hit single "Ophelia" and the album "Cleopatra," but was it enough to earn them arena-headlining status? They always worked their crowds with a sporty energy and could prove a good fit. Opener Bird is an odd fit wherever he plays, but the violin-bowing Illinois indie-rock mainstay has a long-devoted Twin Cities audience. California rocker Margaret Glaspy of "Emotions and Math" buzz is also worth catching in the opening slot. (7 p.m. Thu., Target Center, Mpls., $29.50-$59.50, AXS.com.)