Friday night's Walker After Hours party is a celebration of the Jim Hodges exhibit that officially opens Saturday. But for a few hundred rabid fans, it's also a chance to see indie music hero Sufjan Stevens with his trio Sisyphus, featuring Chicago rapper Serengeti and Los Angeles sound wizard Son Lux.

Inspired by the art of Hodges, the group is making a cameo appearance at the party and selling early copies of its forthcoming self-titled album, commissioned by the Walker and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music Series.

However, fans should be advised: Only about 200 partygoers will be able to squeeze into the 20- to 25-minute performance, scheduled around 11 p.m. in the 8th floor space of the Walker's original building once known as Gallery 8.

More than 1,600 tickets had been sold for the party by late afternoon Friday. The largest-ever After Hours drew about 2,000 for a Frida Kahlo opening in 2007.

As for the album, more than 30 people had queued up at the Walker shop by about 4 p.m., waiting for the disc to go on sale at 9 p.m. The Walker has 50 limited-edition, numbered, signed copies for $50 each, plus another 21 copies unsigned. After seeing the scrum outside their store, museum staff negotiated for an additional 50 copies.

Fans of Sisyphus at least have another chance to see the group at 2 p.m. Saturday, in a public conversation with Hodges in the Walker cinema. Tickets for that event are $10-$12, but expect a sellout.

And if you aren't one of the lucky few to see Sisyphus? Well, the record will be available more widely March 18 through Asthmatic Kitty Records and Joyful Noise Recordings. And you can at least listen to a sample here: