HIP-HOP

They won't have the accompanying feline rappers from the "Meow the Jewels" pet-project album nor TV on the Radio for backers like on Stephen Colbert's show, but Run the Jewels put on a lively enough performance as-is to always be a can't-miss proposition. Atlanta's most masterful rapper Killer Mike and his producer-turned-rhyming-partner El-P have dropped two of hip-hop's most acclaimed albums of recent years, a reputation matched by the buzz off their many festival gigs and other rowdy live appearances. They're making an overdue debut in the First Ave main room with Beyoncé cohort Boots and buzzing Fresno, Calif., rapper Fashawn. (9 p.m. Fri., First Ave., sold out.) Chris Riemenschneider

POP/ROCK

Meg Myers grew up in an impoverished and strict family of Jehovah's Witnesses, so the visceral weight of the accusations she hurls at lovers, life and herself on what might otherwise be conventional singer-songwriter pop tunes is credibly riveting. It lands her in the confessionally raw but savvy and snide axis of Fiona Apple and Trent Reznor. Although she just released her first full-length, well-known singles like "Monster" plus the erotic "Desire" and the sunny "Lemon Eyes" all should benefit from being up close and ever more personal in concert. (8 p.m. Sat., Fine Line, $15.) Britt Robson

Twelve years and six albums into a recording career that has paired them with such producers as Ric Ocasek and Blink-182's Mark Hoppus, Twin Cities pop-punk mainstays Motion City Soundtrack just put out their heaviest and best album yet: "Panic Stations," recorded with Dinosaur Jr. and Hold Steady cohort John Agnello with harder-blasting guitars but still plenty of poppy, Weezer-y hooks. The quintet has already played a week of dates behind the record, leading up to this homecoming date with the Wonder Years, State Champs and You Blew It! (6 p.m. Sun., First Ave, all ages, $25.) Riemenschneider

With the Hold Steady on an extended break, Craig Finn is taking to the road on another solo outing behind his moving, mellower sophomore album, "Faith in the Future." Hometown fans can choose between an intimate concert hall or the bonus barroom gig. His band for the tour includes Saves the Day's Arun Bali on guitar and MGMT drummer Will Berman on bass. Opener for both shows is Esmé Patterson, formerly of the Denver folk-pop ensemble Paper Bird. Read an interview with Finn at startribune.com/music. (8 p.m. Sat., Woman's Club of Minneapolis; and 8 p.m. Sun., Turf Club, $25.) Riemenschneider

Arlo Guthrie is in the midst of an 18-month tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Alice's Restaurant," the 18-minute opus about a place where you can get anything you want, 'cepting Alice. The long-winded song is a Woodstockian-fueled hippie landmark but there's a whole lot more to Guthrie, son of Woody, including "City of New Orleans," "The Motorcycle Song" and a bunch of blues and folk numbers. (7:30 p.m. Sun., O'Shaughnessy, $35-$75.) Jon Bream

The kind of chirpy froth put out by MisterWives once was referred to as a guilty pleasure, probably because there is nothing innocent about the commercial calculation of their punchy dance hooks, Mandy Lee's squealy vocal effervescence and the layered licks and production that are almost as irresistible as they are predictable. Waters and Cruisr provide a titch more gristle as openers on this "Scrapbook tour." (5 p.m. Tue., First Ave, $20, all ages.) Robson

Run the Jewels play a sold-out show at First Avenue on Friday.

Denver-reared retro-soul rockers Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats are enjoying breakout success with their Fallon-buoyed single "S.O.B." and an entire Stax Records album that's just as expletive-inducing. Their first local date behind it is long since sold-out. Read an interview with Rateliff in Sunday's Variety section. (8:30 p.m. Wed., Turf Club, sold out.) Riemenschneider

South Africa-born, Australia-raised electro-pop singer Troye Sivan is already charting high on Billboard and selling out mid-size venues — and he only just turned 20 and has yet to release his full-length debut. He's already a familiar face to "X-Men" buffs thanks to his acting role as the young Wolverine, but he seems destined for pop-star status after the success of his melancholy 2014 single "Happy Little Pills" and the buzz around the romantic new tune "Wild," which is being lauded by LBGT groups and Sam Smith for its trilogy of music videos positively depicting gay youths. He's touring to build the buzz for his Dec. 4 album, "Blue Neighborhood." (8 p.m. Wed., Varsity Theater, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Fort Worth's Leon Bridges is the latest in a series of intriguing retro soul men. In his Twin Cities debut as an opening act in April, he seemed old-fashioned in sound (loved the echo on his voice), lyrical content (very PG love songs with lines like "where it's warm in my arms") and look (dapper peacock blue suit with black lapels). Yet, he still seemed fresh — because of his youth (he's 25), passion and ability to connect with the crowd of mostly twenty-somethings. However, his ensuing debut album, "Coming Home," was short on songs and strong on vocalizing. Let's see how he steps up in a headlining slot. Opening is retro soul siren Kali Uchis, who has worked with Tyler the Creator, Snoop Dogg and Diplo. (8:30 p.m. Wed., First Ave, sold out.) Bream

It will be interesting to see how Deafheaven showcases its brand-new disc, "New Bermuda," at a relatively small joint like the Fine Line. It is considerably more intense and scabrous than the San Francisco band's creative and commercial breakthrough from 2013, "Sunbather," which leaned toward shoegazer territory amid its black metal underpinnings. Vocalist George Clarke more than ever sounds like the possessed kid from "The Exorcist," and despite pacific interludes like "Baby Blue," ground-and-pound despair holds sway. Earplugs optional. (8 p.m. Wed., Fine Line, $15-$18.) Robson

An occasional changeup from their many tours as "Gillian Welch With Dave Rawlings," the Dave Rawlings Machine is back in action delivering songs helmed by the bearded half of the beloved bluegrassy folk couple, with Welch singing and picking backup. Their sophomore Machine album, "Nashville Obsolete," carries a thick Neil Young acoustic-twang flavor up until the rousing gospel closer, "Pilgrim (You Can't Go Home)." Punch Brothers bassist Paul Kowert, Crooked Still violinist Brittany Haas and singer/guitarist Willie Watson round out their live lineup. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Fitzgerald Theater, $34.50.) Riemenschneider

Twenty-One Pilots' chart-climbing formula seems to be putting a dubsteppy and/or hip-hop spin on poppy rock hitmakers of the past, whether it's echoing the Killers in the mushy single "Tear in My Heart" or '90s bakers 311 in the dopey hit "Lane Boy." Mid-twentysomething former college buds from Columbus, Ohio, Tyler Joseph and Joseph Dun are enjoying a breakout year behind their second Fueled by Ramen-issued album "Blurryface," including primo slots at the MTV Video Music Awards and Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits festivals. No surprise they sold out ahead of time here. Finish Ticket opens. (7 p.m. Thu., Myth, sold out.) Riemenschneider

JAZZ

Benny Green epitomizes the whirlwind energy and on-the-fly sophistication of hard bop piano. He learned from the very best mentors the music had to offer — vocalist Betty Carter and drummer Art Blakey — and has evolved from young lion in the late '80s to treasured traditionalist today. He'll front a trio with bassist David Wong (who is on his fine, all-originals "Live at Santa Cruz 2015" album) and drummer Rodney Green. (6 p.m. Sun., Dakota, $20-$30.) Robson

CLASSICAL

Leonard Bernstein died 25 years ago this month, his reputation as one of the great conductors of the 20th century firmly established. Bernstein's own music continues to be sifted and re-evaluated, and a generous cross-section of his choral output is showcased by Minneapolis-based choir the Singers in "Make Our Garden Grow," a title taken from the closing chorus of the musical "Candide." That's included, as are the Chichester Psalms, and choruses from "The Lark," "Mass" and "West Side Story." A tune-packed tribute to a prodigal talent. (7:30 p.m. Sat., St. Olaf Catholic Church, Mpls.; 3 p.m. Sun., First Lutheran Church, Columbia Heights; $21-$33, singersmca.org) Terry Blain

Bach's church cantatas — he wrote nearly 200 — are of exceptional quality, yet it can be difficult to find performances of them in classical concert schedules. Enter the Minnesota Bach Ensemble, a team of professional players based in the Twin Cities, and the Minnesota Chorale, who join in a concert featuring two Cantatas, Nos. 33 (Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ) and 182 (Himmelskönig, sei willkommen). Artistic directors Andrew Altenbach and Kathy Saltzman share the conducting responsibilities, and a clutch of movements from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" punctuates the singing. (4 p.m. Sat., Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata; 4 p.m. Sun., St. Paul Seminary Chapel, St. Paul; $10-$20, mnbach.org) Blain

What do orchestral musicians do on their days off? Play more music, in the case of the ensemble Accordo. It draws its membership from past and current string players of the Minnesota and St. Paul Chamber orchestras, and the attraction is the opportunity to perform masterpieces of the chamber music repertoire together. Accordo kicks off its seventh season with a typically eclectic program, including a rare opportunity to hear Milhaud's Sonatina for Violin and Viola. Beethoven's first "Razumovsky" Quartet follows, with pianist Rieko Aizawa guesting in a Mendelssohn Trio. (7:30 p.m. Mon., Christ Church Lutheran, Mpls., $21-$31, 651-292-3268 or schubert.org) Blain