Big Gigs for Oct. 30-Nov. 5: Marina and the Diamonds, Shinedown, Zedd, Houndmouth, Shakey Graves, Vanessa Carlton

A loud-cranking but melodic Twin Cities trio that fell somewhere between early Smashing Pumpkins and local cohorts Trip Shakespeare in the early-'90s alt-rock realm, Walt Mink is playing a rare reunion show at the behest of marketing company Ciceron to mark its 20th anniversary. Led by John Kimbrough — son of St. Paul-reared "Murphy Brown" actor Charles — the band earned a few post-script distinctions after its heyday: Its 1996 album "El Producto" received the first-ever 10.0 perfect rating from the then-fledgling website PitchforkMedia.com, and its Los Angeles-reared, Macalaster-educated drummer Joey Waronker went on to play for R.E.M. and Beck. Local fans remember them for a lot more. Waronker's replacement Zach Danziger and original bassist Candice Belanoff will join Kimbrough for the gig. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Varsity Theater, $45.) Chris Riemenschneider

Welsh electro-pop balladeer Marina Diamandis of Marina and the Diamonds is back to being herself after taking on a pop-star persona and working with outside songwriting collaborators for her 2012 album "Electra Heart." Her new record, "Froot," is more of a straight-ahead, in-house affair with her backing band in tow and echoes of Annie Lennox and Florence + the Machine. Her set lists on tour have been split into three "acts" that home in on each of her three albums. France's Christine & the Queens open. (8 p.m. Fri., Northop Auditorium, $30-$38.) Riemenschneider

Russian-rooted, German-raised dance-pop producer Zedd (aka Anton Zaslavski) showed his skills at moving big EDM audiences with a set at the Summer Set Festival in 2013. That's also the year he proved himself as a pop hitmaker by landing in the Billboard Top 10 with his anthemic single "Clarity" with British singer Foxes. His breezy new album "True Colors," featuring vocals by Selena Gomez and Troye Sivan, hasn't generated the same mainstream attention, but he still has the dance crowd behind him. A-Trak and Alex Metric open. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Roy Wilkins Auditorium, $37.50-$45.) Riemenschneider

Houndmouth, one of the best new rock bands to see in 2015, is coming to the Minneapolis Warehouse District on one of the worst nights of the year to be there. But the Indiana quartet is worth the hassle. Known locally for the ascending radio hit "Sedona," from their second album "Little Neon Limelight," the soulfully harmonious, vaguely Southern-flavored rockers really shine as a unit on stage, with rotating lead vocalists à la the Band and a loose, steamrolling energy of the Dr. Dog variety. Folky Athens, Ga., duo Cicada Rhythm opens. (9 p.m. Sat., Fine Line, $22.) Riemenschneider

Albert Hammond Jr. has become the Strokes member with the most consistent solo career, a bragging right sealed by the guitarist's third full-length album, "Momentary Masters." He recorded it in his converted barn in Upstate New York — the thought of any Strokes member living on a farm seems funny, no? — and loaded it up with artfully noodly guitar parts of the Television and Wilco variety as well as Guided by Voices-style pop hooks. He also threw in a cosmically cool cover of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice." Walking Shapes opens. (8:30 p.m. Tue., Turf Club, $15.) Riemenschneider

Wrestling fans, unite! The Florida quartet Shinedown has carved out a nifty niche allowing the WWE to use tunes like "Energy" and their semi-new single "Cut the Cord" as bumper music and soundtracks for the organization's cable and pay-per-view shows. To be fair, the band had already fostered a dedicated following with constant touring and crackling concerts. Their crunchy yet abrasive hard rock is dramatically compelling—just right for the heroes and heels who enter the ring, and no-nonsense rockers. (7 p.m. Tue., Myth, sold out.) Britt Robson

Best known from the new wave-y 1979 hit "Is She Really Going Out With Him?," Joe Jackson has maintained a cultish following even as his music career has veered from rock to reggae, jazz and classical. The British songwriting vet returns to a sophisticated pop sound on his first all-original album in seven years, "Fast Forward," featuring four sets of tunes he recorded in four different cities. Britpop specialist DJ Jake Rudh will spin tunes for the opening set. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Fitzgerald Theater, $40-$67.50.) Riemenschneider

Vanessa Carlton, whose 2001 ballad "A Thousand Miles" is still her crowning track, is back on tour. The 35-year-old has produced five studio albums, most recently "Liberman," titled after her grandfather — but that first, lovelorn single remains freshest in popular memory. The singer-songwriter has long dipped in and out of pop and indie sounds, buddying up with figures such as Stevie Nicks. Her latest album retains her syrupy voice, though understandably with more mature subjects. (7 p.m. Wed., Cedar Cultural Center, $25.) Natalie Daher

When Southern rap exploded in the mid-1990s, the Memphis duo 8Ball and MJG hit a sweet spot between the party-on vulgarity of Master P and Juvenile in New Orleans and backpacker funkiness of Outkast and Goodie Mob in Atlanta. Loaded with harsh insights and nasty beats, they generated more ambience than hit records, but bring a memorable catalog as headliners for this Dirty South tour, which also boasts Chingy (remember "Right Thurr"?) and former Nelly sidekick Murphy Lee. (8 p.m. Fri., Mill City Nights, $42-$87.) Robson

The Festival de las Calaveras is a multimedia showcase that simultaneously honors the Day of the Dead and celebrates the cornucopia of Latin culture in the region. Headliners include Maria Isa, a Nuyorican native of West St. Paul who rivals Dessa as an intelligent rapper-vocalist, organically fusing genres with aplomb. Also at the top of the bill is Son Monarcas, a more folkloric group from Chicago featuring Mercedes Martinez on accordion, guitar and vocals. Dancers, poets, DJs and an art exhibit are all part of the festivities. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Cedar, $12-$15, $8 for ages 3-12.) Robson

The Twin Cities area is blessed with a variety of big band jazz ensembles that are a testament to the depth of talent in these parts. A prime example is the Bill Simenson Orchestra, which is holding down a residency at Jazz Central on the first Tuesday of each month. Simenson is a veteran trumpeter/composer who is also a founding member of the Cedar Avenue Big Band. His 17-piece orchestra is a mixture of classic and modern sounds, and includes such notable local bandleaders in their own right as Pete Whitman, Doug Little, Chris Lomheim and Pete Enblom. (8:30 Tue., Jazz Central, $10 suggested donation.) Robson

Before sound recording and button-click music streaming were invented, it could be difficult getting to hear the music you wanted when you wanted. Enter the transcription, the art of rearranging works for scaled-down performances in small domestic spaces. Arnold Schoenberg's Chamber Symphony No. 1 in Anton Webern's arrangement is the centerpiece of an intriguing program of transcriptions played by St. Paul Chamber Orchestra soloists. Mozart's wonderful Sinfonia Concertante is the other main item, with a short, scaled-up version of Debussy's "Clair de Lune" thrown in for contrast. (8 p.m. Fri., Sundin Hall, Hamline University, St. Paul; 2 p.m. Sun., Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul Academy and Summit School; $5-$18, 651-291-1144 or thespco.org) Terry Blain