Drone Not Drones: Who could've guessed that the 28-hour experimental/improv drone music fest would — like the music itself — continue nonstop for seven years running, and raise $15,000 for Doctors Without Borders along the way? This year's lineup includes American Contemporary Music Ensemble's artistic director Clarice Jensen, Baltimore-based sitar innovator Ami Dang, Norse music duo Saariselka, New York sound collagist Lea Bertucci and such local mainstays as Alan Sparhawk, Paul Metzger and International Novelty Gamelan. (7 p.m. Fri.-11 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls., $20-$30, schedule and webcast at dronenotdrones.com)
Lydia Liza & Big Cats: Just a few months after releasing a rocky and personal solo album, the former Bomba de Luz wunderkind is dropping "Oh Boy," a more experimental and ambient LP with trippy hip-hop producer Spencer "Big Cats" Wirth-Davis. Dwynell Roland and K. Raydio open the release party. (9 p.m. Fri., 7th St. Entry, Mpls., $12-$15)
Lil' Ed and the Imperials: Long before rappers adopted "Lil" monikers, Lil' Ed Williams was playing the blues in Chicago. No one does the bottle-neck boogie like Lil' Ed, who has been backed by the same Imperials for about 30 years. (7 p.m. Fri., Dakota, Mpls., $25-$35)
Poliça: Rebounding from a nearly yearlong hiatus, Channy Leaneagh and her darkly grooving electro-rock band will play an intimate hometown in-store set to mark Friday's release of their new album, "When We Stay Alive." (8 p.m. Fri., Electric Fetus, Mpls., passes via electricfetus.com)
Warren Zevon tribute: The "Werewolves of London" hitmaker is one of the more worthy/unsung tribute subjects, and he's getting an overdue one here from devotees Mick Sterling, James Loney, Peter Guertin and a full band. (7:30 p.m. Fri., Hook & Ladder, Mpls., $20-$25)
Nachito Herrera and Karen Briggs: When Cuban American piano master Herrera put together his all-star group Universals a few years ago, he turned to Briggs, a violinist who spent more than a dozen years touring with Yanni. She's also played with Wu Tang Clan, Diana Ross and En Vogue as well as many jazz musicians. So she'll bring the versatility and the fire in a duo with Herrera, a percussive powerhouse with a genre-bending musical vocabulary. (7 & 9 p.m. Sat., Dakota, $20-$35)
The Last Waltz with Big Pink: For the 15th annual tribute, an all-star Minnesota cast revisits the Band's legendary farewell concert/movie "The Last Waltz" directed by Martin Scorsese. The songs come in order so get there early if you want to hear classics by Dr. John, Paul Butterfield and Muddy Waters. Early arrivals will be treated to the Van Morrison-loving Belfast Cowboys, starring the Van-tastic Terry Walsh. (7 p.m. Sat., Cabooze, Mpls., $15-$20)
Temples: Imagine Tame Impala with more of a non-electronic classic '60s psychedelic-rock tone and you get a hint of this psychedelic British rock trio's charm as well as its commercial limitations. Its third album, "Hot Motion," is an underrated whir of falsetto-laden melodies and hazy jams. (9 p.m. Sat., 7th St. Entry, sold out)