Gearing up for the weekend? Here's your guide to the best Twin Cities concerts.
Terry Reid: This Brit rocker could have been the voice of Led Zeppelin, but he turned down the gig and instead became an influential hipster hero. Back in the day, he opened for the Rolling Stones, Cream and the original Fleetwood Mac. His songs have been recorded by Marianne Faithfull, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon, John Mellencamp, the Raconteurs and others. He even recorded with the Replacements. The seldom-seen singer-songwriter makes a rare Midwest solo appearance. Read an interview at startribune.com/music. (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls., $25-$30)
The Parkway Pickoff: This inaugural battle of the bands with the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association will feature eight young groups from around the Midwest competing for $3,000 in prizes; which could invalidate all those songs about hunger and poverty for the winner, but whatever. Performers include the Barley Jacks, Midwest Cowboys Ministries, the Minor Fall and Last Pick'd String Band. (7 p.m. Fri., Parkway Theater, Mpls., $10-$15.)
Memory Lanes Block Party: Always one of the first, coolest and most laid-back block parties of the season, the two-day bash opens Saturday with an eclectic hip-hop/R&B/Latino lineup led by all-star boom-bap ensemble Mixed Blood Majority (rappers Crescent Moon and Joe Horton with Lazerbeak), Machita, Lady Midnight, Nazeem & Spencer Joles, Malamanya with DJs Shannon Blowtorch and Fundo and more. Sunday's punk and twang mix brings scuzz-rock greats Nashville Pussy back to town to join Guitar Wolf, Gully Boys, the Turbo A.C.'s, Toxenes and others. (3-10 p.m. Sat. & Sun., Memory Lanes parking lot, Mpls., all ages, $5.)
Soundset Pre-Party: The festival's bookers once again make up for years of male-dominated lineups with a cool all-woman dance party led by local turntable master DJ Keezy and her Klituation crew, along with Salt-N-Pepa's DJ Spinderella and guest vocalists Lady Midnight, Manchita, the Lioness, Mayda, K. Raydio and more. (9 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, Mpls., $15.)
Mudhoney and Black Eyed Snakes: After going a decade between Minneapolis shows, the second or third greatest band of the legendary Seattle grunge scene has almost spoiled us with two riotously fun appearances already this decade in the parking lot of the now-demolished downtown Grumpy's; and now this, Mudhoney's first show of the new millennium in a real venue. It's also the first with a new album, following last year's release of the underrated, full-powered "Digital Garbage." As if that's not enough reason to line up and push in those earplugs, Mark Arm and the band lined up two can't-miss opening acts for us: Toronto trio and fellow Sub Pop crankers Metz and Duluth's Black Eyed Snakes, the blues-stomping moonlighting project of Low's Alan Sparhawk. (8 p.m. Sat., Fine Line, 318 1st Av. N., Mpls., $25, eTix.com.)
Snarky Puppy: This Grammy-winning, 19-member collective with a flair for clever song titles can't be classified musically. The Dallas-launched, Brooklyn-based group is essentially a jazzy instrumental jam band. But this year's "Immigrance" album suggests a world travelogue, with visits to funk, fusion and different kinds of world music. Seemingly inspired by later period Steely Dan (minus the vocals), Snarky Puppy finds cool grooves and compelling melodies without flashy solos on tunes like "Bigly Strictness" and "Bad Kids to the Back." But live, the vibe can change because these skilled players are very in the moment and extremely versatile. (8 p.m. Sat. Palace Theatre, St. Paul, $30-$35, etix.com)
Sun Ra Celebration: Officially dubbed "Cosmo Sun Connection," this multifaceted tribute to the Chicago-via-Alabama free-jazz visionary and philosophical Afrofuturism pioneer Sun Ra will include music from various ensembles featuring singer Queen Drea and such well-known Minnesota music figures as Davu Seru, George Cartwright, Dameun Strange, Liz Draper, Charlie Parr and many more. Cosmic attire is encouraged. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar Cultural Center, all ages, $15.)
