The 7 best things to do and see in the Twin Cities this week

This earthy but elegant Tennessee singer/songwriter sits squarely at the intersection of white mountain twang and Black Southern roots music. She already has made strong impressions here opening for Yola and Larkin Poe. Her third album, 2024’s “Still + Bright,” was produced by Green Day and Pink collaborator Butch Walker and features guest appearances by Billy Strings and Avi Kaplan. She’s making a brave winter trek through the Upper Midwest before a U.K. tour, including both a Duluth and Minneapolis gig, the latter with opener Anna Graves. (7:30 p.m. Jan. 7, West Theater, Duluth, $23-$34, readertix.com; and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8, Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Av. S., Mpls., $35-$45, theparkwaytheater.com)

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

There are Twin Cities tribute shows saluting baby boomer soul stars like Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Earth, Wind & Fire. What about the next gen? Sounds of Blackness lead vocalist Bennett is honoring two Gen X stars, Monica and Brandy. They had thriving solo careers in the ‘90s, collaborated on the 1998 Grammy-winning smash “The Boy Is Mine” and toured together in 2025. (Did you see them on New Year’s Eve with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen?) Each also amassed acting credits, Brandy notably on TV’s “Moesha” and Monica on the reality show “Monica: Still Standing.” Similarly, Bennett has distinguished herself as an actor (Penumbra, Park Square, Ordway productions) as well as a sparkly, powerhouse vocalist oozing soulfulness. She will be joined by “American Idol” finalist Paris Bennett, her daughter, and Chicago songstress Mon’Aerie. (7 p.m. Jan. 10, the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., $47.10 and up, dakotacooks.com)

JON BREAM

You can hear the wide open spaces and gravel road grit of Woods’ rural North Dakota roots in her raw but expansive songs. The St. Paul strummer has spent several years crafting her new album, “When the Day Breaks,” which was heavily inspired by a loved one’s death to addiction. It’s being sold as a fundraiser for Southside Harm Reduction Services. Twin Cities guitar ace Taylor James Donskey produced it, and violinist Rosie Harris and cellist Jake Johnson play all over it. In conjunction with the release party, she’s issuing an alternate hip-hop version of its title track with rapper Dakotah Faye and rocker LowJam, who also will perform. Navajo-rooted poetic rocker Laura Hugo opens. (8 p.m. Jan. 10, Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Av. S., Mpls., $15-$20, thecedar.org)

C.R.

This local chamber music supergroup includes most of the string section leaders from the Minnesota Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. They’ll be joined by an outstanding pianist, Anne-Marie McDermott, whose local visits usually find her soloing with one of those two orchestras. She’ll perform a set of romances by Clara Schumann, then join Accordo for an Antonín Dvořák quintet after a performance of Maurice Ravel’s marvelous String Quartet. Tuesday’s club gig at Icehouse is a one-hour abbreviated version. (7:30 p.m. Jan. 12, Westminster Hall, Nicollet Mall and Alice Rainville Place, Mpls., $26-$36; 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13, Icehouse, 2528 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., $25-$28, students and children free, 651-292-3268 or schubert.org)

This Tony-winning musical by country songsmiths Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally is set in a cheekily corn-y Midwestern environment with gullible characters believing in the powers of a dubious wizard. But unlike the seekers in “The Wiz,” which the show follows into Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre, “Shucked” does not have a house dropping on anyone. On Broadway, Minnesota’s own Caroline Innerbichler starred as Maizy, the hopefully naive farm girl seeking a doctor’s help with her failing corn crop even as she falls in love. Danielle Wade headlines as Maizy in this North American tour that also stops in Toronto. (7:30 p.m. Jan. 6-9, 2 & 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10, 1 & 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11, Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., $47 and up. hennepinarts.org)

ROHAN PRESTON

Silversmithing blossomed at the port of Bergen, a city on Norway’s southwestern coast. A new exhibition traces silversmithing from the 17th century to the early 20th century, including the Viking Revival of the late 18th and 19th centuries, when archaeological finds and Norse mythology inspired a national awakening. Ends March 8. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue., Wed., Fri.-Sun., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thu., Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls., free, new.artsmia.org or 612-870-3000)

ALICIA ELER

Appropriate for the season, the Minnesota Historical Society Press celebrates the new children’s book, “So Cold,” by John Coy. The author will read from his story, which follows a boy and his father who layer up in clothing before braving the elements. Together they conduct outdoor science experiments to make winter fun. In addition to the reading, guests can watch experiment demonstrations from the book as well as other activities. (10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 10, free, Oliver H. Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Road, Elk River, mnhs.org)