Best concerts of the week: Kristin Hersh at Cedar Cultural Center, Lizzo at First Avenue

Kristin Hersh: Since forming the slow-burning, artfully explosive indie-rock band Throwing Muses with her stepsister Tanya Donelly at age 14, Hersh has gone through many transformative phases professionally and personally over three decades. She explores those crossroads in a powerful and intimate new CD/book combo, "Wyatt at the Coyote Palace," featuring 24 songs she recorded over a four-year period playing all the instruments herself. Her acoustic tour also includes readings and stories. (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center, all ages, $18-$20, TheCedar.org; also: 3 p.m. Fri., Electric Fetus, Mpls., free.)

Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith: The two giants of contemporary Christian music are once again pairing up for the KTIS Christmas concert, which will feature a full symphony behind the veteran singers this year. (7 p.m. Sat., Target Center, $30-$75, AXS.com.)

Kinda Kinky Christmas: One of the best tributes in bands in town, Kinda Kinky, hosts one of the warmest holiday parties, featuring a long, sometimes naughty list of local music vets chiming in on Kinks hits and deep cuts while helping stock food shelves. (7 p.m. Sat., Eagles Club #34, Mpls., $10, or $5 with food donation.)

Lizzo: "Worship me / on your knees," the Twin Cities' most in-demand music ambassador brazenly demands in the opening track of her soulful, new six-song EP, "Coconut Oil." It's a flip way of furthering her message of empowerment, but that line should also ring true as she returns home triumphant from her various TV endeavours — including co-hosting duties on MTV's "Wonderland" and an unforgettable postelection appearance on "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee" — for her first two-night headlining stand at the club she has ruled many times before. (9 p.m. Sat. & Sun., First Avenue, $20, sold-out Sat., eTix.com.)

Martin Zellar: Back in town a week ahead of his old band's usual holiday-season reunion at the Medina, the Gear Daddies frontman suits the Turf's corner-bar aesthetic and has Ben Kyle opening to preview songs from Romantica's new album. (9 p.m. Sat., Turf Club, $20, eTix.com.)

Jon Dee Graham: A fixture at the Continental Club in Austin, Texas, Graham played a mean guitar with Alejandro Escovedo in the True Believers before becoming another cult-revered singer/songwriter with echoes of John Hiatt and James McMurtry. (8 p.m. Mon., Warming House, Mpls., $12-$15.)

Helmet and Local H: The great crunch-rock band of 1992's "Unsung" fame, Helmet has returned strong on its first album in six years and makes for a great pairing tour with these fellow '90s alt-metalists. (8 p.m. Wed., Fine Line, $20-$25, eTix.com.)