Big Gigs for April 15-21: Santigold, Caroline Smith, the Mumfords & more

Santigold: In the interim since her last album, Philadelphia-bred singer/rapper/actress Santi "Santigold" White got married to snowboarder Troy Andrew and became a mom. That may or may not explain the discernible joy on her third album, "99¢," which finds her as hard to peg as ever musically with its blend of Gwen Stefani-like pop, Sly & Robbie-infused reggae and grinding hip-hop and techno beats. New songs such as "Can't Get Enough of Myself" should be a blast in concert, where her dynamic persona always shines. Brooklyn opener DonMonique scored a minor hit last year with "Pilates." (9 p.m. Sat., Mill City Nights, Mpls. $27-$30.) Chris Riemenschneider

Caroline Smith: After the local success of her R&B-spiced singles "Magazine" and "Let 'Em Say" — the latter a hit with Lizzo used in this season's opening episode of Comedy Central's "Broad City" — the Detroit Lakes-bred singer/songwriter lit out for Los Angeles last year to test the waters career-wise and stir the creative pot. She has been working on the follow-up to her acclaimed 2014 album, "Half About Being a Woman," and is now returning to Minnesota to test the results with her same ace band in tow. One of her new L.A. kindred spirits, Harriet Brown, opens. (9 p.m. Sat., First Avenue, Mpls., sold out.) Riemenschneider

Mumford & Sons: What a wait it's been to hear "I Will Wait" again. After quickly ascending from the 400 Bar to the Varsity and First Avenue from 2009-2010, Marcus Mumford and his hard-strumming British folk-rock troupe have been much slower coming to the Twin Cities on their arena tours. Their first local date since 2013 comes a year after the release of their gone-electric third album, "Wilder Mind." Rousing, rockier new songs such as "The Wolf" and "Believe" sound like they were made for big concerts like this, so it's about time fans got to experience them live. Multi-faceted Los Angeles tunesmith Blake Mills will open and join the headliners. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, $40-$60.) Riemenschneider

Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams: These married Woodstock stalwarts have spent time working with Bob Dylan, Mavis Staples and Levon Helm, among others. Last year, the duo delivered a splendid, homespun debut featuring well-crafted originals and inventive treatments of tunes by the Grateful Dead and the Louvin Brothers. Donnie Fritts, Kris Kristofferson's longtime keyboardist, opens. (7 p.m. Fri. Dakota, $25-$30.) Jon Bream

Rascal Flatts: These country hit-making harmonizers with the cool hair are dialing it down from the arenas to a casino. Even though tickets cost from $99 to $165, the show is sold out. (8 p.m. Fri. Mystic Lake, Prior Lake, sold out.) Bream

Randy Bachman: The guitarist/singer was a rock heavyweight in the '60s and '70s, first with the Guess Who and then with Bachman Turner Overdrive. (8:30 p.m. Fri., Medina Entertainment Center, $39.55) Bream

Father John Misty: After a series of outdoor sets and sold-out First Ave dates, the Los Angeles folk-rock shaman graduates to his first local theater gig, where the refined acoustics should suit the gorgeous tones of last year's intimate album "I Love You, Honeybear." (8 p.m. Sat., Northrop Auditorium, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Siren Sound: A clever name for a stellar lineup of local women making hip-hop, R&B and soul music, including Desdamona, PaviElle French, BdotCroc and the S.H.E. and MonaLisa dance crews. (8:30 p.m. Sat., Bedlam Lowertown, St. Paul, $10.) Riemenschneider

Sean Watkins: The Nickel Creek guitarist is undertaking his first extensive solo tour even though he just released his fifth solo album, "What Fear Is." Read an interview at startribune.com (7 p.m. Sun. Dakota, $25.) Bream

Bela Fleck and Chick Corea: In the first concert at the Guthrie Theater in more than a year, the banjo god and jazz piano giant team up in what promises to be a free-wheeling and captivating evening of virtuosic improvisation. Read an interview with Fleck in Sunday's Star Tribune. (7:30 p.m. Sun. Guthrie, $45-$90.) Bream

Freddie Gibbs: After hitting Soundset last year behind his well-received Madlib collaboration "Piñata," the gritty but graceful rapper from Gary, Ind., returns behind a wild new solo LP, "Shadow of a Doubt," with grade-A local openers Sean Anonymous and Baby Shel. (9 p.m. Mon., 7th Street Entry, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Andrew Bird: The locally beloved, Illinois-bred whistling and bowing indie-rock vet returns to rock clubs after becoming a father and dropping a playful new album, "Are You Serious," which includes a charming duet with Fiona Apple. (8 p.m. Tue., First Avenue, sold out.) Riemenschneider

Larry Goldings, Bill Stewart and Peter Bernstein: For a long time in their extended relationship, these three were known as the Larry Goldings Trio because he was the organist. But the name dissolved because the ensemble bruits more cerebral simmer than fatback funk — Goldings is more post-bop than a Jimmy Smith acolyte, drummer Stewart is an especially musical timekeeper with an identifiable approach and guitarist Bernstein has held his own with feisty saxophonists like Sonny Rollins and Eric Alexander. Their collectively woven treatment on originals and standards from both the American Songbook and contemporary pop is ideal for lovers of sly jazz improvisation. (7 p.m. Wed., Dakota, $20-$32.) Britt Robson