Big Gigs for Aug. 7-13: Kasey Chambers, Diana Krall, Cheap Trick, Social Distortion and more

Diana Krall, the great jazz singer, has taken on 1970s and '80s middle-of-the-road pop classics on her new album, "Wallflower." She tends to slow down and strip down such hits as "California Dreamin'," "Operator" and "Don't Dream It's Over" while adding some chamber pop touches. Her interpretations hardly shed new light on these chestnuts. However, her torch-song treatment of 10cc's "I'm Not in Love" is revelatory. (8 p.m. Fri., Orpheum, $61.50-$129.) Jon Bream

With the retooling of the Pohlad-owned rock radio station K-TWIN to the more modern-flavored Go 96.3 FM came the rebranding of the Skyline Music Festival as Go Fest, a fun if a bit archaic hodgepodge of mid-level pop, rock and hip-hop acts performing inside the major-league ballpark. Fans of the love-or-hate, hyper-poppy synth-pop duo Matt and Kim, who crammed Mill City Nights for their gig in May, are liable to enjoy the dramatic electro-throb sounds of Big Data. Alabama rapper Yelawolf's local followers, who are still debating the Confederate flag hat his DJ wore to the Soundset fest in May, should already be into the innovative rap stylings of Kanye's local go-to guy Allan Kingdom. And Cold War Kids' decade-old fan base, which saw the California rockers put on a very tight and bombastic set at the Current's birthday party in January, might just enjoy the Florence + the Machine-flavored duo MS MR. (4:30 p.m. Fri., Target Field, $9.63-$96.30.) Chris Riemenschneider

Nearly a decade ago, Local H put three singles on the Billboard charts and were seen as the second wave of grunge after the suicide of Kurt Cobain. Since then Scott Lucas has forged ahead with three different drummers completing his duo (guitar, bass and singing duties are his), put together two compelling concept albums, damaged his vocal cords being mugged in Moscow, and funded this year's "Hey Killer" with the help of PledgeMusic. The payoff is that "Hey Killer" is a righteous, appropriately tenacious collection of tunes. (8:30 Fri., Triple Rock, $13-$15.) Britt Robson

One of the more low-key but highly festive rock-fest camp-outs of summer, the Big Wu Family Reunion returns for its 15th year with a lineup of funksters, roots players and jam bands, as is the M.O. of the regionally beloved host band. They will be joined by two longtime New Orleans favorites, Ivan Neville's Dumpsta-phunk and Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, along with longtime Wu associates the Almighty Senators, Nicholas David, Dean Magraw and Useful Jenkins, plus Kanser, Frogleg and Circle of Heat. (Noon Fri.-Sat., Camp Maiden Rock West in Morristown, Minn., an hour south of Mpls., $65/two-day pass, BigWuFamilyReunion.com.) Riemenschneider

After hitting Treasure Island Casino with Peter Frampton in May, Cheap Trick is making its way back through Minnesota with a gig at one of the state's best outdoor music venues featuring one of our best-loved homegrown bands, the Suburbs, for openers — all at a Minnesota-nice price in conjunction with Mankato's Rib Fest. The Trick's Robin Zander amazingly still boasts the powerful voice he had in the '70s, and songs like "Surrender," "Dream Police" and "Come on, Come on" hold up equally well — better than "The Flame" and "I Want You to Want Me." (6 p.m. Fri., Vetter Stone Amphitheater, downtown Mankato, $10.) Riemenschneider

Social Distortion is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its self-titled third album with straight-through renditions of it in concert. Good call, as it's the band's best record, an organic mixture of their L.A. punk roots with classic rock, rockabilly and blues. The blitzkrieg cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" gets most of the attention, but the harp-driven "It Coulda Been Me" and a "Ball and Chain" that borrows from the Stones' "Dead Flowers" are among the other gems. If only late guitarist Dennis Danell could be up there beside vocalist Mike Ness for this much-anticipated resurrection. Sold out. (7 p.m. Fri., First Avenue, $35.) Robson

Mears Park in St. Paul continues its summer run of remarkable free music with the Lowertown Guitar Festival, headlined by a pair of National Fingerstyle Guitar Champions, Tim Sparks and Muriel Anderson. The stylistically wide-ranging day will also include forays into the blues (Greg Koch), jazz (Dean Granros), jazz-rock (Johnny A.) and Nashville country (session vets JD Simo and Guthrie Trapp). As with every one of the festival's three years of existence, singer-songwriter Molly Maher will emcee. (Workshops begin at 10 a.m., music at 1:30 p.m. Sat., Mears Park, free.) Robson

Theory of a Deadman was the first act signed to Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger's 604 Records label and later played and recorded songs for WWE wrestling events — two associations prone to love-hate polarity. But these British Columbia rockers are too innocuous for hate, with solid but unimaginative riffs backing their puerile, misogynist sentiments. They are the male-catnip equivalent of boy bands, reinforcing postures and fantasies in their fan base that disappear with maturity and a few exercised brain cells. (7 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, $23-$25.) Robson

John Travolta may mangle her name and your pint-size daughter(s) may screech her "Frozen" smash, but Idina Menzel is a big-voiced singer who can deliver a Broadway tune. Like "Defying Gravity," her signature from "Wicked." Like "No Day But Today" from "Rent." Like "Don't Rain on My Parade" from "Funny Girl." But she also does pop covers ("Roxanne," "Creep"), originals and, of course, "Let It Go." (8 p.m. Thu., the Northrop, $75-$100.) Bream

Suddenly a newly single mother with three children, Aussie Americana ace Kasey Chambers offers a new vibe on "Bittersweet," which was released last year in Australia and this summer in the States. It's more stripped down, decidedly but not overtly spiritual, and unquestionably Americana. After making eight albums with her brother Nash Chambers as producer, she worked this time with Nick DiDia, an American engineer/producer now living in Australia and known for his projects with Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Westerberg. Opening is Texas singer-songwriter Ryan Beaver. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Cedar Cultural Center, $30-$40.) Bream

One of hip-hop's gruffest yet fastest rappers, Waka Flocka Flame is enjoying a 2015 that's as odd as everything else he's done. The New York City (Queens) native earned a Trump-load of publicity in April by announcing his 2016 presidential bid — first order of business: legalize marijuana — and now has the theme song for the new Adam Sandler movie "Pixels," a dopey, sporty anthem with Good Charlotte titled "Game On." He's fitting some club dates while awaiting his invite to the primary debates with Nashville's cutting-edge wordsmith Mike Floss for an opener. (8:30 p.m. Fri., Mill City Nights, $25.) Riemenschneider

Mississippi-bred, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Charlie Worsham made his Grand Ole Opry debut at age 12, studied at Berklee in Boston and then toured as one of Taylor Swift's openers in 2011 before landing the minor radio hit "Could It Be" in 2013, from his Warner Bros. Records debut. He's heading up the Rum River Music Fest, a benefit for Hope 4 Youth also featuring Oregon's Jackson Michelson. (5 p.m. Sat., Coon Rapids Ice Center, $10-$15, free for ages 15 and under.) Riemenschneider

The Potash Twins are indeed identical 21-year-old siblings, right down to their ostentatiously nerdy glasses. Bass trombonist Ezra Potash has a full scholarship to the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, while trumpeter Adeev Potash is being mentored by Dizzy Gillespie protégé Jon Faddis at SUNY Purchase. These New Yorkers by way of Omaha made an album of New Orleans-tinged jazz and funk in Minnesota, helmed by "Funkytown" producer Steven Greenberg and featuring top locals like keyboardist Tommy Barbarella and guitarist Cory Wong. Hence this local CD release party. (7 p.m. Tue., Icehouse, $10.) Robson

Few operas get the tear ducts flowing as freely as "La Bohème," with its tale of love and loss among impoverished garret dwellers in Paris' Latin Quarter. Two performances of Puccini's masterwork are the centerpiece of this year's Lakes Area Music Festival in Brainerd, staged with full orchestra and a mainly youthful cast of rising professional singers. Richly promising soprano Amanda Kingston stars as Mimi, with tenor Mackenzie Whitney as the impulsive young poet Rodolfo. All tickets at the festival are free, making this the operatic bargain of the summer. (7 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Tornstrom Auditorium, 804 Oak St., Brainerd. www.lakesarea music.org) Terry Blain

Year 2 of the Twin Cities Early Music Festival brings a substantial increase in activity and ambition, with more than 30 events scheduled in a three-week period. The St. Paul-based Lyra Baroque Orchestra leads off Saturday, offering Telemann, Vivaldi and a rare opportunity to hear two of Bach's concertos for three harpsichords. Central to the festival's ethic is the use of historically accurate instruments; lute, theorbo, viol, traverse flute, fortepiano and Celtic harp all will be showcased in a wide-ranging variety of recitals. (8 p.m. Sat., Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University, 1531 Hewitt Av., St. Paul; $5-$15, www.tcearly music.org) Blain