Big Gigs for March 6-12: Nickelback, Tweedy, Helmet, Nelson, Cassandra Wilson

NOTE: Nickelback's Target Center concert has been postponed until July 25 due to a family emergency.

The songs remain the same, but word is that Nickelback has dialed down the spectacle on tour. No pyro, flashpots or explosions. But the Canadian rock kingpins have added a third guitarist, Tim Dawson, to help them deliver the enduring "How You Remind Me" and "Rock Star" as well as covers of Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin and the Eagles (really?). Opening is the Pretty Reckless, fronted by "Gossip Girl" star Taylor Momsen. (8 p.m. Fri. Target Center, $25-$80.) Bream

With the kind of gutsy playfulness that got him kicked off the Basilica Block Party lineup in 2003, Bob Schneider got the songs for his new three-song EP series, "King Kong Suite," from a weekly songwriters contest with pals in the Austin, Texas, music scene, where he's still a hometown favorite. The songs echo the intimate style of his 2002 breakout album "Lonelyland," and so should the vibe of this solo acoustic show. (8 p.m. Fri., Cedar Cultural Center, all ages, $25.) Chris Riemenschneider

Last year, Sean Watkins not only reunited with Nickel Creek for their first work in seven years but he also released his first solo album in eight years. At times on "All I Do Is Lie," the country/folk/bluegrasser evokes the Jayhawks and other times Jackson Browne. The album confirms that Watkins does not need to take a back seat to either of his more high-profile Nickel Creek mates, sister Sara Watkins or Chris Thile. Dave Simonett of Trampled by Turtles opens solo. (8:30 p.m. Fri. Parkway Theater, $15-$50.) Jon Bream

On last year's "In My Soul," blues-soul veteran Robert Cray celebrated his love of Memphis-styled soul. He does a creditable job on Otis Redding's "Nobody's Fault but Mine" and "Your Good Thing Is About to End." A regular visitor to the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, Cray makes a midwinter trip to the western suburbs. Twin Cities favorite Corey Stevens opens. (8:30 p.m. Fri. Medina, $31-$44.) Bream

One of the local music scene's most powerful and poetic young rock bands of the early-'00s, Zoo Animal went on a sudden hiatus toward the end of 2013 as various band members splintered off and biblically influenced frontwoman Holly Hansen (nee Newsom) tackled personal issues. She and her remade lineup seem to be back in full force on a pair of eerie new singles issued before their first gig in 16 months. Fort Wilson Riot opens. (6:30 p.m. Sat., Amsterdam Bar & Hall, all ages, $8-$10.) Riemenschneider

Larry Long, the Minneapolis activist/folk singer, must have a pretty thick Rolodex. (He's old-school enough to still have one of those.) For his latest incarnation of his American Roots Revue he's lined up Dave Pirner, the New Orleans rocker who still fronts Minneapolis' Soul Asylum, and folk-blues ace Guy Davis, son of activist actors Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. Robert Robinson, the Pavarotti of gospel, will join Long once again, along with an all-star Twin Cities backup band featuring Cory Wong, Michael Bland, Jim Anton and Joe Savage. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Sat. Dakota Jazz Club, $35-$40.) Bream

Whether or not rumors of Wilco playing the Basilica Block Party this summer prove true, fans still shouldn't miss the chance to see frontman Jeff Tweedy at First Ave with his drummer son, Spencer, under the eponymous band moniker Tweedy. They're playing about half of their dense but subtly alluring double-LP "Sukierae" plus some fun covers with a four-piece lineup. Jeff has also been dropping in lengthy solo-acoustic segments with his older tunes. Young Fresh Fellows vet Scott McCaughey's band the Minus 5 (with R.E.M.'s Peter Buck) opens. Read an interview with Spencer Tweedy at startribune.com/music. (8 p.m. Sun., First Avenue, sold out.) Riemenschneider

For a one-hit MTV wonder like Nelson, the best way to keep your music career alive is to do a tribute show to your famous dad, Ricky Nelson. Twins Gunnar and Matthew Nelson have cut their long blond locks and picked up acoustic guitars to serenade with "Travelin' Man," "Hello Mary Lou" and "Garden Party." In "Ricky Nelson Remembered," his sons will offer stories, film clips and, of course, their hit, "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection." (6 & 8 p.m. Sun. Dakota, $30-$35.) Bream

No, it's not the Beatles and the Kinks, but the British Invasion 50th Anniversary Tour brings such golden oldies as Chad & Jeremy, Denny Laine (of the Moody Blues and later Wings), Peter Asher (of Peter & Gordon), Terry Sylvester (of the Hollies) and Billy J. Kramer, among others. Asher, an entertaining character who went on to produce James Taylor and manage Courtney Love, will serve as emcee. (7 p.m. Sun. Pantages Theatre, $48.50-$58.50.) Bream

A well-entrenched Duluth singer/songwriter known more for intimate piano-ballad fare that showcases her honeydew voice, Mary Bue really messes things up beautifully on her sixth album, "Holy Bones." The record evokes early-'90s indie-rock bands like Bettie Serveert and Yo La Tengo with its scrappy, loud guitars and sneeringly poppy hooks. Bue's dark and sometimes warped batch of songs are themselves quite ugly and unholy, as well. Highly recommended. The Brian Just Band and Chris Koza open her Twin Cities release party. (9 p.m. Tue., Turf Club, $7.) Riemenschneider

Heavily inspired by the music on Twin Cities label Amphetamine Reptile, Helmet became one of the heaviest bands to make a big splash in the great grunge-led alt-rock boom of the early-'90s with their crunch-rock classic "Unsung." The New York quartet's unsung guitar-wiz leader Page Hamilton is leading the group through a 20th anniversary revival of "Betty," the album that came after their 1992 breakthrough "Meantime." (9 p.m. Wed., Mill City Nights, $17.) Riemenschneider

Swervedriver is another in a string of influential late-'80s/early-'90s British shoegazer bands that have joined the reunion fray (see also: My Bloody Valentine, Slowdrive, Ride). The Oxford-bred quartet competed with MBV with its reverberating noise levels but had an elegant side that shines through on its first album in 17 years, "I Wasn't Born to Lose You." St. Louis noisemakers Gateway Drugs open. (9 p.m. Thu., Turf Club, $18-$20.) Riemenschneider

Calgary's experimental, darkly tinted noise-rock ensemble Viet Cong — made up of former members of the short-lived group Women — channels Joy Division and Can alike on its eponymous debut album, issued to high praise last month from Pitchfork and NPR Music. It could be a fascinating aural experience or pretentious mess in concert. Fellow Canadian Andy Shauf and local wiz kids Hollow Boys open. (8:30 p.m. Thu., 7th Street Entry, $10-$12.) Riemenschneider

A cross-generational tour dubbed "20 Years of Freedom," commemorating South African democracy, pairs two artists who joined in the anti-apartheid struggle. South African jazz flugelhorn great Hugh Masekela, 75, has been a world star for more than half a century, dating back to his radio hit "Grazin' in the Grass." Known as "The Voice" in South Africa, Vusi Mahlasela, 50, has an impressive track record, too, including work with such diverse artists as Bela Fleck, Josh Groban and Taj Mahal. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Ordway Concert Hall, $20-$47.) Tom Surowicz

Los Angeles' great Mexi-Cali quartet La Santa Cecilia won the Grammy last year for best Latin rock album with "Treinta Días," a wonderful hodgepodge of Mexican boleros and cumbias and American soul and rock music anchored by the group's dramatic vocalist, Marisol "La Marisoul" Hernandez. The record featured a guest appearance by fan Elvis Costello and an attention-grabbing single called "El Hielo (ICE)," which became an anthem for immigration reform. Read an interview with the group in Sunday's Variety section. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Ordway Concert Hall, $20-$47.) Riemenschneider

Steve Kenny's series of Saturday night jazz shows at the Black Dog has been a big success, so now the tireless trumpeter is curating another weekly showcase in Minneapolis. For the debut of "Friday Night Jazz at the Nicollet," Kenny has booked master Twin Cities musicians Eric Kamau Gravatt (drums) and Dean Magraw (guitar). (8:30 p.m. Fri., the Nicollet, 1931 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-872-2415, by donation.) Surowicz

Like José James, Cassandra Wilson is this year celebrating the music of Billie Holiday — in concert and on recording. Wilson's Holiday salute, "Coming Forth by Day," is due on April 7, which would have been Holiday's 100th birthday. Her collaborators on the recording included arranger Van Dyke Parks, producer Nick Launay (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire) and the rhythm section for Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Expect the ever-innovative Wilson to get inside Holiday's repertoire and make it feel like you're hearing these songs for the first time. (7 p.m. Tue.-Wed. Dakota, $40-$60.) Bream

Mark Stover has been the artistic director of Magnum Chorum for less than a year. He is also the minister of worship, music and arts at Colonial Church in Edina, which gives him an ideal perspective for "Longing for the Light," a concert of music for the soul. Local composer J. Aaron McDermid shares the program with more familiar composers including Sir John Tavener, Eric Whitacre and René Clausen. (8 p.m. Sat., Nativity Catholic Church, 324 Prior Av. S., St. Paul, $5-$21, magnumchorum.org) William Randall Beard

Internationally renowned Argentine pianist Nelson Goerner returns to perform for the Chopin Society this weekend. From his concert at Sundin Music Hall in 2012, he came away greatly admired for his richness of tone and poetic insight. For his program, he plays Bach's Partita No. 6, Mendelssohn's Fantasy, and Beethoven's Sonata No. 29 ("Hammerklavier"). (3 p.m. Sun., Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, Macalester College, St. Paul, $15-$25, 612-822-0123.) Beard

For its first appearance in the new Ordway Concert Hall, the Schubert Club presents a wonderfully eccentric program featuring highly creative Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto and accordionist Dermot Dunne. Kuusisto opens and closes each half of the concert with one of the violin sonatas by J. S. Bach. In between, he and Dunne perform a selection of traditional Scandinavian folk tunes. (2 p.m. Sun., Ordway Concert Hall, $26-$41, 651-292-3268.) Beard