Big Gigs, July 10-16: Block parties galore, plus Morrissey, Raekwon and Ghostface, Mavis Staples, more

Answers to the two most-heard questions regarding next week’s Morrissey show: Yes, it looks like the meat-hating, monarchy-bating British indie-rock guru really will arrive this time, after he canceled on Twin Cities fans three times from 2012-2013; but no, he’s not doing a lot of songs by his old band the Smiths on this tour — usually just three a night, two of which have typically been non-hits. On the upside, Moz’s latest album, “World Peace Is None of Your Business,” found him as ornery and prickly and weirdly wonderful as ever at age 56. Also, he’s been rather colorful with his stage banter and production this time out, and he’s playing a smaller venue than normal. Which is what you get when you cancel on folks a lot. (8:30 p.m. Mon., Fitzgerald Theater, sold out.) Riemenschneider

POP/ROCK

One of the more intriguing of the Twin Cities’ many ethereal synth-pop bands to emerge over the past couple years, Warehouse Eyes takes its lush sound to a divine new level on its second EP, “Prisms.” Singer/keyboardist Jennie Lawless sings with a Kate Bush-like dramatic urgency over an inventive, St. Vincent-style sonic patchwork in the disjointed groover “Emma” and the head-bobbingly thick “Smoke,” featuring Aby Wolf on backup vocals. She and musical/romantic partner Chris Williams rounded out their heady soundscape with the help of producer Lance Conrad (Van Stee) and a five-piece live lineup, which will celebrate the EP’s release with openers Fort Wilson Riot. (10:30 p.m. Fri., Icehouse, $8-$10.) Chris Riemenschneider

 

Loosely positioning itself as the antichrist version of the Basilica Block Party, internationally revered noise-punk label Amphetamine Reptile’s latest parking lot party, Bash 15, will feature legendary Washington state pioneers the Melvins for headliners plus reunion sets by three of the Twin Cities’ wildest bands of the late-’80s/early-’90s, the Cows, Run Westy Run and Hammerhead. The latter two have played sporadically in recent years — and sounded surprisingly strong, too — but those maniacal, filth-rocking Cows have been missing in action since 1998 and have no plans to play again. Gay Witch Abortion, Mexico’s Le Butcherettes, and ex-Cows/Melvins bassist Kevin Rutmanis’s new band Hepa/Titus round out the lineup. (1-10 p.m. Sat., Grumpy’s Downtown, $48.) Riemenschneider

 

Whitesnake is turning “Purple” this time out. Before he became Tawny Kitaen’s co-star in the car-humping videos of his band’s MTV heyday, frontman David Coverdale served time as the third singer of Deep Purple from 1973-1976 — after “Smoke on the Water,” but his stint did result in one fan-loved album, “Burn.” Coverdale got his own band to re-imagine the songs of that era 40 years later on their new record, and they’re performing them alongside a handful of Whitesnake hits on tour. Night Ranger alum Joel Hoekstra is now featured on guitar. The Answer opens. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Myth, all ages, $45.) Riemenschneider

 

Trampled by Turtles’ members very well know there are few better places to be in July than the Superior shore, which is why for the third summer in a row the Americana string sextet created a break in their busy tour to host a mini-fest in their hometown’s great harborside outdoor venue. This year’s all-Minnesota cast includes two twangy favorites from Up North, Actual Wolf and Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, plus two younger acts that TBT frontman Dave Simonett has taken under his wing, stylish folk-popster John Mark Nelson and harmonious boy/girl folk duo the Lowest Pair. Lucy Michelle’s Field Trip also performs. (4 p.m. Sat., Bayfront Festival Park, downtown Duluth, $25-$30, free for ages 12 and under.) Riemenschneider

 

The most French thing about the music at Barbette’s Bastille Day Block Party is St. Paul-reared soul-powered headliner PaviElle (last name: French), but at least it’s in line with the holiday’s independent streak. Other performers include Haley Bonar’s quirky dance-punk band Gramma’s Boyfriend, electro-vibing hip-hop duo Toki Wright and Big Cats, Vicious Vicious leader Erik Appelwick’s breezy new band Tropical Depression, cabaret act Karen Vieno Paurus & the Peacock Showgirls, glam band Suzie and the parading Brass Messengers. (3-9 p.m. Sun., Café Barbette, 1600 W. Lake St., Mpls., all ages, free.) Riemenschneider

 

One is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (Mavis Staples), another has earned the kind of critical hosannas that suggest Hall of Fame potential (Patty Griffin) and the third is the progeny of a Hall of Famer (Amy Helm, daughter of Levon Helm of the Band). The three standout vocalists are teaming up for the 12-city Sweet Harmony Soul Tour, which started Wednesday. Gospel stalwart Staples, 75, met Griffin, an Americana star who has a gorgeous Grammy-winning gospel album, “Downtown Church,” on her résumé, in 2007 when they did a duet on “Waiting for My Child to Come Home” for the Grammy-winning gospel album “Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration.” Helm, who has impressed singing behind her late father and with the Americana group Ollabelle, will release her solo debut, “Didn’t It Rain,” on July 24. An advance listen suggests that her rootsy soulfulness will fit perfectly with Staples and Griffin. (7:30 p.m. Sun., Minnesota Zoo, $52-$64.50.) Jon Bream

 

After sparking the usual mayhem in front of a sold-out crowd at Somerset Amphitheater in May, Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor will take his mask off and break down another wall or two on another solo acoustic tour. The trek is timed to the publication of the Iowa metal vet’s third book, “You’re Making Me Hate You,” another in his successful string of tirade-filled tomes. He will read a little, take questions from the audience and play both Slipknot and Stone Sour songs. (8 p.m. Sun., Turf Club, sold out.) Riemenschneider

 

He sounds so steeped in New Orleans music that you might never guess that Jon Cleary is from Kent, England. He moved to the Crescent City and went to school on the sounds of Professor Longhair, Fats Domino and other local legends and, over the course of a half-dozen albums, has forged his own New Orleans-flavored R&B with soulful vocals. Minnesotans may have heard him with Bonnie Raitt, with whom he toured for several years. She’s recorded his tunes, as have Taj Mahal and John Scofield. (7 p.m. Mon., Dakota, $30.) Bream

 

The Twin Cities has had a love affair with Dawes — and vice versa — since the first time the L.A. combo came to town. Now comes their fourth album (“All Your Favorite Bands”) and a headline outdoor gig, not another New Year’s Eve celebration. If all your favorite bands are fronted by Jackson Browne, then you’ll dig this new album, which oozes laid-back, organic L.A. soft-rock with strong vocal harmonies. Opening are two buzzed-about ensembles, the pop-soul Lake Street Dive (whose guitarist Mike Olson grew up in Minneapolis) and Lone Bellow, the Mumford-meets-Civil Wars folk-rockers. (6 p.m. Tue., Cabooze Plaza, $30-$35.) Bream

 

Released just 10 days ago, “Broken Into Better Shape,” the fourth album from Good Old War, is easily their most commercial outing — no mean feat given that the Pennsylvania trio had already established a reputation for melodic hooks and sweet harmonies. While you can expect to hear the infectious shuffle-and-strum of “Tell Me What You Want” and the frothy “Never Gonna See Me Cry” from the new disc, the group has been sampling its entire catalog on tour. At their best, they’re a blend of Mumford & Sons and fun. (8 p.m. Tue., Varsity, $15-$17). Britt Robson

 

With the husband-wife duo of Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White teaming up with ace guitar picker Ry Cooder, it spells good old-time country gospel with a good dose of country from the catalogs of Hank Williams, Hank Snow and Buck Owens. Skaggs started in bluegrass, became a big country star in the ’80s and then settled into gospel/bluegrass. Ranked No. 31 on Rolling Stone’s 100 greatest guitarists list in 2011, the versatile Cooder has played with everyone from the Rolling Stones to the Chieftains; he also has produced an array of artists from the Buena Vista Social Club to Mavis Staples. The Skaggs/White/Cooder backup band is part of the family affair, too, with Joachim Cooder on percussion, Cheryl White on backup vocals and patriarch Buck White, 84, on piano. (7:30 p.m. Thu., Minnesota Zoo, $55-$67.50.) Bream

 

HIP-HOP

An eight-hour outdoor bash that moves indoors after 10 p.m., the second annual For the Love festival in St. Paul’s Lowertown is taking a welcome turn this year by showcasing women on the outdoor stages. Headliner Ashley DuBose from NBC’s “The Voice” is fresh off releasing her good-vibes-filled album “Be You.” Other players include West Side hip-hop favorite Maria Isa, comical rapper Miss Cherice’s family-friendly Big Epic Show, Tish Jones, beatmaker Megan Hamilton and breaker Alissa Paris. There are some well-known male rappers, too, including Greg Grease, Carnage, Haphduzn, I.B.E. and Baby Shel, and DJs will be spinning inside Bedlam Lowertown. The late-night party will then mark the 20th anniversary return of south Minneapolis rap vets Kanser. (2 p.m.-1 a.m. Sat., various locations in Lowertown St. Paul, all ages, free, ForTheLoveStPaul.org.) Riemenschneider

 

Wu-Tang Clan varsity-league members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah are back on the road together to mark the 20th anniversary of “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx,” one of the top two or three most widely celebrated albums in the Wu canon. Officially a Raekwon solo effort, the mob-themed collection had heavy support from Ghostface — as well as producer RZA — in such memorable tracks as “Heaven & Hell,” “Ice Cream” and “Crimonology.” It set the stage for Ghostface’s own solo breakout a year later with “Ironman.” The duo still showed explosive chemistry when they played Soundset together in 2012. (8 p.m. Sun., Cabooze, $29.50-$35.) Riemenschneider

 

Appropriately referred to as “The Ambassador of Bhangra,” the pioneering, New York-based DJ Rekha has spread the beguiling beats of Punjab, India, throughout hip-hop and dub music through her “Basement Bhangra” club gigs and her “Bhangra and Beyond” online radio shows. While Jay Z and Missy Elliott, among others, have scored hits with the Bhangra-hip-hop hybrid, Rekha’s dance parties provide a deep, intoxicating immersion beyond mere radio ear candy. The opener is DJ Chamun, who hosts Friday night dances at the Lounge in downtown Minneapolis. (8 p.m. Sat., Cedar, $18-$20.) Robson

 

R&B

Wee Willie Walker has been a Twin Cities treasure for many years, but he’ll likely earn some national props with his swell new made-in-California CD, “If Nothing Ever Changes.” A sweet soul singer with a plenty of Wilson Pickett-like grit, Walker is bolstered by an excellent horn section on a collection of R&B tunes, some written by producer/harmonica player Rick Estrin. Walker shows his range and interpretive prowess on the classic country ballad “Not That I Care” and a Southern soul reading of the Beatles’ “Help,” which is more typical of the stuff he’s been doing in Twin Cities clubs in recent years. (9 p.m. Sat. Minnesota Music Cafe, $5-$8.) Bream

 

Mingo Fishtrap cooks tunes with a regional Southern grease that encompasses the funky R&B of Memphis, the syncopation of New Orleans, the hot-buttered soul of Muscle Shoals in Alabama, and the group’s Texas blues-rock roots in Denton and Austin. Their interplay is snaked through with punchy horns, well-lathered grooves and the bruised vocal shouts and croons of Roger Blevins Jr., who doubles on guitar. Together since college — Blevins’ dad, former R&B revue bassist “Big Rog,” was a latecomer to the band in the late-’90s — the octet has honed its genre-crossroads sound until it neatly balances between simmer and sizzle. (8 p.m. Fri., Dakota, $20.) Robson